Strengthening Partnerships with the Kingdom of Tonga

Pictured Left to right: H.E. Va’inga Tone, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Kingdom of Tonga; Mr. Taaniela Kula, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Lands, Survey, Planning and Natural Resources; Dr Gene Leon, Executive Director, Development Bank for Resilient Prosperity; The Kingdom of Tonga’s Education Minister, the Honourable Dr. Uhilamoelangi Fasi; Dr Greg Scott, Executive Director, SDG Data Alliance; and H. E Leonaitasi Kuluni, Deputy Permanent Representative, Kingdom of Tonga. Photo: PVBLIC Foundation/Ashaki Goodwin

NEW YORK, 14 August 2025 - On 5 August, the PVBLIC Foundation team met with the Honorable Minister of Lands, Survey, Planning and Natural Resources of Tonga, Hon. Dr. 'Uhila Moe Langi Fasi, who also holds the position of Minister for Education and Training. Mr. Taaniela Kula, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Lands, Survey, Planning and Natural Resources, together with Ambassador H.E. Vainga Tone and his team participated in this meeting to explore the potential of nature as an economic asset.

The Ministry of Lands, Survey, Planning and Natural Resources of the Kingdom of Tonga has previously undertaken a valuation of its natural assets – an important step in recognising and quantifying the country’s ecological wealth, and a solid foundation for advancing our shared vision.

The discussion included the Development Bank for Resilient Prosperity (DBRP) with Dr. Gene Leon, Executive Director, DBRP, and the SIDS Data Hubs Initiative with Dr. Greg Scott, Executive Director, SDG Data Alliance. Also present from PVBLIC Foundation was Ashaki Goodwin, Director of Government Affairs.

Our commitment to transformation for SIDS

PVBLIC Foundation is committed to collaborating with SIDS to fortify their futures across our programmes and initiatives. The DBRP is a new multilateral development bank designed to help SIDS and other vulnerable economies unlock financing by leveraging natural assets and advancing a beyond-GDP development model. 

The SDG Data Alliance works to ensure that SIDS have access to integrated, high-quality data for decision-making across climate, environment, and development priorities. 

The meeting underscored the role of data as part of the knowledge-generating process to reach mission-oriented development results—combining innovative finance and cutting-edge data systems to strengthen resilience and prosperity for SIDS. 

“Treating nature as an asset class has the potential to reverse global ecological degradation, unlock finance streams that have hitherto been unavailable, and make nature-based investment the smartest investment decisions of the 21st century,” Dr. Gene Leon highlighted.

Data as a driver for communities to thrive  

A key area of priority and action for the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) is to improve data collection, analysis, and use, explained Dr. Leon. “This not only means providing SIDS with methods to integrate and apply data and solutions to real problems, but also to ensure these same methods can be applied to nature-based ecosystems and solutions to build resilient economies.”

“From unlocking the value of natural capital to harnessing data for resilience, our collaboration with the Kingdom of Tonga is building momentum towards a more prosperous and sustainable future for people and planet,” said Ashaki Goodwin.