Background

Transparency International (TI) Australia is part of a global coalition committed to fighting corruption and promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability in both public and private sectors. Corruption undermines development, diverts public resources, and disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities.

This consultancy is part of TI Australia’s Accountable Infrastructure project, funded under the TI Indo-Pacific Partnership for Strong, Transparent, Responsive & Open Networks for Good Governance (TI IPP STRONGG) Phase II, supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The programme aims to reduce corruption and increase transparency in the Pacific by empowering civil society actors to hold governments and private institutions accountable.

TI Australia previously produced the 2023 report “Building Integrity: Corruption Risks in Infrastructure Projects in the Pacific”, based on a desk review. This report requires updating and validating by engaging with key stakeholders, including PRIF, TI Pacific chapters, and relevant national government bodies, to validate findings.

Context

Infrastructure is a critical driver of economic growth, climate resilience, and social development in the Pacific. It enables access to markets, clean water, education, energy, and employment opportunities. Infrastructure is among the most corruption-prone sectors globally, particularly during project identification and selection stages. Poor governance at this stage can result in misallocation of funds, politically influenced project selection, and long-term project inefficiencies or failures.

A systematic, transparent process for infrastructure identification and selection—including long-term policy planning, multi-year frameworks, project pipelines, budget and risk assessments, environmental and social impact assessments, and meaningful community consultation—reduces corruption risk and improves project quality. When enabled and supported to do so, Civil Society and communities play a key role in transparent processes for identifying and mitigating potential for corruption in infrastructure plans and projects.

With a focus on Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia, Timor-Leste, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands, this consultancy seeks to build on previous research and will address:

• The early prioritisation stage (NIIPs) and how it interfaces with later project preparation, procurement, and implementation.
• Policies, guidance, and processes, ensuring an accurate and up-to-date reflection of governance frameworks.
• Transparency, integrity, and enforcement mechanisms in decision-making.

Objectives

The consultancy aims to:

• Update and validate the “Building Integrity: Corruption Risks in Infrastructure Projects in the Pacific” report.
• Supplement the desk research with stakeholder engagement, particularly PRIF, TI Pacific chapters, and relevant national government bodies.
• Incorporate and reference more recent documents and data that were unavailable during the initial report, noting many relevant Pacific documents will require sourcing through networks when not available online.
• Clarify definitions and methodology, including explicit treatment of corruption versus inefficiency or suboptimal investment decisions.
• Based on findings from the consultancy, and with developed understanding of Pacific stakeholder and development donor priorities and needs, provide actionable and evidence-based recommendations to support Pacific stakeholders to address potential for corruption in infrastructure development in the Pacific.

The consultant will:

• Propose method / approach / work plan
• Provide draft early findings, with all evidence documented and shared (approx. 4 days)
• Submit draft updated reports (approx. 4 days)
• Submit final updated report (approx. 2 days).

Consultancy to be conducted over 10 working days during the period of 1 Aug to 30 September 2026.

CONSULTANT PROFILE

• Experience in governance, anti-corruption, or infrastructure policy and research in the Pacific.
• Proven Pacific stakeholder engagement skills, including interviews and consultations.
• Ability to synthesise complex policy and procedural information into clear findings.
• Excellent written English communication.
• Pacific language skills will be an advantage.