Poverty, vulnerability and corruption are not new or unique to the South Pacific, but the lack of capacity of governments to govern has seriously affected households and communities already on the edge of poverty. In Papua New Guinea, the general deterioration in government services and in transport and communication infrastructure, has increased the economic and social marginalisation of many isolated communities. The recent poverty assessments in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu outline a number of strategies to assist those living in, or on the edge of poverty, but these will only be successful if accompanied by strategies to achieve more effective and equitable governance
