Samoa’s public investment management system was reviewed during an International Monetary Fund mission hosted by the Ministry of Finance from 17 to 29 September 2026.
The Ministry said Samoa was piloting the IMF’s S-PIMA approach for Small Developing States, with the mission examining how public investments are planned, implemented and monitored.
Government agencies and other stakeholders participated in the assessment, which the Ministry said was aimed at identifying opportunities to strengthen Samoa’s public investment framework and ensure public resources are invested effectively and sustainably.
The mission took place as the IMF was also completing its wider 2026 assessment of Samoa’s economy.
On 16 September, one day before the S-PIMA mission began, the IMF Executive Board concluded its 2026 Article IV Consultation with Samoa.
The Board called for improvements in public financial management and investment planning and execution, and said project appraisal, execution and oversight should be strengthened to ensure increased government spending produces lasting economic benefits.
These concerns had also been raised by an IMF team following discussions with Samoa officials in July.
In its concluding statement issued on 29 July, the IMF said Samoa had experienced “persistent under-execution of capital spending”, particularly under the District Development Program.
The IMF said improvements were needed in project appraisal, procurement, implementation and monitoring. It also said further expansion of the District Development Program should depend on improvements in execution, transparency and accountability.
The IMF’s full 2026 Article IV report on Samoa was published on 21 September, while the S-PIMA mission was still underway.
The S-PIMA mission and the Article IV Consultation are separate IMF processes, although both deal with aspects of Samoa’s management of public finances and investment.
The Ministry of Finance said the S-PIMA mission represented an opportunity for Samoa to strengthen the way public investments are managed and support sustainable development.
Details of the discussions held during the 17 to 29 September mission, including any findings or recommendations made by the IMF team, have not been made public.
