About
Public Financial Management, Inclusive Finance
Individual
samtulikifan@gmail.com
Summary
Samiuela Tukuafu is an international expert with more than 35 years of professional experience in Banking, Corporate Governance, Public Financial Management and Climate Finance, previously occupying senior executive roles in the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the private sector and in the Government of Tonga. Before joining ADB in 2000, he worked in Tonga’s Ministry of Finance as Deputy Accountant General and Head of Budget, Price Waterhouse (Fiji) as Senior Auditor, Bank of Tonga as Manager Finance & Marketing and the National Reserve Bank of Tonga as Deputy Governor. At 65 years of age, Mr. Tukuafu retired from the ADB in 2018 as its Country Director for Cambodia, responsible for a two-yearly program of US$250 million and administering a portfolio of $1.1 billion. Within the ADB he has led the planning, programming, design, appraisal, implementation and evaluation of significant development projects in agriculture and climate change, education, energy, financial sector, infrastructure and public sector management across Asia and the Pacific over almost two decades, working with various bilateral and multilateral donors. He holds a Masters Degree in Banking and Corporate Finance. Since his retirement, he has closely followed regional and international developments in relation to climate action and finance, multilateral and bilateral reforms and developments on international standards. Mr. Tukuafu is the first Tongan national to have held a senior executive role in a Multilateral Financial Institution.
Publications
Title: International Accounting and Reporting Issues Publisher: UNTAD Date published: Mon, 30/09/2002 - 12:00
Title: Instilling Credit Culture in State-owned Banks Publisher: ADB Date published: Tue, 31/05/2005 - 12:00
Title: Financial Sector Development Strategy 2011 - 2020, Cambodia Publisher: ADB Date published: Fri, 15/07/2011 - 12:00
Title: Client First: Knowledge Solutions for Southeast Asia Publisher: ADB 2016 Date published: Thu, 31/03/2016 - 12:00
Title: Instilling Credit Culture in State-owned Banks Publisher: ADB Date published: Tue, 31/05/2005 - 12:00
Title: Financial Sector Development Strategy 2011 - 2020, Cambodia Publisher: ADB Date published: Fri, 15/07/2011 - 12:00
Title: Client First: Knowledge Solutions for Southeast Asia Publisher: ADB 2016 Date published: Thu, 31/03/2016 - 12:00
Qualifications
Degree: Masters of Commerce Period: 1991 to June 1992 Status: Completed Education institution: University of New South Wales Country: Australia
Degree: BA Accounting and Economics Period: 1980 to 1983 Status: Completed Education institution: USP Country: Fiji
Language: English Reading: Excellent Speaking: Excellent Writing: Excellent Understanding: Excellent
Professional society: Tonga Society of Accountants Highest position held: President Period: 1993 to 1995
Training: ADB Media Training and Coaching Period: July -August 2016 Status: Completed Education institution: ADB Media Training Program for Directors Country: Philippines
Training: Harvard University Leadership Direct Program Period: May to October 2016 Status: Completed Education institution: Harvard University Country: Philippines
Training: Harvard University Manage Mentor Program Period: February to April 2015 Status: Completed Education institution: Harvard University Online Program (44 Modules) Country: Philippines
Degree: BA Accounting and Economics Period: 1980 to 1983 Status: Completed Education institution: USP Country: Fiji
Language: English Reading: Excellent Speaking: Excellent Writing: Excellent Understanding: Excellent
Professional society: Tonga Society of Accountants Highest position held: President Period: 1993 to 1995
Training: ADB Media Training and Coaching Period: July -August 2016 Status: Completed Education institution: ADB Media Training Program for Directors Country: Philippines
Training: Harvard University Leadership Direct Program Period: May to October 2016 Status: Completed Education institution: Harvard University Country: Philippines
Training: Harvard University Manage Mentor Program Period: February to April 2015 Status: Completed Education institution: Harvard University Online Program (44 Modules) Country: Philippines
Work Experience
Project name: ADB: Expanding Development Bank Financing in MSME in the Pacific Client: Asian Development Bank Project period: Wed, 14/05/2025 - 12:00 - Fri, 06/06/2025 - 12:00 Position: International Banking and Finance Expert Location: Tonga Development Bank, Tonga Deliverables A report to the Minister of Finance on the latest financial position of the Tonga Development; governance and operational issues identified with recommendations on solutions to take the Bank forward.
Project name: Review of the Maritime Developments in PIF member countries Client: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Project period: Tue, 01/09/1992 - 12:00 - Sun, 28/02/1993 - 12:00 Position: Regional Financial Consultant Location: Pacific Island Countries Deliverables A report on the status of the Pacific Maritime Training Schools in the Pacific, their outputs and challenges.
Employment date: Mon, 01/02/2016 - 12:00 - Sun, 18/03/2018 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Asian Development Bank Position: Country Director Location: Cambodia Projects: Project date: Mon, 01/02/2016 - 12:00 - Sun, 31/12/2017 - 12:00 Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia Position: Country Director Title: CD, CARM Description: • Led policy dialogue with the government and relevant stakeholders to diversify Cambodia’s economic base, deepen regional integration and successfully localize the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This led to Cambodia diversifying its export products and international markets, and maintaining a 7% economic growth between 2016 to 2018; • Co-chaired Public Financial Management and Fiscal Decentralization & De-concentration government-development partner technical working groups that guided legal, institutional and human capacity developments as Cambodia transitions from line-item budgeting towards full program budgeting, as well as providing inputs to fiscal decentralization and de-concentration reform programs that have improved services at the subnational levels; • Vetted application documents and facilitated Cambodia Government’s endorsement of US $40M GCF funding (with US $90M co-financing from ADB) to support the Agribusiness value chains sector project, approved in 2018.
Employment date: Tue, 01/01/2013 - 12:00 - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Asian Development Bank Position: Principal Economist, Quality Assurance Officer Location: Philippines Projects: Project date: Tue, 01/01/2013 - 12:00 - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 12:00 Location: Manila, Philippines Position: Principal Economist, Quality Assurance Officer for Southeast Asia Department Title: Quality Assurance Officer Description: Provided Project Quality Assurance (PQA) and screened all Southeast Asia Department loan and technical assistance (TA) projects for quality at entry and for compliance with ADB’s Design and Monitoring Framework (DMF) and Safeguard Policies covering more than 200 new loan and TA projects from concept formulation to the processing of loan projects/programs and TA proposals in the following sectors: Agriculture and Climate Change, Infrastructure, Energy, Education, Health, Public Sector Management, Financial and SME development, Water (Urban infrastructure) etc.
Employment date: Thu, 05/10/2000 - 12:00 - Mon, 31/12/2012 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Asian Development Bank Position: Financial Specialist, Senior Financial Sector and Principal Financial Sector Specialist Location: Philippines Projects: Project date: Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00 - Mon, 31/12/2012 - 12:00 Location: Manila, Philippines Position: Financial Management Specialist, Senior & Principal Financial Sector Specialist Title: Financial Sector Specialist Description: Mission Leader for processing (concept formulation, design, appraisal and presentation to Management and the ADB Board) six financial sector programs for Board approval for Cambodia (2005 - 2011) and mentored new Mission Leaders (2011-2012). Team member for processing several PFM and financial sector projects and programs (2000 - 2012) in Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Maldives, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Contributed significantly towards improving the financial sectors, the public financial management processes, institutional capacity of the National Audit Authorities and SME development in Cambodia and Lao PDR, and the public enterprises reform in Vietnam (6,500 enterprises valued at $3.5 billion); • Project Administration: Mission Leader (2000 – 2012) administering at least 7 loan and TA projects annually, recruited and managed more than 200 consultants (both individuals and firms) during this period. Divisional Project Administration Head from 2006-2012 for the overall oversight of project administration and guide team leaders in resolving problematic projects; • Project Monitoring and Evaluation: Between 2001 and 2012, prepared on average two completion reports per year for loans and TA projects based on the ADB Guidelines for Evaluation of Completed Projects. Led the annual Country Performance Assessment (CPA) for Cambodia (2007-2012), Lao PDR (2007-2008) and Vietnam (2009-2012). This comprehensive assessment determines the bi-annual ADF allocation to these countries.
Employment date: Sat, 01/07/1995 - 12:00 - Thu, 31/08/2000 - 12:00 Current: No Company: National Reserve Bank of Tonga Position: Deputy Governor Location: Tonga Projects: Project date: Sat, 01/07/1995 - 12:00 - Thu, 31/08/2000 - 12:00 Location: Tonga Position: Deputy Governor Title: Deputy Governor Description: Deputy Governor and Corporate Secretary, National Reserve Bank of Tonga (1995-2000) managing day-to-day operations, leading the prudential supervision of financial institutions and was instrumental in macro-economic policy formulation and development of the national payments system and currency regulations. As Alternate Chair of the Monetary Policy and Prudential Supervision Committees, participated in high-level regional finance and economic meetings in Asia and the Pacific, including the South East Asian Central Bank Governors’ Meetings (SEACEN-1997 to 2000) and the International Conference of Banking Supervisors.
Employment date: Tue, 01/06/1993 - 12:00 - Fri, 30/06/1995 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Bank of Tonga Position: Manager Finance and Marketing Location: Tonga Projects: Project date: Tue, 01/06/1993 - 12:00 - Fri, 30/06/1995 - 12:00 Location: Tonga Position: Manager Finance and Marketing Title: Finance and Marketing Description: Manager, Finance and Marketing for Bank of Tonga (1993-1995). In addition to this role, was also Company Secretary to the Board of Directors and Chair of the Asset and Liability Committee (ALCO) and the Compliance Committee. Developed the Bank's business strategy (1994-97) in preparation for the entry of the ANZ and MBf banks.
Employment date: Fri, 01/09/1989 - 12:00 - Thu, 31/01/1991 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Price Waterhouse Position: Senior Auditor Location: Suva, Fiji Projects: Project date: Fri, 01/09/1989 - 12:00 - Thu, 31/01/1991 - 12:00 Location: Suva, Fiji Position: Senior Auditor Title: Senior Auditor Description: Senior Auditor in Price Waterhouse (1988-1991), Fiji. Successfully led teams responsible for auditing commercial banks (including Bank of Tonga), other financial institutions, wholesale and retail enterprizes, service/manufacturing industries, Donor Projects and company restructures in Fiji and Tonga.
Employment date: Thu, 01/03/1984 - 12:00 - Mon, 31/07/1989 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Ministry of Finance Position: Manager Philatelic and Numismatic Bureau and Deputy Accountant General Location: Tonga Projects: Project date: Thu, 01/03/1984 - 12:00 - Mon, 31/07/1989 - 12:00 Location: Tonga Position: Deputy Accountant General Title: Deputy Accountant General Description: Joined Tonga’s Ministry of Finance as a graduate in 1984 and progressed to Manager Philatelic and Numismatic Bureau (1995 - 1997) and then Deputy Accountant General and Head of Budget in 1987. Key responsibilities included overseeing the production and implementation of a sound and sustainable national budget (1987/88 and 1988/89); preparation for conversion to program budgeting; HR management; managing government’s financial assets and liabilities and assisting the Accountant General in formulating, overseeing and implementing national accounting policies, regulating public sector procurement, reforms of public enterprises; and human capacity development for improving financial management throughout government.
Project name: Review of the Maritime Developments in PIF member countries Client: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Project period: Tue, 01/09/1992 - 12:00 - Sun, 28/02/1993 - 12:00 Position: Regional Financial Consultant Location: Pacific Island Countries Deliverables A report on the status of the Pacific Maritime Training Schools in the Pacific, their outputs and challenges.
Employment date: Mon, 01/02/2016 - 12:00 - Sun, 18/03/2018 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Asian Development Bank Position: Country Director Location: Cambodia Projects: Project date: Mon, 01/02/2016 - 12:00 - Sun, 31/12/2017 - 12:00 Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia Position: Country Director Title: CD, CARM Description: • Led policy dialogue with the government and relevant stakeholders to diversify Cambodia’s economic base, deepen regional integration and successfully localize the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This led to Cambodia diversifying its export products and international markets, and maintaining a 7% economic growth between 2016 to 2018; • Co-chaired Public Financial Management and Fiscal Decentralization & De-concentration government-development partner technical working groups that guided legal, institutional and human capacity developments as Cambodia transitions from line-item budgeting towards full program budgeting, as well as providing inputs to fiscal decentralization and de-concentration reform programs that have improved services at the subnational levels; • Vetted application documents and facilitated Cambodia Government’s endorsement of US $40M GCF funding (with US $90M co-financing from ADB) to support the Agribusiness value chains sector project, approved in 2018.
Employment date: Tue, 01/01/2013 - 12:00 - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Asian Development Bank Position: Principal Economist, Quality Assurance Officer Location: Philippines Projects: Project date: Tue, 01/01/2013 - 12:00 - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 12:00 Location: Manila, Philippines Position: Principal Economist, Quality Assurance Officer for Southeast Asia Department Title: Quality Assurance Officer Description: Provided Project Quality Assurance (PQA) and screened all Southeast Asia Department loan and technical assistance (TA) projects for quality at entry and for compliance with ADB’s Design and Monitoring Framework (DMF) and Safeguard Policies covering more than 200 new loan and TA projects from concept formulation to the processing of loan projects/programs and TA proposals in the following sectors: Agriculture and Climate Change, Infrastructure, Energy, Education, Health, Public Sector Management, Financial and SME development, Water (Urban infrastructure) etc.
Employment date: Thu, 05/10/2000 - 12:00 - Mon, 31/12/2012 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Asian Development Bank Position: Financial Specialist, Senior Financial Sector and Principal Financial Sector Specialist Location: Philippines Projects: Project date: Mon, 01/01/2001 - 12:00 - Mon, 31/12/2012 - 12:00 Location: Manila, Philippines Position: Financial Management Specialist, Senior & Principal Financial Sector Specialist Title: Financial Sector Specialist Description: Mission Leader for processing (concept formulation, design, appraisal and presentation to Management and the ADB Board) six financial sector programs for Board approval for Cambodia (2005 - 2011) and mentored new Mission Leaders (2011-2012). Team member for processing several PFM and financial sector projects and programs (2000 - 2012) in Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Maldives, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Contributed significantly towards improving the financial sectors, the public financial management processes, institutional capacity of the National Audit Authorities and SME development in Cambodia and Lao PDR, and the public enterprises reform in Vietnam (6,500 enterprises valued at $3.5 billion); • Project Administration: Mission Leader (2000 – 2012) administering at least 7 loan and TA projects annually, recruited and managed more than 200 consultants (both individuals and firms) during this period. Divisional Project Administration Head from 2006-2012 for the overall oversight of project administration and guide team leaders in resolving problematic projects; • Project Monitoring and Evaluation: Between 2001 and 2012, prepared on average two completion reports per year for loans and TA projects based on the ADB Guidelines for Evaluation of Completed Projects. Led the annual Country Performance Assessment (CPA) for Cambodia (2007-2012), Lao PDR (2007-2008) and Vietnam (2009-2012). This comprehensive assessment determines the bi-annual ADF allocation to these countries.
Employment date: Sat, 01/07/1995 - 12:00 - Thu, 31/08/2000 - 12:00 Current: No Company: National Reserve Bank of Tonga Position: Deputy Governor Location: Tonga Projects: Project date: Sat, 01/07/1995 - 12:00 - Thu, 31/08/2000 - 12:00 Location: Tonga Position: Deputy Governor Title: Deputy Governor Description: Deputy Governor and Corporate Secretary, National Reserve Bank of Tonga (1995-2000) managing day-to-day operations, leading the prudential supervision of financial institutions and was instrumental in macro-economic policy formulation and development of the national payments system and currency regulations. As Alternate Chair of the Monetary Policy and Prudential Supervision Committees, participated in high-level regional finance and economic meetings in Asia and the Pacific, including the South East Asian Central Bank Governors’ Meetings (SEACEN-1997 to 2000) and the International Conference of Banking Supervisors.
Employment date: Tue, 01/06/1993 - 12:00 - Fri, 30/06/1995 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Bank of Tonga Position: Manager Finance and Marketing Location: Tonga Projects: Project date: Tue, 01/06/1993 - 12:00 - Fri, 30/06/1995 - 12:00 Location: Tonga Position: Manager Finance and Marketing Title: Finance and Marketing Description: Manager, Finance and Marketing for Bank of Tonga (1993-1995). In addition to this role, was also Company Secretary to the Board of Directors and Chair of the Asset and Liability Committee (ALCO) and the Compliance Committee. Developed the Bank's business strategy (1994-97) in preparation for the entry of the ANZ and MBf banks.
Employment date: Fri, 01/09/1989 - 12:00 - Thu, 31/01/1991 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Price Waterhouse Position: Senior Auditor Location: Suva, Fiji Projects: Project date: Fri, 01/09/1989 - 12:00 - Thu, 31/01/1991 - 12:00 Location: Suva, Fiji Position: Senior Auditor Title: Senior Auditor Description: Senior Auditor in Price Waterhouse (1988-1991), Fiji. Successfully led teams responsible for auditing commercial banks (including Bank of Tonga), other financial institutions, wholesale and retail enterprizes, service/manufacturing industries, Donor Projects and company restructures in Fiji and Tonga.
Employment date: Thu, 01/03/1984 - 12:00 - Mon, 31/07/1989 - 12:00 Current: No Company: Ministry of Finance Position: Manager Philatelic and Numismatic Bureau and Deputy Accountant General Location: Tonga Projects: Project date: Thu, 01/03/1984 - 12:00 - Mon, 31/07/1989 - 12:00 Location: Tonga Position: Deputy Accountant General Title: Deputy Accountant General Description: Joined Tonga’s Ministry of Finance as a graduate in 1984 and progressed to Manager Philatelic and Numismatic Bureau (1995 - 1997) and then Deputy Accountant General and Head of Budget in 1987. Key responsibilities included overseeing the production and implementation of a sound and sustainable national budget (1987/88 and 1988/89); preparation for conversion to program budgeting; HR management; managing government’s financial assets and liabilities and assisting the Accountant General in formulating, overseeing and implementing national accounting policies, regulating public sector procurement, reforms of public enterprises; and human capacity development for improving financial management throughout government.