Unasa Toala to head the District Development Authority

Apia, SAMOA – 30 July 2026 – The Cabinet has approved the appointment of Unasa Viane Faifuaina Toala as the Chief Executive Officer of the newly established District Development Authority for a term of three years.

The Authority has been established to focus mainly on the District Development Project which is one of the main initiatives of the FAST Government in its 2021 and 2025 election manifestos.

Unasa was the inaugural Project Officer when the District Development Project was initiated in 2022 and his extensive experience in starting the project from scratch and the various challenges the project had faced, augurs him well in his role to head the independent District Development Authority.

He holds a Diploma in Tropical Agriculture, a Bachelor of Agriculture, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Agriculture from the University of the South Pacific. He also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Executive Leadership from the National University of Samoa.

At 42 years of age, Unasa Toala’s appointment reflects Cabinet’s confidence in his leadership, professional expertise and commitment to advancing the Government’s districts and village development priorities under the newly established Authority.