The World Bank's senior economist for the Pacific, Manjula Luthria, is urging donor nations in the region not to cut back on their development budgets in response to the current financial crisis.
Dr Luthria says as one of the most aid dependent regions in the world, the Pacific is particularly vulnerable to any drop in development assistance.
"There is the danger that with the slowdown that perhaps aid delivery will either slow down or be cut back that would be a really difficult thing for aid dependent countries to cope with in such difficult times."
Dr Luthria says remittances - another key source of income in the region - are likely to drop off sharply as a result of the economic downturn in the developed countries.
The World Bank has been working with governments in the region to develop a strategy to deal with fuel and food security.
Dr Luthria says the region as a whole is better placed to deal with issues of food security than many developing countries and in the medium to long term alternative fuels could provide some economic relief.
