Background
Faumuina was born in Papa i Palauli and educated at Leulumoega Fou College Malua in Samoa.
Faumuina was born in Papa i Palauli and educated at Leulumoega Fou College Malua in Samoa.
He studied economics at the University of Samoa from 1982 to 1984, and in 1999 gained an Master of Business Administration from the unaccredited Washington International University.
From 1967 to 1997 he worked for the United Nations Development Programme, serving in Samoa, the Philippines, Fiji, Sudan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Pakistan. From 1997 to 1998 he worked as Chief Administrator for the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme in Iraq. Between 1999 and 2000 he served as Director of Administration for the United Nations mission to East Timor before serving as Chief Administrator of the United Nations Peacekeeping Misison in Georgia.
Faumuina was first elected to the Fono in the 2001 election.
From 2001 to 2006 he served as Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure. He was re-elected in 2006 and appointed Minister of Natural Resources & Environment.
In 2007 he chaired the Pacific Games. In 2011 he was re-elected for a third time and appointed Minister of Finance.
He represents the seat of Palauli-Le-Falefa and is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party. On 16 May 2013 Faumuina survived a caucus vote after fellow members of his party complained of mismanagement and misuse of funds.