​Based on a comparative case study approach, the article reviews trends in volumes and modalities of non-traditional development assistance flows since 2003 (from emerging countries, philanthropic organisations and the private sector) for the governments of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu, and elaborates on the governments' priorities regarding the terms and conditions of development assistance flows and the impact on aid coordination of new providers. We found that the amount of non-traditional development assistance has strongly increased in Fiji but less so in Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu. Capacity building for government officials – both in the negotiation and management of these flows – is a priority aspect for development assistance for all of the four analysed governments, even for Papua New Guinea where the government introduced a target to reduce technical assistance, aiming to a more efficient use of this modality and improved knowledge transfer to government officials.