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Reporting on Implementation of Pacific Plan Priorities from the 

2009 Cairns Forum 

September 2011 

This Annex provides a comprehensive annual update of the work of selected Forum Island 

Countries, Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies and some 

development partners in delivering on the priorities endorsed by the Leaders’ at their meeting in 

2009. It is structured around each of the five themes for the Pacific Plan and the priorities that sit 

below covering the period May 2010 to May 2011. 

This Annex is a companion to the Pacific Plan Annual Progress Report for 2011, which provides a 

high-level overview of key achievements and challenges. 

Contents 

A. Fostering economic development and promoting opportunities for 

broad-based growth 4 

(i) Developing effective policy and practical responses to the global economic crisis 5 

(ii) Continuing to support action in the fisheries sector 13 

(iii) Building on existing marine protected areas and initiatives 30 

(iv) Expediting the implementation of the 2009 Pacific Energy Ministers’ decisions 34 

(v) Providing greater support to tourism 43 

(vi) Developing regional and national frameworks to enable the development of the 

economic potential of marine mineral resources 52 

(vii) Fostering greater international and intra-regional trade opportunities 55 

(viii) Strengthening the ability of the private sector to participate competitively 69 

(ix) Addressing issues that hinder the movement of goods and services 73 

(x) Implementing the directions provided by the region’s Ministers for ICT 77 

(xi) Continuing the implementation of the economic integration agenda promoted 

and regularly reviewed by the Forum Economic Ministers and, in particular, establishing 

components of the Regional Regulatory Stepladder as directed by these Ministers 83 

(xii) Increasing support for infrastructure development and maintenance 84 

B. Improving livelihoods and the well-being of Pacific peoples 89 

(i) Continuing efforts to better ensure food security for people across the region 90 

(ii) Ensuring healthy populations 100 

(iii) Improving access to opportunities afforded through stronger education systems at all levels 114 

(iv) Urging efforts to pursue the opportunities offered by the appropriate utilisation and 

development of land resources to minimise the risk of conflict, improve security and 

assist in economic development, while recognising that land is a national responsibility 131 

1

(v) 

(vi) 

(vii) 

Supporting the implementation of measures, existing commitments and programmes 

aimed at increasing awareness of and addressing the causes and consequences of sexual 

and gender-based violence and developing legislation to criminalise gender-based violence 134 

Prioritising national actions to mainstream youth issues into the national 

development agenda 142 

Acknowledging the importance of ensuring access to greater and more equitable 

opportunities for those with disabilities 146 

C. Addressing the impacts of Climate Change 150 

(i) Continuing the implementation of the Niue Declaration on Climate Change 151 

(ii) Developing Pacific-tailored responses to support adaptation and mitigation measures 

and better coordination of Disaster Risk Management-Climate Change Adaptation 158 

(iii) Coordinating regional efforts in the completion and early implementation of the 

outcomes of the December 2009 Copenhagen meetings 165 

(iv) Enhancing the resilience of ecological systems and associated biodiversity and providing 

ecosystem services with a focus on the impacts of climate change in line with the Year of 

Biodiversity in 2010 169 

(v) Assisting with the assessment called for by the United Nations General Assembly 

Resolution A/Res/63/281 Climate Change and its possible security implications 171 

(vi) Strengthening data collection and analysis for improved climatic monitoring and 

preparedness through integrated whole-system approaches 172 

(vii) Building scientific capacity across the region through strategic partnerships with bodies 

such as the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change 175 

(viii) Building support, with the assistance of regional and international partners, for the 

new Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food security 177 

D. Achieving stronger national development through better governance 179 

(i) Demonstrating strong national leadership and enhanced regional attention to accelerate 

improvements to development coordination in the region 180 

(ii) Committing to sustainable and appropriate: collection and compilation of statistics; 

information management; and records-keeping 186 

(iii) Implementing efforts to allow for improved access to official information 191 

(iv) Supporting efforts to allow an enhanced role for women in national decision-making 

processes 194 

(v) Continuing to strengthen accountability and integrity institutions, through approaches 

such as the Pacific Ombudsman Alliance and Pacific Regional Audit Initiative 199 

(vi) Encouraging greater involvement of parliamentarians in the development agenda 201 

(vii) Addressing corruption through the use and implementation of relevant and existing 

national, regional and international mechanisms and commitments 204 

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E. Ensuring improved social, political and legal conditions for stability, 

safety and security 208 

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

Improving human security outcomes for Members, through advancing effective 

conflict prevention, conflict resolution mechanisms and peace building 209 

Strengthening cooperation in the law enforcement and border security sectors to 

address terrorism and transnational crime 211 

Promoting and consolidating regional stability through adherence to Forum values 

and the principles of the Biketawa Declaration 215 

Other On-going Pacific Plan Priorities 217 

Development of a regional cultural strategy 218 

Sustainably increase the coverage of safe drinking water and basic sanitation service 218 

Developing effectively managed and sustainable national tuna industries 223 

Implementing (with the assistance of the FFA) comprehensive conservation 

measures to protect stock levels in coastal, exclusive economic zones and on 

the high seas. (Forum Leaders Communiqué – Pacific Plan Annex A) - Strengthen 

national management frameworks. 225 

Implementing (with the assistance of the FFA) comprehensive conservation 

measures to protect stock levels in coastal, exclusive economic zones and on the 

high seas Participate in the establishment of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries 

Management Organisation 226 

Implementing (with the assistance of the FFA) comprehensive conservation measures 

to protect stock levels in coastal, exclusive economic zones and on the high seas. 226 

Adopting full implementation, as called for by PNA Leaders without delay, of the 

3rd Implementing Arrangement including the Additional Terms and Conditions of 

Access to the EEZs of the Parties 227 

Action to expedite improved monitoring, control and surveillance as required 

by regional agreement 228 

Continuing to press distant water fishing nations to comply with all relevant national and 

international laws and conventions to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks 229 

Progressing urgent efforts to delineate extended Continental Shelves and prepare 

submissions to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf by May 

2009 and efforts to delimit maritime boundaries for improved governance and 

management of ocean resources 230 

Progressing collectively, while also seeking to engage the USA and France, strengthened 

mechanisms to protect regional fisheries via new multilateral Pacific regional arrangements 

patterned on the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement model for exchange of fisheries law 

enforcement data, cross vesting of enforcement powers and the use of fisheries data 

for other law enforcement activities 231 

Sustainable Development through Improved Education and Training, Enhanced 

Involvement of Youth, and Recognized and protected cultural values, identities, 

and traditional knowledge 232 

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| A | 

Fostering economic 

development and 

promoting opportunities 

for broad-based growth 

4

2009 Pacific Plan Priority 

(i) 

Developing effective policy and practical responses to the global economic crisis with the 

objective of building sustained economic resilience, including through: 

• safeguarding macro-economic stability; 

• protecting core services; 

• targeted support for the vulnerable; 

• boosting national competitiveness; 

• strengthened development coordination. 

What has been the progress and achievement(s) over the last 12 

months 

Government of Australia 

• Australia has supported the Solomon Islands Government in addressing its fiscal and 

economic challenges through the establishment of the Solomon Islands Government 

– Donor Core Economic Working Group (CEWG) as a forum for economic reform 

policy dialogue. Through the CEWG, Australia, other donors, and the Solomon Islands 

Government will agree on annual milestones to be met, in the form of completed reform 

actions, for the release of additional performance-linked aid. Australia provided AUD$3 

million to the Solomon Islands Government in January 2010 in recognition of reforms 

implemented in 2009 - introduction of competition in to the telecommunications sector 

and the commencement of work on the public expenditure review. 

• Similarly, Australia participated in the Government of Tonga’s Donors’ Forum in April 

2011, where Tonga outlined a number of possible actions to respond to the serious 

economic and fiscal challenges that Tonga is facing. These included budget reform, 

expenditure restraint, review of revenue potential of the economy and implementation of 

reforms that support private sector development and economic growth. 

Government of Kiribati 

• Since July 2010, the Government of Kiribati through the Ministry of Finance & Economic 

Development (MFED) has undertaken practical responses to the global economic crisis 

through the following activities: 

- fiscal discipline strengthened by tightening and prioritising budget expenditures/ 

programmes; 

- expansion of revenue base through: excise tax increased (commenced in 2008) on 

alcohol drinks, cigarettes, and kava; scope of duty exemption reduced in 2009; tax 

reform (introduced in 2009) that started off with new simpler tax regime focusing less 

on assessment but more on auditing (PAYE final); promoting user-pay system; raising 

some recurrent revenue sources – for example, airport tax and fish export fees. Support 

household income through salary and copra subsidy increases (commenced in 2009); 

- local food production project is ongoing ; 

- Revenue Equalization Reserve Fund reviewed in 2010 to improve its performance; 

- State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) reform is still ongoing with six SOEs identified for 

privatization; 

- improving budget planning that began with introduction of a Multi-year budget 

framework (Medium Term Financial Framework (MTFF) & Medium Term Expenditure 

Framework (MTEF)) in 2009-10; 

- Donor Roundtable held in March 2010 to improve aid coordination and harmonization; 

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months (continued) 

- technical assistance and training support received to improve statistical issues; 

- enhancing monitoring and evaluation system for the Kiribati Development Plan and 

Budget execution; 

- expansion of some banking services to Development Bank of Kiribati and Kiribati 

Provident Fund; 

- establishment of a Food Crisis Grant to support import levy fund that is expected in 

May after co-signing of Grant Agreement by Ministry of Finance and Economic Development 

(MFED); and 

- launched the Public Financial Management Plan 

Government of New Zealand 

• New Zealand continues to support Pacific Island Countries to address economic and fiscal 

challenges they face, exacerbated by the global economic crisis. Examples include: 

- Member of the Solomon Islands CEWG and participated in the first Annual Joint Review. 

- Liaising with the Government of Tonga and other relevant donors over priority financial 

and economic reforms and potential budget support. New Zealand also provided 

budget support during this period to help preserve essential education and police 

services. 

Government of Palau 

• Visitor arrivals have been on the rise as a result from the increase in flights servicing Palau. 

The additional flights and airlines bring about competitive, discounted rates for travelling, 

which not only benefit visitors but the locals as well. Tourism is the country’s bread and 

butter, yet there are still efforts being made to attract foreign investment to strengthen the 

private sector and diversify revenue sources. 

• Efforts to reduce utility costs through renewable/alternative energy initiatives are 

ongoing, including solar panels have been installed in government buildings; the 

National Development Bank has been active by encouraging homes to be built in an 

energy efficient manner; and new generators and engines have been installed at the Public 

Utilities Corporation’s Malakal Power Plant to provide better and more efficient utility 

services. 

Government of Tuvalu 

Safeguarding macro-economic stability 

• In April 2011, the Government of Tuvalu passed the Banking Commission Act that 

establishes a legal framework to supervise and regulate the financial sector in Tuvalu in 

line with Basel Core Principles. 

• Over the past 12 months, the Government has cleared outstanding liabilities arising from 

Government Guarantees that were called in after the collapse of Air Fiji. This has reduced 

the Government’s overall debt burden. 

• Maintenance of the Government Medium-term Fiscal Framework to monitor the impact 

of the budget situation. 

• The Government has submitted to a recent Public Expenditure and Financial 

Accountability (PEFA) review undertaken by Asia Development Bank to review public 

financial management (PFM) operations in Tuvalu. This will be used to prepare a roadmap 

for public financial management reform in Tuvalu. 

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• The Government has established a Public Financial Management (PFM) Legislative 

Framework Working Group to update and strengthen procedures and rules surrounding 

the management of public finances. This will include review of the Public Finance 

Act, Financial Instructions, establishing procurement rules and addressing weaknesses 

identified in the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) study. 

• Tuvalu has recently become a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and 

World Bank. In November 2010, the IMF undertook its first Article IV visit reviewing the 

Government’s financial position. The Government has received the report and it is now a 

public document. 

Protecting Core Services 

• Health and education services were at the top of the Government’s priority list - 19.6 

percent of government spending for 2011 was allocated to the education sector, and 14.7 

percent to the health sector. The Government also injected 11.4 percent of Government 

funds to the transport sector, 10.1 percent to developing Outer Islands and 8.2 percent for 

infrastructure and energy. 

• The Government has prepared Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEFs) for the 

education and health sectors to help the Government identify financing gaps in these 

areas and thereby protect the core services of Government in a tight fiscal environment. 

• The health sector also received financial and technical support from World Health 

Organisation (WHO), United National Population Fund (UNFPA), Australian Agency for 

International Development (AusAID), New Zealand Aid for International Development 

(NZAID), and the Global Fund-Tuberculosis/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (GF-TB/ 

HIV). 

Targeted Support for the Vulnerable 

• Government provided an amount of AUD1.8 million for the Outer Island Projects in 2010 

and AUD1.2 million in 2011 particularly in the areas of agriculture and infrastructure. 

• The Government also provides a Senior Citizen Scheme in which all citizens from the age 

of 70 years receive $50 on a monthly basis. 

• Government continues to provide free primary school education and free medical care to 

the public. 

Boosting National Competitiveness 

• Cabinet approved a Public Enterprise Policy in October 2009 outlining a program of 

reform of public enterprises, including privatisation, contracting out, efficiency reforms 

and the establishment of a dedicated Public Enterprise Reform and Monitoring Unit 

(PERMU) within the Ministry of Finance. 

• Parliament passed the Public Enterprise (Performance and Accountability) Act in April 

2010 to implement many of the reforms of the Public Enterprise Policy. This Act was 

signed into effect by the Minister of Finance in December 2010. 

Strengthened Development Coordination 

• Recruitment of an Aid Coordination Technical Adviser (United Nations Volunteer) to 

assist the Aid Coordination Unit under the Planning & Budget Department. The Technical 

Adviser was also tasked to assist the Planning Unit with improving the development of 

sector plans, especially their linkages to the National Priorities and Goals. This involved 

consultations between the Planning & Budget Department with government agencies, 

together with representatives from the private sector. 

• Recruitment of staff to assist the Aid Coordination Unit, given that it currently only has 

one person. 

7



• Continued reporting on grants from major donors. 

• Tuvalu underwent the peer review process in early 2011. The Peer Review Team met 

with various government agencies, non-governmental organisations, private sector and 

development partners. The findings of the Tuvalu Peer Review will be finalized in July 

2011. 

• Update of the Te Kakeega II Matrix which keeps track of all activities and programmes 

funded by development partners. 

• Preparations for the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, Busan Korea, 2011. 

• Training of 35 local government staff on all islands, on budget planning and 

implementation. 

Government of Vanuatu 

• Vanuatu has continued to commit to sound macro-economic management following 

Governments policy priorities for macroeconomic stability and equitable growth for 2009- 

2012. 

• The national development plan, “Vanuatu Priority Action Agenda (PAA) 2006 – 2015 has 

been reviewed and an updated PAA Action Plan 2011 – 2015 developed to ensure Vanuatu 

is on track with its priorities. 

• Vanuatu’s peer review was undertaken in early 2011. The review report considered some 

good practices in development coordination that could also be adapted in the region, 

whilst at the same time identifying areas and actions that needed to be strengthened. 

• The Vanuatu government has re-established a new and separate Department of Industry 

to implement key economic policies that support the development of the primary 

productive sector, diversification and down-streaming of key primary industries, rural 

economic growth and employment creation. 

• Vanuatu had undertaken consultations on its Foreign Policy Paper from April 2010 

in most of the six provinces. The Policy will be linked to the various sectoral policies 

and will outline Vanuatu’s interests as a sovereign nation, whilst at the same time to 

encourage and promote a positive engagement with the international community. 

What progress is anticipated over the next 12 months 


• Ongoing dialogue with the Solomon Islands Government through the CEWG will ensure 

the reform agenda remains relevant, achievable and implementable. Future performancelinked 

aid payments will be commensurate with reform actions demonstrated by the 

Solomon Islands Government. 

• Australia and other development partners will meet in late 2011 to review progress and 

provide assistance to Tonga in relation to their implementation of economic and fiscal 

reforms. 


• In the upcoming months until July 2011, Government of Kiribati will: 

8

What progress is anticipated over the next 12 months (continued) 

- Continue ongoing fiscal and structural reforms on tax, customs, State Owned Enterprises, 

and budget execution & monitoring; 

- Continue improvement of aid coordination, management and harmonisation; 

- Complete an ongoing local food production programme; 

- Implement recommendations of the completed Revenue Equalisation Reserve Fund 

Review; 

- Complete implementation of a joint-venture in fisheries with interested fishing companies; 

- Convene the next Donors Roundtable in March 2012 to check on progress on the action 

plan agreed at the 2010 Roundtable, and to discuss any new issues with the recommendations; 

- Develop a new Kiribati Development Plan 2012-2015 and complete its Monitoring and 

Evaluation framework; 

- Continue with technical assistance to improve other data, including National Accounts 

and Balance of Payments; 

- Implementation of the Public Financial Management (PFM) roadmap covering, inter 

alia, improvement of management information systems; 

- Technical assistance support and short term training to improve National Economic 

Planning Office staff capacity, especially in policy analysis and project appraisal. This 

will be provided under ongoing ADB technical assistance on Improving Economic 

Management & Public Sector Reform; 

• A solar PV grid to be funded by the World Bank, is expected later in 2011. This will help 

reduce diesel costs to the Public Utilities Board and reduce electricity bill to consumers. 


• Support for sound economic and public financial management in the region, including 

through the IMF’s Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC). 

• Continue to work with key partner countries, in coordination with other development 

partners, to help them address key economic and fiscal issues. 

• Implementation of a number of programmes to support sustainable economic 

development in a way that recognises the interconnections between productive sectors 

and the broader economic environment, and seeks to take advantage of synergies in our 

work across different sectors. 


• The budget proposal for fiscal year 2012 shows a slight increase, totalling USD58.8 million, 

with hopes to alleviate and address financial strains for the vulnerable unemployed and 

low-income groups. If passed, the minimum wage will increase and income taxes will shift 

to better balance and narrow the income gap. 

• Efforts to improve national and sector planning in the budget process are ongoing. The 

Office of Budget and Grant Oversight participated in the Paris Monitoring Survey and 

recommendations include better coordination and communication. 

• The Green Fee initiative is a tax collected from departing visitors for the protection of 

the environment through the Protected Areas Network. The increase in this fee from 

USD15 to USD30 is under consideration. Funds derived from the recycling of plastic and 

9


aluminium containers should be available to utilise soon and tax initiatives proposed to 

Congress continue efforts toward tax reform and the gradual reduction of dependence on 

foreign aid. 

• The areas of tourism and foreign investment continue to be the main agenda for revenue, 

however there is growth in the private sector and the Small Business Development Centre 

continues to push and offer tremendous amounts of support. 



• Review of the Public Financial Management Legal Framework and updated Public Finance 

Act and implementation of Procurement system 

• Establishment of a Banking Commission. 


• Given the trend of Government budget allocations, it is likely that priority will be on 

education and health. In the next few months the Government will be preparing for the 

2012 National Budget, and will be reassessing its’ expenditure levels while maintaining 

main core services. 

• Implementation of Medium Term Expenditure Frameworks for education and health 

ensuring core services in these areas are adequately funded. 


• Preparations for the 2012 Budget will include assessing expenditure and implementation 

of programs for the vulnerable. 

• The senior citizen scheme will be reviewed with a view to improve accountability. 

• Primary education will continue to be free to pupils. 

• Electricity tariffs will continue to be subsidised. 

• Shipping costs (fares) will continue to be subsidised. 

• Medical care continues to be free to the public. 


• Enactment and implementation of Public Enterprise Act, together with activities related 

to public enterprises reforms. 


• Expect to conduct the Annual Donors Round Table meeting in the second half of 2011. 

• Update of Te Kakeega II Matrix to be presented at the Donors Round Table Meeting 2011. 

• Updating of the aid database. 

• Continue reporting on implementation of grants from development partners. 

• Finalize the Peer Review Report and implement agreed recommendations for action by the 

Government in improving development effectiveness. 

• Follow-up workshops for officials involved in supporting strengthened development 

coordination. 


• Approval and implementation of the updated Public Action Agenda Action Plan 2011 – 

2013. 

• Vanuatu will implement the recommendations of the Peer Review. 

10


• Consultations on a National Industrial Policy will be undertaken. 

• Launching of the first ever National Industrial Policy. 

• Completion of Foreign Policy Paper consultations in November/December with a view to 

launching the Policy early 2012. 

Are there any risks or major issues that are impacting on your 

organisation’s capacity to implement this decision 


• Government of Kiribati has identified the following as risks/issues against progress: 

- resource constraints - funding, skilled human, and physical resources; 

- institutional constraints; 

- slow progress of implementing reforms generally; 

- high dependence on foreign technical assistance; 

- staff turnover; 

- non-compliance with government system by some development partners; 

- low absorptive capacity; 

- lack of updated and reliable data; 

- inadequate analysis and appraisal capacity; 

- monopoly in the banking sector with high and numerous charges; and 

- communication and information issues lag between development partners and the 

Government of Kiribati. 


• The lack of coordination with development partners hinders the effective use of aid; 

• All funding that is available is yet to be completely tapped; 

• Lack of political will obstructs efforts to move forward; 

• Capacity building in the varied components of fiscal management, budget and planning, 

and lack of available qualified personnel. 



• Dealing with Government budget deficits, particularly trimming recurrent Government 

expenditure. 

• Depletion of Government reserves in the face of persistent deficits, as the Tuvalu Trust 

Fund fails to deliver any distributions. 

• Appreciation of the Australian dollar on Government’s US dollar revenues (fishing 

licenses, Republic of China grants and television revenues) will reduce Government 

revenues. 

• Implementation of Government tax reforms to deliver more regular and reliable tax 

revenues for the Government budget; and 

11


organisation’s capacity to implement this decision (continued) 

• Dealing with capacity constraints to establish a Banking Commission. 


• Trimming down recurrent funds and a reduction in Government reserves in the light 

of no distributions from the Tuvalu Trust Fund will require a reduction in Government 

expenditure which could have a major impact on core services. 


• Proper monitoring of impacts of these programs on the vulnerable. 

• There needs to be an increased focus on care for the ageing population. 

• Overall governance of outer islands jurisdictions tend to be confrontational rather than 

facilitative, often resulting in persistent hardships for the majority of the people. 


• Bedding down public enterprise reforms under the new Public Enterprise (Performance 

and Accountability) Act. 


• The small capacity of the Planning and Budget Department which houses the Aid 

Coordination Unit in coordinating all development assistance. This also includes 

coordinating the high number of development partners’ missions which also puts a strain 

on the capacity of the department. 

• Department of Planning and Budget is looking at the idea of developing an aid policy to 

address the burden related to the coordination of aid in Tuvalu. 

• Development partner visits and reporting place an extra burden on the Department. 


• Better fiscal discipline and sheer political will be needed for fiscal control and sufficient 

conditions for sound and stronger economic growth, including the aligning of Public 

Action Agenda priorities to budget programmes, budget narratives and corporate plans. 

• Budget support is needed in the new Department of Industry to carry out its activities to 

support both domestic and international trade. 

• Continuous political support to support the various policies that are being developed such 

as the National Industrial Policy and the Vanuatu Foreign Policy. 

• Budget support is needed for the various consultations on the proposed national policies. 

12


(ii) Continuing to support action in the fisheries sector which would see commitment to 

implementing the direction offered by the Forum Leaders through the Vava’u Declaration 

and Forum Fisheries Committee, and in particular: 

• progressing the development and implementation of fisheries management and 

development; 

• regimes including Regional Strategies on Sustainable Fisheries; 

• Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission conservation and management 

measures; 

• Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategies; 

• addressing ongoing barriers to international market access; 

• the re-negotiation of the Multilateral Treaty on Fisheries between Pacific Island States and 

the United States; 

• the fostering of coastal fisheries; and 


months 


• As a Member of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), the 

Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), 

Australia has continued to actively contribute to development and strengthening of 

fisheries management and monitoring, control and surveillance measures and the 

fostering of coastal fisheries. 

• In the WCPFC meetings, Australia achieved adoption of the first phase of its proposed 

Compliance Monitoring Scheme, to assess members’ compliance with the WCPFC 

conservation and management measures. Since this was adopted in December 2010, 

Australia has been working to assist the Secretariat with the first compliance monitoring 

report and developing responses to non-compliance for consideration at the next annual 

meeting (phase two of the Scheme). Australia has also worked with other FFA members to 

develop an initial proposal for a new Conservation and Management Measure for bigeye, 

yellowfin and skipjack tunas, for consideration prior to the next annual Commission 

meeting in December 2011. 

• In 2010, Forum Leaders endorsed a Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance 

Strategy (RMCSS), funded by Australia, and agreed to negotiate a Niue Treaty Subsidiary 

Agreement by 2012 as the most practical legal framework for fisheries protection. 

Australia strongly supported and advocated these measures, which are important 

milestones in progressing cooperative efforts to address illegal, unreported and 

unregulated fishing. Through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 

Australia is providing AUD2.4 million to support the negotiations of the Niue Treaty 

Subsidiary Agreement and AUD400,000 to implement the RMCSS. The Australian 

Fisheries Management Authority has provided capacity building programs through the 

FFA, as well as directly with some Pacific Island Countries to underpin the RMCSS. 

• As one of the 16 Pacific Islands Parties to the Multilateral Treaty on Fisheries between 

Pacific Island States and the United States, Australia has supported the Pacific Islands 

Parties in the ongoing discussions on the possible form of a new or amended treaty to take 

effect from June 2013, when the current phase of the treaty was scheduled to finish (due 

13



to the recent withdrawal of Papua New Guinea, the treaty will now cease to have effect 

in May 2012). In addition to internal discussions between the Pacific Islands Parties to 

develop agreed negotiating positions, over the last 12 months discussions have been held 

with the United States through both formal renegotiation sessions and several meetings of 

the informal Technical Working Group. 

• Over the 12-month period, Australia (through AusAID) provided over AUD8 million 

to support efforts by regional and national fisheries agencies to increase benefits for 

the region while safeguarding fish stocks. This includes AUD2.6 million core program 

support and an additional AUD2.5 million for selected priority activities with the FFA. 

Specific projects supported included FFA’s Regional Economic Integration Program, 

which has been actively engaged in supporting in-country fisheries investment activities 

in ten countries involving six loining/canning plants, ten long line shore bases, ten joint 

ventures in the catching sector and other investment related projects; the establishment 

of a regional observer program to support national observer programs; legislative reviews 

in 11 countries to incorporate international and regional obligations; the finalisation of 

two national institutional strengthening reviews to target and facilitate collaboration 

on future capacity building support; and the training of 79 people in portside boarding, 

prosecution procedures, evidence and investigation techniques. AusAID also strengthened 

Australia’s engagement with SPC’s Division of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine 

Ecosystems (FAME), providing an additional AUD1.3 million (in addition to SPC core 

contributions) to support fisheries export assistance, the development of mariculture and 

aquarium fisheries opportunities and enhanced scientific advice for the development of 

oceanic fishery management measures. 

Government of Cook Islands 

• Marine Resources (Longline Fishery) Regulations 2011 (“Tuna Plan”) promulgated in 

October 2010. 

• Exploratory plans for purse seine; swordfish; and tropical tuna longline were developed 

with considerable public consultation. 

• Active participation by Ministry of Marine Resources staff in regional meetings and 

capacity building workshops for developing strategies on sustainable fisheries. 

• WCPFC conservation and management measures are implemented through the Tuna Plan 

and licensing conditions. 

• Cook Islands, together with Kiribati and French Polynesia have developed the Eastern- 

High Seas Packet Management Area that provides for increased Monitoring, Control 

Surveillance of the area to deter Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. 

• Cook Islands is a member of the Technical Working Group for the Renegotiation of the 

Multilateral Treaty on Fisheries between certain Pacific Island States and the United States 

of America, and has proactively participated in all meetings to date. 


• Government of Kiribati (through the Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources 

Development) has continued to support action in the fisheries sector by: maximizing 

returns from the marine resources and which are still on-going, for example the joint 

venture fishing operation; and the tourist based fishing industry, for example, Kiritimati 

(Christmas Island) game fishing. 

14




• Support for fisheries development and management through: 

- strengthened governance for Solomon Islands fisheries management through Mekem 

Strong Solomon Islands Fisheries; 

- greater observer coverage of tuna fisheries through investment in training Pacific 

Island observers (via FFA and SPC); 

- a four month course for fisheries extension officers trained in skills to support sustainable 

and profitable fisheries; 

- consolidated sub-regional co-operation on shared interests in the Te Vaka Moana Arrangement; 

and 

- support for FFA and SPC to enable them to implement activities as per directions signalled 

by Forum Leaders. 


• The first Micronesia Coastal Fisheries and Marine Resources Management Workshop 

was held on 4-8 April 2011 in Koror, Palau where key stakeholders came together to 

network, coordinate, and collaborate on the implementation of the Ecosystem Approach 

to Fisheries management. At the workshop, leaders in the area of Coastal Fisheries and 

Marine Resources Management shared and recognized Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries 

successes and achievements, and further addressed the potential impacts of climate 

change on near-shore fisheries. Currently, SPC is investigating these potential impacts 

within the Pacific Island region, and the Micronesian sub-region saw the importance 

of understanding these impacts on the coastal fisheries and developing an integrated 

approach to mitigate the effects. It sees the crucial need of ensuring that climate change is 

incorporated into any Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries approaches. 

Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands 

• MRAG Ltd has recently been contracted by the European Union (EU) funded 

African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) fish II Program to undertake the Marshall 

Islands Comprehensive Legislation Review project. The purpose of the project is to 

comprehensively review and update the offshore and inshore fisheries legislation and 

regulations of the Republic of Marshall Islands so that they are aligned with regional and 

international best practice, and provide the necessary framework towards ensuring that 

fisheries resources are managed sustainably and in the best long term interests of the 

Marshallese people. As part of this project, a 2 day workshop in July 2010 facilitated by 

MRAG Ltd. and SPC, was held to consult interested stakeholders on the legal issues to be 

addressed in the legislation review. 

• The Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA) has banned the trade in, and 

exports of, shark fins and sea cucumbers following reports of illegal export operation 

in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. MIMRA’s board of directors placed a ban on the 

trade of these two marine resources until new regulatory procedures are in place. SPC and 

MIMRA will work on developing a national sea cucumber plan. 

• Negotiations on the United States Pacific Islands fisheries treaty took place in Majuro, 

commencing on 21 March 2011. Attending the negotiations were most Pacific Island 

Countries fisheries officials, the FFA and the United States State Department. Under the 

Nauru Agreement (PNA), several countries including the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 

have put the United States on notice that the treaty requires changes because it is not in 

15



step with conservation and management standards being driven by PNA countries. Other 

issues discussed were overfishing of tuna, particularly bigeye tuna. 


• The Marine Resource Act has been reviewed in light of Tuvalu’s obligations as a member 

to the WCPFC. Gaps identified in the Act have been addressed in the form of regulations. 

• Re-negotiation of the United States Treaty is underway, with the decision of Papua New 

Guinea on its withdrawal from the Treaty. 

• The formulation of the Institutional Strengthening Programme (ISP) has been completed 

and is ready to tender for any interested development partner. 

• A review of Tuvalu Tuna Management and Development Plan (TMDP) has been 

completed. Amendments have been made to the plan in order to comply with regional and 

international management measures. 


• The Vanuatu Government, through the Department of Fisheries, has extended its coastal 

development fisheries development programs to the provinces, in particular Torba and 

Penama provinces (these were forced to close down due to strikes in early 1990s and 

following the Comprehensive Reform Program in 1997/1998). The year also saw the 

establishment of 72 Fishermen Cooperative Associations (FCA) in the six provinces and 

the improvement of market access and infrastructure to support coastal fisheries with the 

installation of eight ice making machines and two cold storage rooms in the provinces. 

• In collaboration with SPC, Vanuatu has managed to develop its coastal fisheries data base, 

which is now fully operational and accommodates observer and port sampling data. 

• Vanuatu has developed the National Fish Aggregating Device management plan, the 

national catch retention plan, and the national plan of action on shark by-catch to 

ensure compliance of its long-line fleets with international obligations and to ensure 

conservation measures are complied with. 

• Vanuatu currently has 15 trained observer cadets and four SPC/FFA registered observers, 

bringing a total number of 19 observers in 2010. Surveillance has also continued to be 

undertaken through air and surface patrols with 814 patrol hours achieved in 2010 and 

the boarding of 13 vessels out of the 15 that were sighted. 

Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) 

Progressing the development and implementation of fisheries management and development regimes 

including Regional Strategies on Sustainable Fisheries 

• Implementation of the Regional Tuna Management and Development Strategy through 

formulation of national plans, programmes and practices. 

• Establishment of the Regional Economic Integration in Fisheries (REI) unit and specific 

investment facilitation assistance provided to the Federated States of Micronesia, Tuvalu, 

Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Niue, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tokelau and other 

member countries. 

• Commencement of the second phase of the EU funded DevFish Project in January 2011. 

• Fisheries management initiatives, such as assistance with the preparation of tuna 

management and development plans, promotion of the ecosystem approach, provision of 

management advice at the national, sub-regional and regional levels, and strengthening of 

legal frameworks supporting management and development. 

16



Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission conservation and management measures 

• Preparation and support to FFA members in the negotiation of conservation and 

management measures at the WCPFC annual meeting in December 2010; 

• Development of negotiation strategies for WCPFC issues throughout 2010. 

• Assisting member countries to conduct assessments of the implementation status and 

implications of the WCPFC Conservation and Management Measures. 

• Comprehensive FFA brief for the FFA Science working group which met prior to the 

meeting of the WCPFC Scientific Committee in August 2010 to assist member countries in 

consolidating their views. 

• Comprehensive FFA brief for the FFA Technical and Compliance working group which 

met prior to the meeting of the WCPFC Technical and Compliance Committee in 

September/October 2010 to assist member countries in consolidating their views. 

• Convening a regional workshop in early May 2011 on the review of the WCPFC bigeye 

and yellowfin measure (Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) 2008-01) in 

advance of the revision of the measure in December 2011. 

Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategies 

• Adoption of the Regional Monitoring, Control Surveillance Strategy (RMCSS) by the 

Forum Fisheries Committee 74 in May 2010, following years of consultation and research. 

The RMCSS provides the basis for regional and national actions to allow FFA members 

greater control over fishing activities in their waters. Significant work now lies ahead 

in building capacity for implementation of priority interventions based on member 

priorities. 

• Implementation of regional requirements for 100 percent observer coverage on purse 

seine fishing vessels. This requirement has placed significant pressure on national and subregional 

observer programmes. With SPC, FFA has delivered results through the training 

of 300 observers to meet this demand. More recent focus has been on building capacity 

and infrastructure for national administration and data management. 

• Coordination and implementation of regional Monitoring, Control, Surveillance (MCS) 

operations. The following represent outcomes of regional multilateral MCS operations 

conducted during the past year: 

- Operation Tui Moana 10: Cook Islands and New Zealand only; Samoa’s Pacific Patrol 

Boat unable to participate; 1 Pacific Patrol Boat and 1 P3K aircraft; no at-sea boardings 

undertaken. 

- Operation Rai Balang 10: Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, United States Coast 

Guard and United States Navy; 3 Pacific Patrol Boat’s, 2 United States Coast Guard Cutters 

and 1 United States Navy P3 aircraft; 43 sightings; 7 at-sea boardings; 2 apprehensions. 

- Operation Island Chief 10: Papua New Guinea, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, 

Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, United States Coast Guard and 

United States Navy; 6 Pacific Patrol Boats, 2 United States Coast Guard Cutters and 1 

Untied States Navy 3 aircraft; 99 sightings; 20 at-sea boardings; 2 apprehensions. 

- Operation Kurukuru 10: Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, 

Tuvalu, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Niue, Tokelau, United States Coast Guard, France, 

New Zealand and Australia (both military and Border Protection Command); 5 Pacific 

Patrol Boats, 1 Frigate, 1 United States Coast Guard Cutter, 3 Patrol Boats, United States 

Coast Guard C-130 aircraft, 1 New Zealand P3K aircraft, 1 Australian A-P3C aircraft 

17



and 1 Australian Border Protection Command Dash-8 aircraft; 195 sightings; 35 at-sea 

boardings; 2 apprehensions. 

- Operation Tautai 10: Operation run by the French; French Polynesia, Kiribati, Cook Islands 

and U.S. Coast Guard. A number of vessels boarded in the High Seas and reported 

to WCPFC. 

• Conducted national prosecutions and boarding workshops in the Cook Islands (May 

2010), Vanuatu (November 2010), Palau and Micronesia (May 2011). 

Addressing ongoing barriers to international market access 

• Assisting countries establish Competent Authorities to monitor seafood safety and meet 

the requirements of the EU Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Regulation. 

• Support to Pacific Island Countries World Trade Organisation (WTO) members in 

WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies, in conjunction with the Pacific Islands Forum 

Secretariat Geneva office 

• Tuna Trade News, published in hard copy and online, to provide countries with a 

comprehensive review of possible improvement to market intelligence 

Re-negotiation of the Multilateral Treaty on Fisheries between Pacific Island States and the United States 

• The FFA Regional Strategy for the renegotiation of the Multilateral Treaty with the United 

States was endorsed which formed the basis for renegotiation by Pacific Island Parties 

to the Treaty in the renegotiations sessions with the United States. Key issues for the 

renegotiation include removal of constraints on sovereign rights and national laws, limit 

on fishing efforts and enhancement of domestic fisheries development. 

• Support to members in Technical Working Group meetings in Hawai’i in 2010 and 

renegotiation session in the Marshall Islands in 2011. 

Strengthening the sector’s governance 

• Institutional strengthening reports finalised in Kiribati and Tuvalu. Ongoing work to 

design implementation programmes in both countries; 

• Funds for additional reviews secured and initial priority members identified. 

• Capacity building of member representatives through attachments with the Divisions of 

the Secretariat and legal fellowships. 

• Review and strengthening of fisheries legal frameworks in Samoa and Tuvalu. 

• Reviewed and designed new approach to national fisheries management assistance 

through a focus on national priorities which will feed into continued leadership at the 

wider regional level. Service level agreement template prepared for use. 

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) 

General Achievements– new projects 

• Start of DevFish 2 Project – This €8.2 million four-year project funded by the EU aims 

to promote tuna industry development in Pacific ACP countries while assisting them to 

combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. The lead agency is FFA, but activities 

with a budgeted cost of CFP 3.3 million units will be implemented by SPC. • 

• Start of Fisheries for Food Security Project – This four-year project, with a budget of AUD 

4.8 million will provide scientific services in support of oceanic fishery management 

measures developed by FFA members. It will also support services in three areas of 

coastal fisheries: management and development of export fisheries for aquarium fish, 

development of mariculture opportunities, and assistance to meet export requirements for 

marine products. 

18



• Start of Papua New Guinea tuna tagging – This is a three - year project (2011–2014) funded 

by the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority in the amount of USD 3 million. 

The project will be managed by the National Fisheries Authority; but a little under one 

third of the total funding is earmarked to support technical assistance by Oceanic Fisheries 

Programme staff. The project is implementing a major tagging programme and building 

capacity in Papua New Guinea for applied research, while benefiting from the systems and 

experience built up during the Pacific Tuna Tagging Programme. It represents a unique 

investment in tuna science by a developing Pacific Island country. 

• Start of Pacific Economic Growth Observer Programme – This 3 year project funded by 

the New Zealand Aid Programme is jointly implemented by FFA and SPC to support 

development of national observer programmes. Work by the latter will include training 

observer trainers and debriefers, improving data collection protocols, and enhancing the 

quality and management of data collected by observers. 

Information 

• A wide range of information materials using different media was produced and 

distributed, ranging from technical manuals to newsletters, videos to magazine articles. 

The Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems website was completely revised, and 

national information materials for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa developed. 

Cross cutting initiatives (Gender) 

• Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems through the SciCOFish Project provided 

support to a major gender analysis exercise on how to increase benefits for women by 

increasing their participation in different areas of oceanic and coastal fisheries science and 

management. 

Oceanic Fisheries 

• Completed the new region-wide stock assessments for skipjack and bigeye tuna. The 

skipjack assessment which used for the first time, information from the current Pacific 

Tuna Tagging Programme as well as new analyses of fishery-related data. New assessments 

for skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore will be presented to the WCPFC Scientific 

Committee in August 2011 and will form the basis of scientific inputs to a new WCPFC 

Conservation and Management Measure for tropical tunas. 

• Supported the introduction of a new longline fishery management system for the Parties 

to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), as well as analytical work on improved management of 

albacore longline fisheries for other members. 

• Shark research plan developed, approved and now being implemented. 

• Scientific support provided to FFA members in the development of a new conservation 

and management measure for bigeye tuna. 

• The latest version of the Tuna Fisheries Data Management System (TUFMAN) programme 

was rolled out in seven countries. 

• Considerable progress was made with the analysis of purse-seine species composition, 

using paired spill and grab samples collected by observers during 2008–2010. 

• Version 1 of Tuna Management Simulator (TUMAS) – the tuna management simulator 

which allows national fisheries staff to model the impact of management measures – was 

released and can be downloaded free of charge from the internet. 

• In collaboration with partners, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems through 

the region’s observer programmes have continued to meet the objective of 100 percent 

observer coverage on purse-seine vessels during 2010-2011, with 150 observers trained. 

19



• While the fieldwork for the major tagging efforts of the Pacific Tuna Tagging Programme 

were completed in 2009, two cruises targeting bigeye tuna in the central Pacific using 

hand-line fishing had been executed by the end of 2010. Since 2006, nearly 300,000 tunas 

have been tagged and released and in excess of 40,000 recoveries received. 

• Provided scientific support to a comprehensive analysis of the effects of oceanographic 

conditions on albacore fisheries, a study on the effectiveness of high seas marine protected 

areas, and the first applications of the Spatial Ecosystem and Population Dynamics Model 

(SEAPODYM) model at the level of national exclusive economic zones (EEZs). 

Coastal Fisheries 

• Adoption and implementation of resource management plans, supporting sustainable 

local fisheries in the Cook Islands, Tonga, Kiribati, and Federated States of Micronesia; 

• Establishment of community based management arrangements in Kiribati, the Marshall 

Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Samoa; and development of improved 

fisheries legislation in Samoa, Fiji, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. 

• Establishment of sustainable Fish Aggregation Device fishing programmes (deployment, 

maintenance, monitoring and fishing skill development) in Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, 

Solomon Islands, Nauru, Fiji and Tuvalu. 

• Trained trainees from the Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati in appropriate 

methodologies and assistance in assessment of aquarium/live reef fisheries. 

• Supported the development of marine aquarium/live reef fisheries policy/management 

framework for Nauru; Kiritimati in Kiribati; and Papua New Guinea. 

• Technical assistance provided to Samoa, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Fiji for the 

coastal component of legislation reviews/development. 

• Practical assistance provided through training on the designing and targeting of 

appropriate awareness raising and educational information on coastal fisheries provided 

to Cook Islands and Fiji. 

• In collaboration with FFA, provided support to the Tokelau tuna fishery development 

plan. 

• Supported regional workshop with non-governmental organisations on assessing and 

standardising monitoring methods, data collection, identifying forms of data suited for 

coastal fisheries management requirements. 

Aquaculture 

• Regional review of aquaculture statistics published. 

• Assistance provided to Fiji to review aquaculture legislation. 

• Support to Kiribati for the enhancement of white teatfish stocks through aquaculture. 

• Assisted Solomon Islands with the introduction of Nile tilapia (risk assessment). 

• Assisted and reviewed Papua New Guinea aquaculture research facility development 

plans. 

• Supported mini-projects in six countries with useful research results as well as enabling 

five students to achieve postgraduate qualifications in aquaculture. 

• Co-organised the regional conference ‘Tahiti Aquaculture 2010’. 

• International symposium on sea cucumber culture and re-stocking co-organised with 

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. 

• Commenced review aquaculture/mariculture opportunities and constraints in the region. 

20



Coral Reefs Initiatives for the Pacific Project 

• Through Coral Reefs Initiatives for the Pacific Project, the Fisheries, Aquaculture and 

Marine Ecosystems continues to support field activities. These include trials of post-larval 

capture and culture in Kiritimati Island, Kiribati; further work on shark tagging; and a 

marine resource and biodiversity survey of the Chesterfield Islands of New Caledonia 

carried out with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). 

University of the South Pacific (USP) 

• The Institute of Marine Resources at the University of the South Pacific works with 

partners such as FFA, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the International 

Ocean Institute, and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to promote the importance of 

sustainably using and managing marine resources. Under an Asian Pacific Network 

project, USP organized a series of consultative meetings in Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Fiji 

that brought scientists and policy makers together in the areas of coral reef management 

and development. There was a round of meetings in July-August 2010, which were 

followed up in May 2011. 

• USP supports the promotion and importance of marine education. In July 2010, USP 

hosted the International Pacific Marine Educators Network (IPMEN) conference at the 

Outrigger on the Lagoon, which was attended by a number of Pacific Island Countries. 

After that conference, Fiji, through its Ministry of Education, decided to include Marine 

Studies in its Technical and Vocational Training programme. 

• In July 2010, in collaboration with FFA and Food and Agriculture Organisation, USP 

organized a two- week course on responsible fisheries. The course focused on the Code of 

Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and was attended by 16 participants. 

• In April 2011, USP worked with WWF, FFA and SPC to facilitate a civil society 

organisations’ workshop on Ocean Fisheries Management for 28 participants. 

• USP representatives also promote sustainable fisheries in academic courses because 

of their importance to Pacific Island Countries. This remains the focus of the Institute 

of Marine Resources’ research and community engagement activities. The Institute of 

Marine Resources at USP also engages extensively with Japan International Cooperation 

Agency on fisheries and with CRISP and Conservation International to support marine 

protected areas in the region. 



• Significant progress in negotiating the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement (drafting is to be 

completed by the end of 2012). 

• Continued core and project funding support to FFA and SPC Fisheries, Aquaculture and 

Marine Ecosystems for priority projects. 

• In the WCPFC: 

- development and adoption of a new and enhanced Conservation and Management 

Measure for bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tunas; and 

- development and adoption of phase two of the Compliance Monitoring Scheme to address 

identified non-compliance. 

21



• Exploratory plans implemented, monitored and reviewed where appropriate. 

• As Papua New Guinea has withdrawn from the United States Treaty, the Treaty will end in 

June 2012; the pace of the renegotiation should increase. 


- Government of Kiribati will increase joint venture operations; and seek other potential 

sites for game fishing apart from Kiritimati. 


• Greater observer coverage of tuna fisheries through investment in training Pacific Island 

observers (via FFA, SPC and Kiribati bilaterally). 

• More vocational training in vessel operations and private sector business skills. 

• Improved access by Pacific Island Countries to technical fisheries management and 

compliance expertise in the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries. 

• Greater sub-regional co-operation in fisheries management and development between Te 

Vaka Moana Arrangement participants. 

• Continuation of support to FFA and SPC. 


• The PNA Ministerial Meeting in 2010 resulted in the restriction of access to fishing 

grounds, which will increase economic returns to its Members. The following decisions 

were made: 

- Pacific Islander crewing of fishing vessels: implementing a mandatory PNA 

crewing requirement of 10 percent on all purse seine fishing vessels licensed in 

PNA waters from 1 January 2012 and gradually increasing to 20 percent over 

the next five years. 

- Continue high seas pocket closures: supporting closures endorsed by WCPFC and 

discussing intentions to make new high seas areas closures to purse seine fishing from 

2011, closing off an area of 4.5 million square kilometres to purse seine fishing. 

- Advance strategy to manage fishing: supporting the PNA strategy for management of 

the tropical tuna fishery, which includes maintaining current WCPFC measure on bigeye 

and yellow-fin tuna, imposing additional high seas closures from 2011, consideration 

of additional Fish Aggregating Device closures, and restricting the effort of United 

States flagged vessels under the United States fishing treaty with the Pacific Islands. 

- Back efforts to prosecute vessels for not carrying PNA observers onboard: Ministers 

agreed to pursue further regional action if necessary to ensure that the policy of the 

PNA to have fisheries observers on 100% of its purse seine vessels is complied with by 

all licensed vessels fishing in PNA waters. 


• Approval of the New Marine Resources Act and Tuna Management and Development Plan 

before implementation proceeds. 

• New Zealand and Australia has shown interest in the Institutional Strengthening 

Programme. Hopefully, the implementation of the programme could happen any time 

soon. 

22



• The establishment of the Seafood Verification Agency and activities on aquaculture, 

including marine seed production and mari-culture of marine related species and other 

research activities. 




• Development of Country “Service Level Agreements” with each FFA member as a 

statement of intent to guide implementation of national level priorities throughout the 

region. 

• Fisheries development initiatives include the drafting of Development Plans and 

Investment Strategies for Members, including most recently the Marshall Islands and 

Solomon Islands. 

• Developing a regional work programme for DevFish2 and implementation of the first full 

year activity. 

• Continue assistance with the preparation of tuna management and development plans, 

promotion of the ecosystem approach, provision of management advice at the national, 

sub-regional and regional levels, and strengthening of legal frameworks supporting 

management and development in all members in accordance with Service Level 

Agreements. 


• Support members for preparation and implementation of existing measures through 

national visits and sub-regional and regional work. 

• Member countries effectively implementing the WCPFC conservation and management 

measures. 

• FFA members’ knowledge enhanced and able to effectively participate in respective 

WCPFC meetings and implement WCPFC decisions at a national and sub-regional level. 

• Complete FFA brief for the FFA Science working group and provide policy advice to 

further enhance members’ participation at the WCPFC Scientific Committee in August 

2011. 

• Complete FFA brief for the FFA Technical and Compliance working group and provided 

policy advice to further enhance members participation at the WCPFC Technical and 

Compliance Committee in October 2011. 

• Complete FFA brief to further enhance members’ participation at the WCPFC annual 

session in December 2011. 


• Secretariat working on completing monitoring, control surveillance compliance audits for 

each member using the 2009 MRAG Monitoring, Control Surveillance Risk Assessment 

Matrix as a baseline and identify areas where assistance is required. FFA Members to 

provide feedback on additional regional interventions that the FFA will pursue in 2011- 

2012 to implement the strategy. The Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance 

Strategy is a ‘living document’. 

• Ongoing support for implementation of 100 percent observer coverage – resolution 

towards the implementation of this strategy between regional and national observer 

programmes and focus efforts towards building national capacity for administering 

national observer programs. 

23


• Conduct of national dockside boarding and prosecutions workshops (including Fiji, 

Kiribati, and Tuvalu), sub-regional joint surveillance operations, and vessel monitoring 

system training to continue. 


• Support to members including of drafting legislation on seafood standards and training 

personnel to implement the regulations. 


• Provision of briefs and advice for renegotiation sessions 


• Implementation of service level agreements and national fisheries management assistance 

through focus on national priorities 

• Dialogue with Ministers and Parliamentarians (particularly FFC Ministers, FEMM & 

Pacific WTO parliamentarians) to promote improved broad based decision making 

and coordination of fisheries development investments and initiatives with other 

national stakeholders and support government decision-making to improve objectivity , 

inclusiveness and technical expertise. 


Oceanic Fisheries 

Regional stock assessments 

• Conduct stock assessments for skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and South Pacific albacore tuna 

and related management analyses. 

• Undertake an analysis to investigate the use of alternative reference points for the 

management of Western and Central Pacific Ocean tuna fisheries. 

• Communicate information on tuna stock status and related issues in appropriate forums. 

• In conjunction with WCPFC, develop the 2011 service agreement and report on the 

implementation of services to the eighth annual session of the WCPFC. 

Stock assessment research and development 

• Release a later updated version of TUMAS, the Tuna Management simulator. 

• Conduct analyses of catch per unit effort, size and tagging data in support of regional tuna 

stock assessment. 

• Conduct analyses to determine appropriate biological parameters for use in regional tuna 

stock assessments. 

• Continue development, testing and documentation on the MULTIFAN-CLstock 

assessment software, with updated software and documentation posted on 

www.multifan-cl.org 

Implementation of the shark research plan 

• Develop preliminary indicators of stock status of key shark species. 

• Develop data sources and methods for assessment of silky shark. 

• Complete development of the shark tagging meta-database. 

• Communicate information on shark stock status and research. 

National Tuna Fisheries Status Reports 

• Develop and maintain secure national web pages containing updatable National Tuna 

Fisheries Status Report components. 

24


• Finalize national tuna fisheries status report for the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Samoa and 

Tokelau. 

• Complete national tuna fisheries status report in the new format for at least three of Cook 

Islands, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 

and American Samoa. 

• Complete at least two issue-specific national reports on issues of broad regional and subregional 

interest. 

• Communicate in appropriate forms the work conducted in support of national tuna 

fisheries management. 

Support for development of National Tuna Management plans and associated instruments (with FFA) 

• Provide technical support to national tuna management plan development in the Cook 

Islands, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

and American Samoa (if required). 

• Respond to ad hoc requests for scientific information and analyses in support of national 

tuna management. 

Observer training 

• Deliver a sub-regional Observer Training Course for Cook Islands, French Polynesia and 

Samoa in Apia. 

• National observers upgrade training for cadets in the Federated States of Micronesia. 

• Deliver a sub-regional Observer Training Course for Federated States of Micronesia and 

Palau in Pohnpei. 

• Deliver a sub-regional Observer Training Course for Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Niue, Republic of 

Marshall Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 

• Assist with sub-regional Observer Training Course for Papua New Guinea and Tuvalu in 

Kavieng and develop auditing procedures for observer training courses and institutions. 

• National Observer Training Course for Solomon Islands in Honiara. 

Other observer programme support 

• Conduct an Observer Trainers Workshop and Observer Trainer Certification. 

• Conduct an observer debriefing workshop. 

• Provide debriefer training during in-country visits or in workshops. 

• Hold the Regional Observer Coordinators Workshop. 

Tuna tagging 

• Conduct tuna tagging campaigns in the Western and Central Pacific for the provision of 

data for stock assessment. 

• Complete preliminary analyses of horizontal and vertical movements. 

• Complete preliminary analyses of temporal changes in exploitation and Fish Aggregating 

Device impacts. 

• Implement tag recovery programme, including new Tag Recovery Officers in seven 

transhipment locations. 

• Implement 50 tag seeding experiments on purse seiners. 

• Conduct training of observers in tag recovery during regular observer training workshops. 

25


Tuna biological research 

• Continue sample collection, conduct preliminary analyses of bigeye age, growth and 

reproductive biology. 

• Complete analyses of albacore age, growth and reproductive biology. 

Trophic dynamics 

• Stomach and muscle samples and fatmeter measurements collected during tagging cruises 

and observer trips. 

• Albacore sampling and fatmeter observations for New Caledonia. 

• Analyses of the impacts of FADs on trophic ecology submitted for publication. 

• Analyses of albacore diet submitted for publication. 

• Convene expert workshop to evaluate the suitability of applying. 

Coastal Fisheries 

Coastal Fisheries Management 

• Training provided in appropriate methodologies and assistance in assessment of aquarium 

fisheries. 

• Training provided in coastal fisheries data analysis for 4 countries. 

• Regional data repository maintained and national data provided to Pacific Island Countries 

and Territories. 

• Monitoring and data needs identified, national workshops/trainings and assessments 

completed. 

• Invertebrate resource assessment and national workshops/training provided. 

• Support attachment trainings undertaken in Noumea for data entry and analysis for 

developing management arrangements. 

• Develop database modules for market/creel surveys. 

• Support sub-regional workshop covering monitoring protocols, data collection and 

analysis. 

• Underwater visual census methodology manual produced and disseminated to member 

countries. 

• Invertebrate methodology manual produced and disseminated to member countries. 

• Develop regional database module for export data and trial. 

• Develop draft survey manuals for market and/or creel surveys and supporting database. 

• Conduct baseline surveys (fish, invert, and habitat) for project sites including the 

deployment of temperature loggers. 

• Develop database for Community Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management work. 

• Marine aquarium fisheries policy/management framework completed. 

• Progress aquarium fishery management arrangements. 

• Provide scientific advice that is used to develop species specific management plans or 

resources profiles. 

• National legislation ready for endorsement (this is a multiyear process). 

• Training provided to Pacific Island Countries and Territories to develop and disseminate 

fisheries information. 

26


• Support for fisheries website development training. 

• Coastal fisheries posters revised and/or developed. 

• Produce 16 information sheets covering management options of different finfish and 

invertebrate species or families that can be used for community-based management. 

Coastal Fisheries Development 

• Community-based bait fishing to supply fishing operations/local consumption started in 

the Marshall Islands. 

• Assistance to at least five national fishing associations to enhance profitability of small 

scale fishers. 

• Economic assessments completed for at least five fisheries or aquaculture projects. 

• International Fish Aggregating Device conference co-organised with Ifremer. 

• Fish Aggregating Device projects implemented in at least three countries. 

• Support for purse seine crew training to be initiated in Kiribati. 

• Sea safety training in at least three countries and materials provided. 

• Technical assistance provided to at least five countries in support of meeting seafood 

export requirements. 

• Support for development of sport fishing in support of the tourism sector in at least one 

country. 

Aquaculture 

• In response to requests, assistance for Pacific Island Countries and Territories in managing 

aquatic bio-security and pathogen issues, and provision of advice on the risks, quarantine 

issues and potential benefits of introducing improved or domesticated varieties of fish or 

seaweed for aquaculture. 

• Aquaculture commodity development plans published for two countries. 

• Assist Papua New Guinea national aquaculture research station at Nago Island. 

• Regional review of aquaculture statistics support. 

• Aquaculture Legislative support provided. 

• Produce post-Tahiti Aquaculture proceedings in both English and French. 

• Support to the Cook Islands pearl industry and freshwater hatchery development. 

• Assist Samoa Fisheries with tilapia development. 

• Assist the Republic of Marshall Islands in developing a capture based aquaculture project 

involving rabbit fish and or mullet. 

• Assist Vanuatu with freshwater hatchery and bio-security facility setup. 

• Review status of freshwater fisheries and opportunities for culture based fisheries. 

• Support invertebrate (sea cucumber) restocking initiatives. 

• Complete a major review and assessment of mariculture in the region to identify 

commodities for future economic development. 

• Co-host major aquaculture planning and development partner coordination meeting with 

Food and Agriculture Organisation. 

27


organisations capacity to implement this decision 


• Shortage of data input staff in the Offshore Fisheries Division that will be required to 

maintain the increase in data that will be received in connection with the Exploratory 

Plan. 

• Currently experiencing capacity restraints in that Ministry of Marine Resources does not 

have anyone available to continue to proactively participate at the Technical Working 

Group meeting of the United States Treaty. 


• Some issues relate to the lack of market facilitation program, market access, and consistent 

transport system in the domestic market for coastal fishers to meet the local demand. 

• Budget support is needed for capacity building and work programme for the Department 

of Fisheries. 




• Continued national interest in the provision of Secretariat assistance to support the 

development and implementation of fisheries management and development regimes. 

• Potential risk of duplication or conflict between various fisheries management and 

development regimes of sub-regional groupings. 


• Competing and often conflicting views and positions between and within FFA members 

and the wider Commission. 

• Policy advice provided by the FFA Secretariat not accepted by member countries. 

• Insufficient financial and skilled human resources at the national level to implement 

WCPFC decisions. 

• Lack of support for FFA member positions at Scientific Committee, Technical and 

Compliance Committee and annual WCPFC session. 


• Implementation of Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy – need to 

ensure close collaboration and cooperation between projects which have compliance 

components within them to ensure no overlaps or gaps in efforts in implementing the 

Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy. These projects include, SCIFISH, 

DEVFISH II, ACPFISH II and the New Zealand Aid Programme Observer Project. 

• Observer coverage – resource requirements for the development of national and subregional 

capacity to fully implement 100 percent observer coverage on fishing vessels and 

develop national capacity to administer and run national observer programs. 


• Insufficient resources to support the development of seafood safety systems. 


• Disagreement between the Pacific Islands States and the United States on the key issues 

may risk the continuation of the Treaty. 

28


organisations capacity to implement this decision (continued) 


• Absence of political will and/or capacity and resources to strengthen governance of the 

sector. 


• Inadequate levels of funding: the level of investment in research for fisheries in the Pacific 

is small, and considerably less than for fisheries in New Zealand and Australia. This is 

without consideration of the importance of these fisheries to food security and economic 

development. Less scientific research means less information, poorer quality data, and 

therefore less certain estimates of stock status and fishery impacts, leading to increased 

risks to the sustainability of the resource. 

• Reliance on project funding: The need for good scientific information on fisheries is longterm 

and requires comparable financial support. Currently much of the fisheries research 

undertaken on tuna/coastal coastal fisheries and aquaculture is funded through ad-hoc 

or short-term funding projects. This system makes it difficult to undertake the long-term 

projects required for good scientific information. 

• Insufficient scientific capacity: low and intermittent funding creates problems in 

recruiting and retaining scientific staff to undertake the analysis needed to support 

science-based decision-making at national, regional and WCPFC levels. 

• Need for better investment of resources in national fisheries administrations: developing 

the necessary understanding of fisheries science and management of fisheries can take 

several years and fisheries departments suffer from high turnover – both to other parts 

of government and regional agencies. All Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems 

training and workshops aim to minimise these disruptions by training more than one 

person from each department when funds allow. 

• Lack of capital: aquaculture and fisheries in the region are regarded as a risky investment 

and many financial institutions are reluctant to lend resources to these ventures. Better 

understanding is needed of the business models and socioeconomic settings most likely 

to assure success of fisheries and aquaculture projects, especially with respect to tenure 

systems. 

• Gaps have emerged in the capacity of both organisations to support the more than 

five-fold expansion of observer placement required to provide 100 per cent coverage. 

These gaps are in areas ranging from debriefing and data management to the financial 

administration of the sub-regional programmes. 


• The costs of travelling outside Fiji must be considered. Most of the work done outside 

Fiji is on externally funded projects. Institute of Marine Resources at USP could provide 

training subject to the provision of funding. 

29


(iii) 

Building on existing marine protected areas and initiatives. 


months 


• Marine Resources (Aitutaki and Manuae Bonefish Fishery) Regulations 2010 promulgated 

to manage bonefishing in Aitutaki. 

• Takitumu Lagoon Day Awareness program has become an annual event that promotes 

greater awareness of the status and condition of the Takitumu Lagoon. 

• Initial discussion relating to a proposed Southern Cook Islands Marine Park. 

• Raui regulations – consultation with Aronga Mana continues. 


• Government of Kiribati has identified potential Marine Protected Area (MPA) sites for 

North Tarawa, Tab North and South, and Nonouti which had been identified from marine 

profiling surveys on these islands. 


• The Palau International Coral Reef Centre (PICRC) and the Japan International 

Cooperation Agency Coral Reef project held informative presentations on marine 

protected areas, sharing that marine protected areas support the continued sustainable 

use of renewable living resources by protecting habitat, spawning and nursing grounds. 

marine protected areas are monitored by the Protected Areas Network (PAN) and its 

importance was shared for the community to understand and help ensure the protection 

of these areas. The proper management of these areas will result in higher tolerances 

against environmental and biological changes, helping the country’s marine resilience on 

the effects of climate change. 

• The Palau International Coral Reef Centre research team, the Nature Conservancy, and 

the Palau International Coral Reef/Japan International Cooperation Agency Capacity 

Enhancement Project for Coral Reef Monitoring (CEPCRM) joined Yap’s Nimpal 

community to monitor the Nimpal Channel Marine Conservation Area and an adjacent 

reef channel on 7-10 March 2011. This trip indicated progress on the work of data 

collection for marine protected areas. Training was provided to monitor methods for 

measuring biological indicators as part of the Micronesian Challenge effort to standardize 

marine protected areas effectiveness measures. The monitoring effort collected data as 

well as enhancing the capacity of the Nimpal team for coral reef monitoring and marine 

protected areas assessment. The data collected shows that there are not only more fish in 

the marine protected areas compared to reefs still open for fishing, but that the fish are 

much larger. This came as a reward to the locals who, after 5 years of closure and investing 

in enforcement, are protecting the grounds for future generations to enjoy. 

• During the annual meeting of the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT), a new strategic 

plan for 2010-2013 was approved, the 2011 budget was approved, a call for audit for 2010 

was approved, and grant-making strategies were approved. MCT supports biodiversity 

conservation and related sustainable development for the people of Micronesia in the 

30



Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall 

Islands, the US Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands. MCT supports conservation across Micronesia by: providing long-term, sustained 

funding through grant programs; building the capacity of Micronesians and Micronesian 

organizations to design and manage conservation programs; and providing a regional 

forum to bring people from government, private enterprise, the community, and nonprofit 

organizations together to collectively address the challenges of natural resource 

management in Micronesia. 


• For building existing marine protected areas and initiatives, the MIMRA have upcoming 

trainings to build the survey skills of the national team. So far MIMRA have held 

invertebrate survey training, socio-economic monitoring training, and finfish survey 

training. MIMRA is still trying to go back to the outer islands to work with other 

communities, such as Namdrik, Likiep, Wotje, and Ailuk. 


• Providing ongoing support to the Funafuti marine conservation area project. 

• Encouraging people to participate in environment regeneration projects like mangrove 

replanting and general rubbish clean up campaigns. 


• Vanuatu has continued to support its marine protected areas, including carrying out 

stock assessment and monitoring of its marine resources. This included the development 

of larvae collecting tools under the DECOVAN project in its protected areas of Crab Bay, 

Malekula and Mystery Island, Aneityum. The marine protected areas come under the 

Fisheries Act 2005. 


• Vanuatu: conducted economic study of marine protected areas in North Efate and costbenefit 

analysis based on field data. 

• Cook Islands: supported a biodiversity visioning process. 

• Fiji: revised best practices during a workshop on community-based watershed 

management as part of a project led by IRD (L’Institut de recherche pour le 

développement), New Caledonia. Developed a participatory community agreement and 

action plan, and surveyed locally managed marine areas, including reforestation of 30 ha 

of mixed native and exotic forest species. 

• Fiji, Vanuatu and French Polynesia: worked on erosion control, Geographic Information 

System mapping of watershed and coastal zones, and water catchment planning; analysis 

of customary systems/socio-economic evaluation of marine protected areas; governance 

and capacity building for integrated watershed catchment management under the Gestion 

intégrée de l’Environnement Récifal: du Satellite à l’Acteur project. 

• Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Kiribati: the Foundation of the Peoples of the South 

Pacific International is currently working with support from the Coral Reefs Initiatives for 

the Pacific programme on the development and strengthening of marine protected areas to 

serve as pilots or models for management intervention and capacity building for improved 

marine resources management. 

31



• Samoa: supported management of Aleipata and Safata marine protected areas established 

via trust funds. Since November 2009, Conservation International and the Ministry of 

Natural Resources and Environment have been working with local communities to restore 

coastal habitats impacted by the 2009 tsunami. 

• Trials of post-larval capture and culture in Kirimati Island Kiribati. 

• Shark tagging. 



• Implementations of the Bonefish regulations through public awareness programs together 

with enhanced monitoring by the Ministry of Marine Resources Compliance Unit. 

• Continued monitoring program of the Takitumu lagoon. 

• Management Plans developed for various designated fisheries (for example, Trochus on 

Rarotonga). 


• Marine profiling surveys to be conducted for the rest of the Gilbert and Line groups. 


• Palau’s marine protected areas have required technical support to strengthen the capacity 

of their monitoring. In 2008, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the 

Government of Palau created the Joint Coordination Committee to conduct such a project. 

Their annual meeting resulted in agreements to prepare the monitoring plan based on 

the standardised regulations of Palau and other international initiatives, along with 

promoting the participation of local communities and officials of State governments in 

the monitoring activities. 

Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands 

• Expand and develop more marine protected areas. 


• Assist in formulating by-law to ensure sustainable harvesting of other shore and land 

resources. 


• Consultation workshops in the provinces on integrated coastal resources management 

and undertaking resource assessment benchmark surveys in existing marine protected 

areas. 


• Evaluation of the impact of marine protected areas, and associated support including 

baseline surveys, participatory monitoring, and 

• Methodology adaptation. 

• Development of eco-regional conservation plans. 

• Implementation of International Watershed Catchment Management activities. 

32


• Support for coastal habitat restoration including through waste management and 

replanting of mangrove areas. 




• A risk will be that as increased anglers arrive in Aitutaki, there will not be enough ‘guides’ 

to cater for the increase. 

• Increased costs of water-quality testing of samples collected from the Takitumu Lagoon. 

• Major issue is getting buy-in from the Aronga Mana to the development of ‘European’ 

regulations for the Raui. 


• Although marine protected areas would act as a reserve and would supply affected 

reefs, this could cause people to lose out on traditional fishing grounds as a result of the 

establishment of marine protected areas. 


• Lack of capacity and resources and/or commitment of local communities and government 

officials. 


• People might resist the restrictions on the use of natural resources. 

• Public negative reaction and budget costs often impede proper implementation of by-laws. 


• Capacity needed within the Department of Fisheries to support these initiatives at the 

community level, given that the fully ‘protected’ sites are initiated through traditional 

means of conserving the environment and their resources for only periods of time. 


• Greater support for marine protected areas is required at the institutional level whilst at 

site level, good governance within the village. 

• Context and respect for fishing regulations are essential. 

• Natural disasters such as the 2009 tsunami can impact the development and long-term 

management of marine protected areas. 

• A need to ensure that fisheries information products are relevant to and are reaching the 

people who can use them. 

• Limited capacity in the programme in to deal with work in the legal and economic areas. 

• An emerging issue that seems likely to consume a fair amount of time and effort is 

the introduction of new species and varieties of tilapia for aquaculture. SPC has never 

promoted species introductions, but the advantages of using familiar species and carefully 

selected strains of any animal for food production are well known. 

33


(iv) 

Expediting the implementation of the 2009 Pacific Energy Ministers’ decisions and, in 

particular, the five key areas highlighted by these Ministers to achieve greater energy 

security across the Pacific. 


months 


• Australia has committed up to AUD25 million over 4 years (2009/10 and 2012/13) to 

improve access to Clean and Affordable Energy services in the Pacific. The focus of this 

commitment, announced at the 2009 Pacific Islands Forum, includes: 

- assisting Pacific countries to better manage their energy resources through robust 

whole of energy sector planning and coordinated implementation; 

- exploring options to broaden the base of energy sources, including renewable energy; 

- supporting improved utility and consumer energy efficiency; and 

- exploring more efficient local fuel procurement arrangements. 

• Progress to date under the Clean and Affordable Energy initiative includes assisting the 

Tongan Government to develop an Energy Road Map (2010–2020), which charts the 

course for gradually reducing fossil fuel dependence and an expansion in access to energy 

services for the population. 


• The Pacific Environment Community Fund: three projects have been identified for 

application to this fund for the islands of Rakahanga, Pukapuka-Nassau-Suwarrow and 

Manihiki. The full project proposal for Rakahanga was approved and funding signed 

in the first Quarter 2011/2012. The concept note for Pukapuka is approved and the full 

project proposal will be submitted in the second Quarter 2011/2012 and the Manihiki 

project concept note also submitted second Quarter 2011/2012. The next step will be 

the appointment of the PECF Local Coordinator and the tendering for the design of 

the Rakahanga Project that will be carried out in the third Quarter or 2011/2012. It is 

envisaged that by the last Quarter 2011/2012 all three project will be past the tendering 

stage. 

• The New Zealand Aid Programme: New Zealand has committed financial support in the 

development of Renewable Energy in the Cook Islands. A scoping exercise for Mitiaro has 

been completed and a project proposal is being prepared. A proposal for a 150kWp PV 

Grid tied system for Rarotonga has been prepared for a 100kW at Te Aponga Uira power 

station and 50kWp for the new Ministry of Education administration building. 

• The Asia Development Bank Energy Efficiency Programme: a 4 year programme to assist 

the Cook Islands in further renewable energy development. The project is scheduled to 

commence in August 2011. 


• Government of Kiribati has at least partially accomplished 2 (out of 5) Key Priority Actions 

and 1 under the development process. 

34



• Key Priority 4: Regional Bulk Procurement Initiative: Government of Kiribati has 

two issues before signing the Project’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The 

Government of Kiribati’s agreement with Mobile expires in June 2012 and there is a 

need to uphold this agreement until its expiration. Should this MoU not interfere with 

agreement, there is an urgent and important need for further clarifications to Government 

of Kiribati on this. There is a need to review the project MoU as advised by Government 

of Kiribati’s Oil and Fuel Company operated under Ministry of Public Works and Utility’s 

(MPWU’s) portfolio and raise recommendations to Cabinet for approval. 

• Key Priority 5: Investment in sustainable renewable energy technologies: Currently there 

are three renewable energy programs undertaken by Government of Kiribati with the 

assistance of relevant/concerned development partners. 

• Italian Government Support: There are four renewable energy projects implemented 

in Kiribati with the support of the Italian Government. These are: renewable energy 

systems for water pumping systems in rural communities; wind resources assessment 

for Kiritimati Island; photo voltaic hybrid mini-grid for Chevalier College; and biofuel 

production and refining development at Kiribati Copra Mill Company Ltd (KCMCL). 

• European Union Support: The EU (under the EDF 10 Project) will provide more solar 

systems for homes, maneabas (cultural meeting halls), schools and private businesses in 

urban and rural areas. Some part of the systems’ maintenance will be covered as well. 

• Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund: There is a plan to have a 180 kW Photo 

Voltaic grid-connected system to be in place to support to the Kiribati existing power 

supply. A detailed project proposal has been developed for this plan to submit to the PEC 

Fund. 


• New Zealand is currently actively involved in supporting the following energy projects: 

- initiatives under the Tonga Energy Road Map, such as the Village Network Upgrade 

Project; 

- supporting the Tuvalu Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Unit that aims to 

reduce reliance on imported diesel, improve supply infrastructure, and investigate 

renewable energy options; 

- supporting Tokelau’s investment in renewable energy; 

- Cook Islands energy projects, such as investment in photo-voltaics in Rarotonga, and 

PV-based mini grids on Mitiaro and some Northern Group islands; 

- investigation of options around funding a rural electricity reticulation project in Papua 

New Guinea; and 

- investigation into biofuel options in Samoa. 


• Palau’s energy office is still fairly new but there has been progress with capacity building. 

Officials from the energy office have been able to attend meetings and workshops for 

better regional cooperation and coordination with information sharing. 

• There is no progress on Palau’s inclusion in the Pacific Petroleum Project and its aim for 

regional bulk procurement in fuel. 


• Engagement of technical assistance from New Zealand to assist Tuvalu Electricity 

35



Corporation in the establishment of the Renewable Energy Unit. 

• The technical assistance guided the formulation of the Renewable Energy and Energy 

Efficiency Master Plan for the implementation of the Tuvalu National Energy Policy 

strategic area on renewable energy. 

• A national steering committee was established to monitor the implementation of the 

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Master Plan. 

• The Government of Tuvalu submitted the concept notes to the PEC fund and the 

department is tendering the project to a contractor to work on full details of the project. 

• Work is in progress to finalising the Financial Agreement for the EU funded project, 

to improve access to energy services through PVC installation at three outer Islands – 

Nukulaelae, Nukufetau and Nui. 

• Development of energy database for this year and past years; and 

• Endorsement of the new structure for the Energy Department by Cabinet. 


• The Vanuatu Energy Road Map is currently being developed to guide the sector and 

achieve greater energy security nationally. 

• Vanuatu has also completed its Renewable Energy Strategy with a view to having this 

completed toward the end of 2011. 

• The Energy Unit is being reviewed to ensure institutional strengthening and the 

possibility of making it a fully fledged department. 


Strengthen coordination and delivery of regional and development partner energy services to Forum Island 

Countries through one energy agency and one programme 

• A Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific (FAESP) to guide and coordinate 

regional energy sector service deliveries was endorsed at the 41st Pacific Islands Forum in 

August 2010. 

• The FAESP was endorsed by Energy Ministers from Pacific Islands Countries and 

Territories at the Inaugural Regional Meeting of Ministers of Energy, ICT and Transport in 

April 2011. 

• An Implementation Plan to guide and coordinate the delivery on the FAESP by Council of 

Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies was endorsed by Energy Ministers 

from Pacific Islands Countries and Territories at the Inaugural Regional Meeting of 

Ministers of Energy, ICT and Transport in April 2011. 

Ensure socio-economic considerations are the key drivers of the energy sector rather than greenhouse gas 

emission reduction 

• All new regional energy projects of CROP agencies will now be consultatively designed 

and implemented according to the adopted FAESP and implementation plan. For instance, 

the €9 million EDF 10 regional energy proposal is currently consultatively developed by 

CROP agencies (PIFS, PPA, SPC, SPREP & USP) to ensure primacy of energy security over 

green house gas emission reduction in the energy sector. 

Strengthen human capacity development initiatives including gender mainstreaming and development of 

apprentice schemes for power utilities and alternative energy technologies 

• SPC secured €161,000 to mainstream gender into the climate change and energy policies 

of Smaller Island States. A training of trainers’ workshop was completed in May 2011. 

36



• The Sustainable Energy Industry Association of the Pacific Islands (SEIAPI) together with 

USP and supported by PPA, SPC and SPREP are working on the formation of a Competency 

Standards Committee for Sustainable Energy Capacity Building in the Pacific region. The 

role of this Committee will be to approve the competency standard (task analysis) that 

would then be used by training institutes in the development of their training courses, 

including those for the power utilities. These training courses will be critical for the 

success of the proposed technicians’ certification scheme being developed by SEIAPI. 

• As part of the EDF-10 funded North Pacific ACP Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 

Project (North-REP) that is being implement by SPC, renewable energy and energy 

efficiency capacity development initiatives are been considered to be institutionalized 

into existing regional, sub-regional, and national training institutes. 

• SPC through the North-REP will be providing support to power utilities in Palau, the 

Republic of Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia to attend the Pacific 

Power Association (PPA) Conference and a side event /workshop on the outcomes of a 

benchmarking exercise conducted by PPA. 

Review, and as appropriate, strengthen national capacity in energy data and information gathering and 

collation, management, dissemination and analysis of economic, social and environmental issues to better 

inform national and regional policy and planning choices 

• In August 2010, the PPA, SPC, and the Pacific Infrastructure Advisory Centre (PIAC) of 

the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF), signed a memorandum of understanding 

(MOU) to establish a sustainable benchmarking system for the power utilities of the 

Pacific Islands Countries and Territories. The benchmarking exercise is currently 

underway. 

• The PPA commenced data collection for the benchmarking exercise following the 

convening of the initial Steering Committee Meeting in Nadi, Fiji, on 1 July 2011. 

• Energy security indicators for the FAESP have been drafted and endorsed by the Energy 

Ministers from Pacific Islands Countries and Territories at the Inaugural Regional Meeting 

of Ministers of Energy, Information, Communication and Technology and Transport in 

April 2011. 

• Completed the calculation of the 2009 energy security indicators for Niue, Marshall 

Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu. A funding proposal was submitted to 

the EU Policy Dialogue Facility to extend the exercise to other Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories. 

• Conducted one regional workshop in Suva and one national workshop in Niue to improve 

the participants’ appreciation of the energy planning process and to be able to construct 

their respective national energy balance. 

• SPC, through the North-REP, has developed a terms of reference including the 

commencement of socio-economic data collation that is being carried out in Palau, the 

Republic of Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia . This will form 

the baseline upon which a socio-economic impact assessment will be conducted at the 

conclusion of the North-REP in 2014. 

CROP agencies to continue to support Forum Island Countries to implement the regional bulk fuel 

procurement initiative 

• The Republic of Marshall Islands signed the memorandum of understanding in August 

2010, increasing the number of signatories to the Bulk Procurement Initiative to five 

(Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue, the Republic of Marshall Islands and Tuvalu). As a result, 

there was a mission to the Republic of Marshall Islands to undertake necessary data and 

information collection to be included in the Milestone reports. In February 2011, a draft 

37



38 

report was provided to the Republic of Marshall Islands for comment. 

• The supply chain in each of the signatory countries has been evaluated and the countries 

have been provided with advice on improving fuel procurement. However, the existence 

of long term supply contracts, and the absence of other countries joining the initiative 

and the geographical spread of the signatory states means that sub-regional arrangements 

are possible only for two countries. At this time, only Nauru and the Republic of Marshall 

Islands have the flexibility to participate in a regional procurement tender. 

• The distinct requirements of member countries mean that regional bulk procurement 

is not the preferred approach to reducing the cost associated with their supply chain 

operations. Instead the type of assistance that appears to be of greater practical use to 

member states includes: 

- Pricing advice on the cost of transportation from Singapore and the local port charges; 

- Advice on logistical arrangements, such as improving shipping transport linkages that 

dictate any regional fuel movements; 

- Advice on local infrastructure, such as improving the ability of members to have appropriate 

fuel storage facilities or take medium range tankers; and 

- Providing support to tender and price negotiations. 

• Energy Ministers from Pacific Islands Countries and Territories at the Inaugural Regional 

Meeting of Ministers of Energy, ICT and Transport in April 2011 acknowledged and noted 

the progress to date with the regional bulk procurement of fuel and agreed to accept the 

Pacific Petroleum Project Phase 1 as complete following the presentation of Milestone 5. 

The final Milestone 6 will become part of the petroleum advisory service to be delivered 

by SPC, following the signing of a Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat - SPC Memorandum of 

Understanding. 

Coordinate actions to facilitate investment in sustainable renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency 

and conservation initiatives. 

• The PPA provided technical assistance to its member utilities on their renewable energy 

developments and programs through the facilitation of two workshops on grid-connected 

photovoltaic installations held in Koror, Palau, and Nadi, Fiji. 

• The PPA completed a study funded by United States Department of Interior to quantify the 

energy losses in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and 

Palau as well as Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

• The PPA commenced the study funded by the EU and NZAid to quantify the energy losses 

in the power utilities in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu, 

Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue and Nauru. 

• The office of the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) fund was established at the 

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. The USD66 million PEC fund is for environment 

issues including climate change projects with a focus on the provision of solar power 

generation systems and sea water desalination plants for Forum Island Countries. The 

PEC Fund governance arrangements have now been established. The Joint Committee 

(JC) established under the PEC Fund guidelines to provide an oversight and to make the 

necessary decisions with respect to the implementation of the PEC Fund. The PEC Fund 

governance structure has now been fully implemented with the establishment of the 

Project Management Unit and the Technical Advisory Group at PIFS. 

• The call for proposals has been made to Forum Island Countries by PIFS, which involves a 

two-phase process as follows: 

- phase 1 – submission of a project concept note, which is first screened by the PEC Fund



project management unit and then is appraised by the Technical Advice Group. The 

project management unit will notify successful applicants and invite them to submit 

detailed project proposals. 

- Phase 2 – submission of a detailed project proposal, which is screened by project management 

unit and then assessed by Technical Advice Group who will make recommendations 

on the technical merits of the project proposal. Final detailed project proposals 

will be submitted to joint committee for consideration and approval. 

• In relation to above, significant progress has been made with Forum Island Countries 

responding positively to the call for proposals. Most Forum Island Countries have now 

completed phase 1 of the process and are now preparing their detailed project proposals 

for submission under phase 2. Samoa’s full project proposal has been approved by the PEC 

Joint Committee. 

• SPC began implementing the €14.44 million EU funded Northern Pacific Renewable 

Energy and Energy Efficiency Project (North REP) for the Federated States of Micronesia, 

Palau and the Republic of Marshall Islands in October 2010. A project-funded Energy 

Specialist is stationed at Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Republic of Marshall 

Islands to strengthen local implementation capacity. The North–REP in practical terms 

envisages at least reducing average monthly electricity consumption in urban households 

by 10 percent; providing a total of 12,739 people with first time access to electricity 

in Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Marshall Islands; and will assist 21 

health centres and 32 schools access basic electricity. North-REP will further enhance 

opportunities in providing the basis where the many energy initiatives in the three 

countries could work together to achieve the respective country renewable energy and 

energy efficiency targets. 

• SPREP continued with the third year of implementing its Global Environment Facility 

funded Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project 

(PIGGAREP). National training workshops were conducted in the Solomon Islands and 

Tonga to strengthen local capacity to design, install and maintain renewable energy 

systems. A regional workshop on grid-connected systems was conducted at Niue and 

renewable energy resource assessment and feasibility studies were supported in the Cook 

Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. PIGGAREP also supported a joint regional energy 

planning workshop with SPC and supported Pacific Island Countries participation in a 

USP Renewable Energy Conference. 

• USP commenced the implementation of its USP Korea International Cooperation Agency 

Renewable Energy Project (East Asia Climate Change Partnership). The USD2 million 

grant from the Republic of South Korea is for ‘renewable energy generation, resource 

assessment, and capacity building programme for sustainable economic development of 

the Pacific Island countries’. This project comprises three main components: 

- Wind and solar energy resource assessment in all 12 USP member countries (Cook 

Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, 

Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) and establishment of a data bank at USP. 

- Establishment of a 54 kilo watt (kW) grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) system at 

USP for research and study purposes. 

- Renewable energy capacity building where 12 regional students will undertake studies 

in Masters on Renewable Energy programme at USP. USP has already recruited seven 

students from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Vanuatu, and Nauru under this programme. 

39




• As a member of Pacific Energy Oversight Group, USP leads the capacity building aspect of 

the Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific (FAESP) Implementation Plan, 

which was endorsed by the Pacific Energy Ministers in April 2011. 

• USP has a long history of assisting its member countries to strengthen their technical 

and institutional capacity in the area of renewable energy. The University is involved 

in a number of renewable energy projects in the region. These include Project DIREKT, 

a €1.2 million ACP - EU funded project (DIREKT- small Developing Island Renewable 

Energy Knowledge and Technology transfer network) which aims to enhance cooperation 

between the institutes involved in renewable energy science and technology development 

in the ACP region and EU institutions. The Government of Korea is providing funding 

for a project on renewable energy generation, resource assessment, and capacity building. 

The United States Embassy and the French Embassy have both provided funding to 

establish solar PV and wind-solar hybrid systems on the main USP campus. These projects 

form part of postgraduate students’ research work, and are also used as training sites. The 

French Government is also funding two further renewable energy projects, one of which 

will assist with the expansion of the solar PV system at Laucala, while the other will help 

develop strategies for the replacement of fuel-based lighting in the rural areas. 

• The Renewable Energy Group within USP is actively engaged in research in renewable 

energy. USP, with the support of the Sustainable Energy Industry Association of Pacific 

Islands (SEIAPI), will lead the development of a certification programme for designers and 

installation technicians, including the development of relevant competency standards in 

the region. 



• The Framework and Implementation Plan will guide Australian and other development 

partner support. Priority areas for future support include: robust, whole-of-sector planning 

and implementation at the national level; and appropriate regional initiatives that may 

be identified under the Regional Energy Framework that complement Pacific countries’ 

own national energy security efforts, such as consumer energy efficiency and utility 

benchmarking. 

• Under Australia’s Clean and Affordable Energy initiative ongoing support will be provided 

for implementation of the Tonga Energy roadmap. Similar support will be rolled out for 

the development and implementation of energy sector roadmaps in Vanuatu and Kiribati. 


• Further investigation of renewable energy options – solar, wind, biomass, biofuel and 

waste energy. 

• Tariff review. 

• Institutional restructuring. 

• Policy and regulatory adjustment. 

• Community education and awareness programmes. 


40


• The Government of Kiribati anticipates strengthening national capacity in energy data 

and information gathering; collation; and analysis to better provide informed planning 

and policy development. 


• Many of the above-mentioned energy projects will move into implementation. New 

Zealand is also working with other Pacific partners to scope additional areas for bilateral 

support. 


• There is need for more discussion. The Pacific Petroleum Project seems beneficial for our 

country to participate knowing the limited risk in doing so. This Project not only taps 

into the regional level through the potentials of bulk procurement in fuel, but also at a 

national level through price comparison and competitiveness. Complimentary to this, it is 

not legally binding, which then secures existing contractual business between Palau and 

its fuel suppliers. 


• Operate the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation Renewable Energy Unit. 

• Implementation of the PEC and EU funding. 

• Recruitment of new staff for the Energy Department – Assistant Renewable Energy Officer 

and Assistant Information Officer. 

• Secure more funding for the implementation of the Tuvalu National Energy Policy. 


• Launch the Vanuatu Energy Roadmap consultation process with a view to finalising the 

roadmap in mid 2012. 

• Review current structure of the Energy Unit by the Public Service Commission to ensure 

that it becomes a fully fledged department in late 2011, given the significant role energy 

plays across various sectors. 

• Building capacity of the restructured department responsible for energy by March 2012. 


• Regular meetings of the Pacific Energy Oversight Group (PEOG) to reinforce the 

‘many partners, one team approach’ and strengthen the coordinated delivery on the 

implementation plan for the Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific. 

• Joint implementation of the EDF 10 regional energy project by CROP agencies in the 

PEOG. Further new regional energy proposals will be consultatively developed and 

implemented by the PEOG. 

• On-going implementation of the gender mainstreaming project by SPC. 

• A number of technical workshops each for power utility engineers in the North and South 

will be conducted by PPA. 

• Training workshops on renewable energy (solar home systems and grid connected solar 

PV systems) and energy efficiency for Palau, the Republic of Marshall Islands and the 

Federated States of Micronesia. 

• The benchmarking exercise for the power utilities will be completed and follow up actions 

to be undertaken for a number of utilities. 

41


• The establishment of the energy data base as well as the identification / calculation of 

the 2009 energy security indicators in 10 Pacific Island Countries and Territories will be 

completed. 

• One regional workshop on an Energy Data Base will be completed. 

• Implementation of milestone 6 of the regional bulk procurement initiative will be 

completed by December 2011. 

• Provision of petroleum pricing advisory by SPC as and when requested by member 

countries. 

• PPA will continue providing technical assistance to its member’s power utilities and 

follow up actions on the energy loss studies. 

• Each Forum Island Country would have a full proposal approved for funding by the Joint 

Committee of the PEC and each will be at varying stages of implementing their funded 

projects. 

• The North REP will complete installing about 1,500 solar home systems throughout the 

atolls of the Republic of Marshall Islands. 

• SPC, through North-REP, will commence procurement of renewable energy systems for 

schools and health facilities in rural areas and remote islands in the Republic of Marshall 

Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. 

• SPC, through North-REP, will retrofit government and sporting facilities in the Federated 

States of Micronesia and Palau with energy efficient equipment. 

• PIGGAREP will install more than 10 wind monitoring systems at different sites in the 

Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. 




• Lack of coordination in the energy sector is widely recognised as a constraint to energy 

security in the region. Australia will provide appropriate support to the SPC in its role as 

the lead regional agency responsible for energy coordination in the Pacific, in addition to 

supporting coordinated action at the national level with Pacific Island Countries and other 

development partners. 


• Italian Government Support: spare parts for future maintenance of systems under the 

above mentioned four projects funded by the Italian Government will be long-term 

challenges. 

• European Union Support: need for capacity building trainings to concerned locals on the 

maintenance of the systems installed in community places. 

• Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund: need for support in finalising the 

development of the detailed project proposal. Concerned Government of Kiribati officials 

will be in contact with SPREP should the need arise. 

42 


• Lack of political will hinders the progress of the Pacific Petroleum Project in Palau. 

• Lack of staff and resources for the energy office




• Availability of funding to achieve the Tuvalu National Energy Policy of 100 percent 

renewable energy for power generation by 2020. 

• PEC fund full proposal might not be approved; and delay implementation. 

• The problem of capacity to manage the USD4million dollars for solar and desalination 

development within the Government. 


• The Energy Unit under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is currently 

understaffed and would do with an upgrading of its institutional capacity. 

• Financial resources are needed for institutional strengthening. 

• Financial resources required for awareness and consultations on the Energy Roadmap. 


• The major issue is the funding and the lack of advisory level staff, in particular on 

petroleum (SPC), policy and regulatory reforms (SPC), power (PPA) and data base (SPC). 

• Low priority given to data collection, analysis and research to support policy development. 

• There is a need to raise the awareness of Energy as a key sector in Pacific Island Countries 

and development partners. 


(v) 

Providing greater support to tourism, the region’s largest economic driver, and, in 

particular: 

• accelerating development of emerging geographic and niche markets; 

• improving access to Pacific destinations by air and sea; and 

• continuing to build the capacity of small and medium service providers to cater to current 

and emerging international markets and generate employment opportunities. 


months 


• Establishment by the Prime Minister of the Economic Development Taskforce to conduct 

consultations and propose to the Government directions that will energise, invigorate and 

grow the economy. 


• The Government of Kiribati (through the Tourism Office) has developed project proposals 

to conduct tourism awareness campaigns, improve the management of World War II 

relics, and establish the Battle of Tarawa Museum to attract more interested tourists and 

encourage them to choose Kiribati as their preferred holiday destination. 

43




• Continuation of air services from LA to Apia and Nuku’alofa (until service terminated); 

• Cook Islands tourism sector support, with funding for development, tourism marketing 

airline route development; 

• A significant tourism programme has been launched for Tonga, covering areas such 

as branding/marketing, development of accommodation standards, heritage site 

management and provincial tourism development; 

• A multi-year tourism programme for Samoa is in the final stages of design; 

• Increased support to the tourism industry in Tonga (though the Ministry of Tourism, and 

the industry association Tourism Tonga Incorporated); 

• Increased support for Niue, including enhanced tourism marketing, and the planned 

extension of the Matavai Hotel. 


• Although Pacific Flyer bailed out before it took off, Palau still managed to render the 

services of other airlines. Delta Airlines’ inaugural flight took place on 22 December 2010, 

contributing to flights servicing Japan to Palau, and promoting Palau as a preferred choice 

and exotic destination for the Japan market. As a measure of success, tourist arrival at 

the end of the month of January showed a significant increase of 2,399 (34.72%), with 

Japanese tourists making up 45 percent of the total. 

• Royal Belau Airways had its inaugural flight on 31 March 2011, initiating its round-trip 

service to Taiwan. The airline operates out of Taiwan and has scheduled flights to Palau 

five times a week, every day except Monday and Thursday. 

• According to the Palau Visitors Authority, tourist arrivals in May 2011 were 30 percent 

higher than May 2010, with 7,240 visitors compared to 5,568 visitors respectively. The 

tourist arrivals in October 2010 were up 25 percent on the same month in 2009. Increased 

visitors are from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, North America, and Europe. Palau has been 

drumming positive beats in the past several months with a growth rate of 21 percent in 

increases in visitor arrivals. The rise in numbers is due largely in part to the Continental 

charter flight from Japan and the introduction of flights four times a week servicing 

visitors from Taiwan, which started in March of this year. 

• Alii Host, Palau’s “World Host” program began implementation last year and training is 

constantly provided. Palau still holds the regional rights of World Host in the Pacific. 

• Ngardmau State recently completed an eco-tour project, expecting to bring more 

economic benefits to the state. The state, known for its beautiful waterfall, began 

production on a monorail system at the beginning of the year, created to make the 

waterfall more easily accessible, along with increasing its number of visitors. 


Joint marketing and promotions continued: 

• Magnificent Micronesia and SPTO websites. 

• Participation and representation at various travel trade shows. 

• Regional branding of Micronesia. 

• Utilising the opportunity of increased military presence in Guam to motivate travel 

within Micronesia. 

• Improving the cruise market, including through: the establishment of the Micronesia 

44



Cruise Association with regional representation in relevant trade shows; Sea Trade Miami 

April 2011; Sydney Boat Show July 2011; and for both Pacific Asia Travel Association 

Micronesia Chapter and SPTO. 

• Increased activities and participation in cultural promotions. 

• Research and statistics collection and publication in SPTO, Pacific Asia Travel Association 

International and Micronesia Chapter websites. 

National projects and activities: 

• Television feature on the Marshall Islands in Japan, United Kingdom, United States and 

soon, Korea. 

• Continued promotions of tourism including awareness presentations in schools and 

communities. 

• Marketing assistance and support to current tour operations in the Republic of Marshall 

Islands. 

• Representing the Republic of Marshall Islands in the Pacific Asia Travel Association 

International, the Pacific Asia Travel Association Micronesia Chapter and SPTO. 

• Working with groups keen on seeking and/or improving airline services to the Republic of 

Marshall Islands. 

• Involved in Coastal Management Advisory Council, Food Security and Sustainable 

Livelihood Programme, National Focal Group – Small Grants Programme, Marshall Islands 

Conservation Society, and other national projects. 

• Coordinated with relevant ministries and agencies on projects and activities. 

• Engaging with outer atoll Leaders to further develop tourism. 

• Engaging with the national government to improve services on Air Marshall Islands and 

also the Marshall Islands Resort. 


Progresses 

• The Tuvalu Department of Tourism has initiated progress in exploring possibilities in 

establishing credit card facilities on Funafuti to solve problems facing both the visitor and 

the accommodation sector. 

• The Department of Tourism is conducting surveys to identify its products in relation to its 

history, and also in sport-fishing and diving. 

• An association to be called Hospitality Association of Tuvalu is to be set up soon which 

will oversee the development of the hospitality sector in Tuvalu especially in improving 

the quality of service and the standard of accommodation. 

Achievements 

• The Department of Tourism has formulated a Draft Tourism Policy that will serve as a 

guideline for the development of tourism in Tuvalu, and is waiting consideration and 

approval by the Development Coordinating Committee and Cabinet. 

• The Department of Tourism has designed and produced brochures with a brief 

introduction on Tuvalu and a map of Funafuti. 

• The Department of Tourism has established and designed a website with assistance from 

SPTO to provide information online. 

• Tuvalu’s participation in the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, China was a success. 

45




• Vanuatu continues to diversify (nature based, soft adventure activities) and promote new 

tourism experiences from the authentic and unique environment and cultural features 

that it offers. It has also launched its first ever dedicated global brand campaign, “Discover 

What Matters”. 

• The National Tourism Development Office which has been renamed Department of 

Tourism, has also seen an increase in staff capacity to address its main focus on improving 

destination management matters especially in the areas of: improving competitiveness 

of the destination; ensuring balanced tourism development throughout the islands; 

establishment and maintenance of quality standards; ensuring ecologically sustainable 

tourism development; and facilitating increased ni-Vanuatu participation and ownership 

of tourism businesses. 

46 

South Pacific Tourism Organisation 

Accelerating development of emerging geographic and niche markets 

• China: SPTO conducted aggressive promotional campaigns in the emerging market of 

China by leading Pacific (15 countries) presence at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai from 

May-October 2010; trade workshops for 52 Chinese tour operators from 3 Chinese cities; 

two months television documentary on Pacific destinations aired on CCTV, China’s 

biggest television network; familiarisation & educational visit to the Pacific of Chinese 

travel agents. 

• Europe: SPTO represented the Pacific at ITB Berlin 2010 and 2011 with five countries 

exhibiting under the South Pacific Umbrella (Cook Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, 

Tonga and Vanuatu). The event hosted more than 11,000 exhibitors from all over Europe 

and globally with buyers given information on Pacific niche market products and growth 

opportunities. 

• Australia and New Zealand: SPTO participated in seven trade events in Australia and 

NZ during 2010. The target of an average of almost 100,000 travel-ready consumers to the 

Pacific region has been met during the period over the seven events. SPTO’s representation 

also covered 14 Pacific member countries and 140 private sector members. SPTO’s 

primary objective was realised by reaching the travel-ready audience with information on 

destination and niche products of the region, for example sport fishing, diving, yachting, 

and whale watching. 

Improving access to Pacific destinations by air and sea 

• Discussions have been ongoing with regional airlines and 14 national tourist offices in the 

Pacific region on the need for closer collaboration towards a regional strategy. Air Pacific 

has indicated its willingness but has warned of the limitations caused by high cost of fuel 

and limited passenger capacity. 

• SPTO in collaboration with the South Pacific Cruise Alliance (SPCA), which consist 

of six Pacific country representatives and several Port Authorities in the Pacific, had a 

joint presence at the Miami SeaTrade (world’s biggest cruise show) in 2010 and March 

2011. SPTO facilitated the Pacific presence at the event through financial and technical 

support for the Pacific participants to meet the key players in the global cruise shipping 

industry. 

Continuing to build the capacity of small and medium service providers to cater to current and emerging 

international markets and generate employment opportunities 

• Tourism small and medium sized entrepreneurs audit and needs assessment was carried 

out for 79 properties in three countries: Fiji (47), Tonga (24) and Kiribati (8). The audit 

was specifically for small and medium sized entrepreneur accommodation providers



(small hotels, motels, resorts, etc) to assess their standards through observations and 

interviews with hotel representatives on issues relating to their product development, 

business growth, profitability and online marketing opportunities. The findings will help 

in designing the next steps of the SPTO project to help these small and medium sized 

entrepreneurs. 


• SPC has provided technical assistance to countries on assessing and ensuring 

compliance with international safety and security standards (International Ship and 

Port Facility Security, International Safety Management, and Standards of Training, 

Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers). Supporting national compliance with 

international standards ensures that international vessels are able to enter these countries 

maintaining trade that supports the tourism industry and also improves the safety of sea 

transportation, particularly domestic vessels carrying tourists between islands. 


• USP’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management gained Associate Membership 

to the International Centre for Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality Education (THE- 

ICE) in May 2011. THE-ICE is an Australian-based international accreditation body. 

Accreditation is an official recognition that the tourism and hospitality management 

programmes offered by USP are of comparable standards to those offered by premier 

universities around the world. 



• Continue aviation underwrites through government subsidy of the Los Angeles, Sydney 

and Nadi routes. 

• Improve destination sales and marketing including restructured head office and overseas 

offices. 

• Revitalise brand and Internet marketing 

Destination development strategy 

• Upgrade Aitutaki Airport to international status. A Task Force (study) to comprehensively 

assess the feasibility of upgrading the airport at Aitutaki to full international status. Issues 

to be covered include: engineering; environmental impact; social impact; commercial 

feasibility; economic impact; and financial viability. 

Alternate Rarotonga Jetty 

• Develop the alternative reef access in Arorangi to open up opportunities in: growing 

our cruise business; ensuring diving, fishing and other water sports are less weather 

dependent; and allowing our ocean based water sports and visits by cruise ships to be 

marketed on a more reliable basis. 

Integrated Tourism strategy 

• Ensure Raui to be supported by legislation on Rarotonga and Aitutaki, including by 

enforcing the Lagoon Management Plans. 

• Implement bird sanctuaries throughout the country. 

47


• Construct walkways and cycleway around Rarotonga, Aitutaki & and all of the Southern 

Groups linking in with the New Zealand cycleway to promote eco-tourism, and cobranding 

in international markets with Tourism New Zealand. 

• Formalise preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and history – marae, vaka 

ocean voyaging, performing arts, music in conjunction with the proposed Cultural, 

Creative and Tertiary Education Industries Council. 

• Link environmental branding of the overall destination. 

• Redevelop Punanga Nui to a six day, all weather, day and night market including: 

specialist markets for fashion, arts and crafts, pearls; food court; farmers market; produce 

auction house; and provide small business opportunities to hundreds of Cook Islanders 

to start, operate and expand their own businesses without threat of losing their homes or 

land due to the low costs of a market presence. 

Sports & Events Tourism 

• Implement the National Sports Policy and Sports Act; a framework for the development of 

Sport. 

- Develop a 10 year national sports & events development plan and assist with its implementation 

with a view towards specific performance goals in: Cook Islands Games; 

Pacific Games; Commonwealth Games; Olympic Games; World Rankings in prioritized 

team sports; and World Rankings in prioritized individual sports. 

• Establish a Sports Institute and Integrate with: Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic 

Committee; Institute of Sports Excellence; USP School of Sports Science; Kevin Iro’s 

sports programme SENZ; Sports and Event Tourism; and National Federations and their 

International Federations. 

• Establish events tourism, drawing upon our cultural and creative industries, our expanded, 

refocused private sector developments in agriculture, fishing, natural resources and trade 

and enterprise. 


• Finalising project proposals and seeking interested development partners to work with in 

implementing the tourism related projects stated above. 


• New Zealand expects to provide further support for development of tourism related 

infrastructure, for example, marinas, and wharfs, tourism investment promotion, access 

to finance and regional branding/marketing. This will be developed in close co-ordination 

with International Finance Corporation, South Pacific Tourism Organisation, Pacific 

Island Countries and key tourism private sector players. 

• Exploring a regional programme of support to promote the benefits of the cruise ship 

industry. This may include training for employment on ships, income generation from 

handicrafts and supply of agriculture/floriculture products to ships, hydrographic surveys 

and the development of cruise-ship related infrastructure (for example, amenities, toilet 

blocks). 


• Expansion of the airport is being looked into to create space for more functionality for 

customs and airport security operations, as well as the construction of an additional gate 

with the intention of attracting more airlines to Palau. It is unclear when the expansion 

will begin. 

48


• The Taiwan Embassy responded to Angaur State’s request for a 60-70 foot, 40-60 passenger 

boat by approving a new three-levelled vessel aiming to appeal to tourists to visit the 

beautiful southern state. The long awaited passenger boat will be available in seven 

months and will replace the old cargo boat that is currently being used. 

• The Palau Tourism and Hospitality School of Excellence had its ‘soft opening’ in January 

with the anticipation of starting classes in the Fall of 2011. 


• Increased funding opportunities for tourism development in the region with the recently 

approved EDF10 funding request through PIFS for a Pacific Regional Tourism Capacity 

Building Program to be implemented by SPTO. 

• Continued participation in the Coastal Management Advisory Council including the 

Water, Energy and Food Security and Sustainable Livelihood Projects. 

• Selection of a new public relations representative in Japan. 

• Utilisation of social advertising and networking through a contract with a public relations 

company in Europe. 

• Increased exposure of Marshall Islands Visitor Authority and tourism in the communities 

of the Republic of Marshall Islands. 


• The Department of Tourism is looking at re-designing its website to be more userfriendly 

and to be more marketable online. Technical Assistance from abroad is highly 

recommended here. 

• Once the Draft Tourism Policy is adopted, a Tourism Steering Committee will be set 

up and then consultation will be held with all related stakeholders to address issues 

and identify how everyone can assist in implementing it. There is a need for technical 

assistance from abroad to advise and review the policy. 

• The Department of Tourism will work closely with Air Pacific and relevant tour 

wholesalers (to be identified) to create tour packages especially from Fiji to Tuvalu, as this 

is the only gateway in and out of Tuvalu. 

• The Department of Tourism will work closely with SPTO to conduct workshop(s) for 

small and medium enterprises in the tourism industry. 

• A new tourism organizational chart is still being drafted and is expected to be completed 

before July 2011. 

• The Department has highlighted the need to conduct training for all tourism sector 

employees in the private sector to improve service and the delivery of their product(s), 

especially in the areas related to hospitality, fishing and diving, as well as souvenir sellers 

like the Tuvalu National Council of Women (TNCW). 


• Setting up of Tourism Council of Vanuatu; Provincial Tourism Councils; developing 

tourism industry standards in collaboration with the Councils; and improving destination 

management through an amendment of the Business License Act by disaggregating 

business license categories specific to tourism sector. 


• Work will continue in tourism related sectors. 

49



Accelerating development of emerging geographic and niche markets 

• Aggressive campaigns will continue in the emerging markets of China, India and 

European countries through trade shows, target marketing campaigns, niche marketing 

in Australia and New Zealand in sport fishing, diving, and cruise tourism, and the 

development and promotion of the Pacific branding. 

Improving access to Pacific destinations by air and sea 

• Continue the drive to get stakeholders together for the development of a Regional 

Aviation Strategy. The key recommendations of the South Pacific Regional Cruise Strategy 

2007 will be implemented and SPTO will continue to lead the region’s participation at the 

Sea Trade show event in Miami with regional stakeholders. 

• An MOU will be established between SPTO and SPC for the sharing of resources and 

technical expertise especially on regional transportation matters which includes Cruise 

Tourism and Aviation. 


international markets and generate employment opportunities. 

• The implementation of the small and medium sized entrepreneur development program 

for small accommodation providers will be improved and replicated in other Pacific island 

countries based on the findings and lessons learnt from the 2010 program in Fiji, Tonga 

and Kiribati. 


• There are plans to develop postgraduate courses in tourism and hospitality and to 

eventually establish USP as a centre for research in this area. 




• Resources constraints, namely human, technical, financial and capacity in general. 


• Lack of funding for staff and resources for proper maintenance of tourism related projects. 


• Continued lack of support from the national government. 

• Airline Service – no progress to neither improve nor increase airline service to the islands. 

• Domestic airline service – continued inconsistency of flights, financial difficulties and 

poor management. 

• Immigration – processing of visas for tourists from countries with no diplomatic relations 

is cumbersome and time-consuming. 

• Marshall Islands Resort – continued deterioration/inevitable sale or disposal. 

• New business development – process remains cumbersome and time-consuming; land 

acquisition remains an issue, lack of air service and suitable accommodation remains a 

problem. 

50



• Majuro, the capital of the Republic of Marshall Islands, which is the main point of entry, 

struggles with waste management and poor urban planning with no plans for any 

improvement e.g. new building codes, reinforcement of relevant laws and regulations. 

• Continued lack of promotion and protection of natural and historical resources. 

• Insufficient budget for the tourism office. 


• Limited human resource capacity in the tourism office. Currently there are only two staff 

employed, a tourism officer and an assistant. An additional three to four positions are 

required. 

• Lack of experience and knowledge to develop the tourism industry further with technical 

expertise lacking to conduct training, for example in tourism management. 


• Improve outer island airports and wharfs for increased share of tourists to the Provinces. 


• Lack of resources to continue the support and also inadequate demonstration of building 

capacity in-country so countries can ensure their own compliance. 


Accelerating development of emerging geographic and niche markets; 

• The impact of the global financial crisis and the recent natural disasters in New Zealand, 

Japan, and Australia is still being felt in the tourism sector, with slow growth in visitor 

numbers and low visitor spending. 

Improving access to Pacific destinations by air and sea; 

• The airlines have been badly affected by rising fuel costs and the low yield in passenger 

loading is affecting the airlines plans to expand and increase routes and frequency of 

service, especially to isolated small island countries. The market for cruise tourism could 

be huge, but there are restrictions at the national level in their inability to develop the 

appropriate infrastructure required to accommodate cruise liners. 


international markets and generate employment opportunities. 

• The lack of investment and capital to expand small and medium sized enterprise products 

and services is a major impediment to small and medium sized enterprise improvement 

and growth. In addition, the limited access to markets and lack of marketing abilities 

restricts the growth potential of small and medium sized enterprises. 

51


(vi) 

Developing regional and national frameworks to enable the development of the economic 

potential of marine mineral resources; and strengthening regional and national capacity in 

the mining, environment, labour and financial sectors to comply with relevant standards 

for the deep-sea mining industry within the region, while supporting environmental 

monitoring that preserves ecosystems and terrestrial and marine biodiversity. 


months 


• The Government of Kiribati sees deep-sea mining as an option for sourcing its revenue in 

the next 3-5 years. 

• Work on the review of the national legislation and development of policies on deep-sea 

mining is currently being undertaken. 

• The Government of Kiribati continues to work collaboratively with the SPC SOPAC 

Division and other development partners in this area. 


• Palau’s northernmost state of Kayangel is looking into an alternative source of revenue 

by granting Palau Pacific Energy Incorporated (PPEI), access to the state’s waters as part 

of an oil and gas exploration project. The project, recently extended from 15 May 2011 to 

31 December 2012, covers a license agreement between Kayangel State and PPEI where 

PPEI pays USD100,000 to Kayangel State for the exploration of oil and gas. Further steps 

will be taken if oil or gas is found in the concession area allowed for the exploration. If the 

drillings tap is successful, oil and gas production can potentially help the country become 

economically self-sufficient by replacing imported fuel and creating export revenue 

estimating at USD5million per well plus mobilization and demobilization costs (USD8 

million and USD4million respectively). 


• Baseline work on all of the nine islands of Tuvalu completed, including a new activity on 

Archipelagic Straight Baseline (ASB) grouping southern islands progressing well to date. 

• Completed work on following maritime zones: 12 nautical miles territorial waters; 24 

nautical miles contiguous zones and fully- extended 200 nautical miles EEZ boundaries 

towards international waters on east and west of Tuvalu. 

• Finalising delineation work on median line with Kiribati, France (Wallis & Futuna) and 

Fiji (Rotuma) in close collaboration with the SPC SOPAC Division. 

• Little progress on consultation work with FFA and the Commonwealth Secretariat to 

assist Tuvalu on marine zones legislation to reflect completed baseline and maritime 

zones, as well as drafting of treaties and negotiation strategies with three neighboring 

states. 

• New area - good progress on Tuvalu extended continental shelf (eCS) work with support 

from SPC SOPAC division and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Australia. 

52



Department of Lands & Survey with Attorney General’s Office attended eCS workshop in 

Sydney November 2010. A similar workshop in July 2011 will provide an opportunity to 

finalise Tuvalu’s eCS work before the deadline of December 2012. Support is sought from 

the Commonwealth Secretariat to assist with this work and preparation of a submission to 

United Nations. 


• The Republic of Vanuatu has a longstanding commitment to resolving its ongoing 

maritime boundary negotiations with its boarder counterparts. 


• SPC SOPAC Division is working with 14 Pacific Island Countries to improve their 

understanding of regional maritime boundary status. The monitoring and effective 

management of fishing vessel, and other trans-boundary resources and vessel movements 

is also dependant on clear, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea compliant 

information and data which correctly defines Pacific Island Countries maritime boundary 

limits. Specific work over the last 12 months included extended continental shelf claim 

development for ten Pacific Island Countries, and work with Niue, Fiji, Papua New Guinea 

, Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu on their marine spaces legislation, baseline and 

delimitation solutions, towards declaration of their respective maritime zones and limits. 

• The SPC SOPAC Division began implementation of its EU funded Deep Sea Minerals 

(DSM) Project in late 2010. This Project will support the first major coordinated effort 

to develop deep sea mineral policy at a regional and then national level in Pacific Island 

Countries. The Project will seek to provide comprehensive assistance to Pacific Island 

Countries to develop national and regional legislative, fiscal and environmental policy 

and guidelines to that ensure that Pacific Island Countries interests are protected in this 

new regional growth area. 

• Recruitment for this Project has now been completed and the inaugural deep sea minerals 

workshop was held in Nadi, Fiji and brought together over 100 participants including all 

Pacific ACP Countries and a range of industry interests and world leading academic and 

experts in deep sea minerals, environmental science, and fiscal and legal regimes. 

• A Pacific Island Country, Deep Sea Minerals Project steering committee has been formed 

to assist SPC SOPAC Division to oversee the implementation of the Project. 

• The United Nations Environment Programme Global Resource Information Database 

Shelf Programme has been contracted to produce an expert review of the status and state 

of knowledge of all aspects of the DSM resource and industry in the Pacific region. This 

report is recognized as a world first. 

• The expert / lead author steering committee for this DSM Status report has been formed 

and work is underway. 

• SPC SOPAC Division also recently provided expert advice and support to the Solomon 

Islands in the development of their tender documents for the Isabel Nickel Mine. 

• SPC SOPAC Division completed a technical evaluation on the potential remaining 

phosphate reserves on Banaba Island, Kiribati. This report which includes the results 

of a drilling study carried out by the Division, has been delivered in confidence to the 

Government of Kiribati. 

53



• There is anticipation that Government of Kiribati may implement deep-sea mining 

within the next 3-5 years. To enable this project, Government of Kiribati plans to apply for 

recognition in deep-sea mining area in the next International Seabed Authority Meeting. 

Legislation and Policy are key documents for this application process. 


• A high-level workshop on Deep Sea Mineral Mining was held in Fiji 6-8 June where 

representatives from Palau were able to learn and begin dialogue with other Pacific Island 

Countries. Discussions will pave the way for any future actions and best practices in 

response to the future deep sea mineral mining said to occur in the latter part of 2013. 


• Finalising work on Tuvalu’s new grouping of the Archipelagic Straight Baseline (ASB) 

islands of Nukufetau, Funafuti and Nukulaelae. 

• Finalising work on the Tuvalu median line boundaries with Kiribati, France and Fiji. 

• Follow-up communication with legal counterparts from FFA and the Commonwealth 

Secretariat to assist Tuvalu on marine zones legislation work, drafting of maritime 

boundary treaties with neighbors, as well as training needs on negotiation skills on 

maritime boundary. 

• New area - Tuvalu will participate in the next round of eCS workshops in Sydney, July 

2011, represented by government officials from department of Lands & Survey and the 

Attorney General’s office 


• The Republic of Vanuatu has submitted preliminary information for an extended 

Continental shelf in the North Fiji Basin to be jointly lodged with Fiji and Solomon Islands 

at the UN by 2012. 

Secretariat of the Pacific Community 

• SPC SOPAC Division in collaboration with Geoscience Australia, the Commonwealth 

Secretariat, UNEP GRID Shelf Programme, and 14 Pacific Island Countries maritime 

boundaries technical teams, will continue to develop enduring and the United Nations 

Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) compliant solutions for Pacific Island 

Countries maritime boundaries. It will also continue to support 10 Pacific Island 

Countries in the development and defence of their extended continental shelf claims. 

• SPC SOPAC Division’s Deep Sea Minerals Project will continue to develop the Status of 

Deep Sea Minerals in the Pacific Island Country Region Report in collaboration with UNEP 

GRID and the expert panel of Lead Authors. Country visits are expected to take place over 

the next 12 months and legal review of existing regional minerals and DSM policy will 

also continue. Outreach products and in-house data holdings will also continue to be 

developed and improved. 

54




• Lack of knowledge and awareness can cause environmental, financial, and physical 

damages. 


• Limited in-country capacity; technical & professional experts to support work on 

maritime boundary and extended continental shelf. Absence of local support to assist on 

maritime boundary and eCS work. 

• Limited financial resources to assist Tuvalu progress on final stages and activities on 

maritime boundary and eCS. 

• Lack of support from development partners and organisations to assist Tuvalu financially 

and technically accomplish the remaining activities on it maritime boundary and eCS 

(new area). 


• Need for legal and technical expertise in resolving the delimitation of Vanuatu’s 

boundaries and the preparation of its continental shelf submission. 


• Sustained funding remains the largest threat in order to respond to Pacific Island 

Countries and Territories demand for geosciences services. 

• The unexpected reduction in NZ Programmatic funds for 2011 has impacted the SPC 

SOPAC Division’s ability to deliver on maritime boundaries tasks and alternative funding 

is urgently required. 


(vii) 

Fostering greater international and intra-regional trade opportunities by proceeding with 

the implementation of key regional trade agreements and, in particular, working to allow 

for the freer movement of goods and services. 


months 


• Pacific Islands Forum Leaders launched negotiations for a new regional trade and 

economic agreement, known as PACER Plus, in August 2009. Since then Pacific Islands 

Forum Trade Ministers have taken decisions to guide the PACER Plus negotiations, 

including agreeing on the priority issues of: rules of origin; regional labour mobility; 

development assistance; trade facilitation; and infrastructure issues. 

55



• Australia continues to provide significant support for PACER Plus meetings, including: 

Forum officials’ PACER Plus meetings held in April 2010 (Port Vila), October 2010 

and March 2011 to exchange views on priority negotiating issues; a capacity building 

workshop on rules of origin and customs procedures held in September 2010; and a 

meeting between Forum Trade Officials and Non-State Actors (i.e. NGOs and business 

representatives) was also held in October 2010 to exchange views on PACER Plus issues. 

• Progress has also been made towards the establishment of the Office of the Chief Trade 

Adviser (OCTA) and the OCTA is providing advice to the Forum Island countries in the 

negotiations. Australia has previously promised to provide AUD500,000 per year over 

three years to the OCTA to support Forum Island countries’ involvement in the PACER 

Plus negotiations. Australia has provided AUD500,000 for the first year of the OCTA’s 

operations and is seeking to finalise an agreement to provide the remainder of promised 

funding. Australia is also funding comprehensive training in trade negotiations for Forum 

Island Country officials by the Institute for International Trade at Adelaide University 

and has made funds available to each Forum Island country to conduct independent trade 

research into PACER Plus. 

• In particular, officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) travelled 

to Samoa and Vanuatu in the 2009-10 financial year to provide technical assistance 

and advice in relation to outstanding requirements of entry in to the World Trade 

Organisation (WTO). 

• Further, AusAID agreed this year to fund a consultant to assist Samoa with completion of 

outstanding legislation in relation to Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights. Australia’s 

permanent mission to the WTO in Geneva has played a lead role in working with other 

countries to facilitate the completion of the negotiations. 

• Australia also provides funding to the Forum Secretariat’s WTO Representative in Geneva. 


Cook Islands Business Trade & Investment Board 

• The Business Trade and Investment Board received newsletters on general awareness 

on bio-security interceptions from the New Zealand MAF through the Ministry of 

Agriculture. 

• An invitation was received by the Pacific Islands Centre (PIC) in Japan for the Cook 

Islands to nominate one manufacturer/exporter to attend and participate in the “Health 

Ingredient Japan 2010” trade show to be held from the 13-15 October 2010 in Tokyo, 

Japan. With the complexities surrounding the supply and demand principles of a large 

country such a Japan and the Cook Islands being a small island nation, coupled with the 

geographical isolation and high costs associated with conducting business, we could 

not nominate a worthy manufacturer/exporter that could leverage off this opportunity. 

We hope that over the coming 12 to 24 months, with further progress in Business 

Trade Investment Board (BTIB) partnership (MoU) activities, a capable nominee may be 

identified for the next trade show. 

• Regional Stocktake Meeting on Traditional Knowledge Action Plan held in August 2010. 

• One of BTIB key objectives is a Cook Islands branding initiative. 

• The Geographical Indications (GI) Trade Knowledge conference was an opportunity 

to better understand the scope surrounding intellectual and traditional knowledge 

and its link to traditional branding mechanisms. It is also important to understand the 

uniqueness of our Polynesian culture, our rich heritage and traditions in preparation for 

such an exercise. 

56



• There is expanding interest amongst our Cook Islands people for the commercial 

protection of our traditional and intellectual knowledge. The Business Trade and 

Investment Board, in preparation, will be conducting workshops, research and other 

associated activities as a means of information gathering in order to further strengthen the 

strategic positioning of a Cook Islands Branding in country. 

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration (MFAI), in collaboration with the Business 

Trade and Investment Board, was pleased to advise on the completion of the Cook Islands 

National Study on the Pacific Agreement for Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus with 

New Zealand and Australia. 

• The Business Trade and Investment Board, from the outset, has been involved with the 

PACER national consultations with former Business Trade and Investment Board staff 

member Alana Short as part of the consultation team. It is recommended that Business 

Trade and Investment Board continue to take an active role in further consultations as we 

note some of the recommendations from the study includes outputs that Business Trade 

and Investment Board is mandated to carry out. 

• Participated in ACP Geographical Indications (GI) Conference, 2-3 November 2010, 

Brussels, Belgium. This was a follow-on conference from an earlier one held in August 

2010(GI TK). The Cook Islands representatives shared their concerns and challenges 

surrounding Geographical Indications and Traditional Knowledge within the Cook 

Islands. Specifically, the establishment of a mechanism to drive Geographical Indications 

and Traditional Knowledge forward. The need to further strengthen ACP countries in 

a better understanding of Geographical Indications and Traditional Knowledge was 

identified. Progressive behaviour towards a regional mechanisms and the protection of 

Geographical Indications and Traditional Knowledge in ACP countries is firm on the 

minds of PIFS officials. With steady progress being made towards a Cook Islands branding 

country initiative, the Cook Islands is in a strong position to add value to this regional 

mechanism by way of information sharing and experience. 

Pacific Corporation Foundation(PCF)- Pacific Brands promotion 

• A proposed MoU is to be signed between PCF and Business Trade and Investment Board 

for following purposes: strengthening intra regional relations; information sharing and 

disseminating; assist with in country business meetings and appointments; liaise with 

local producers and manufacturers that link in with the ‘Pacific branding’ initiative; and, 

develop networking, data and marketing mechanisms and expertise for the benefit of both 

organisations. 

Turners and growers 

• The renewed export of the Cook Islands pawpaw into the New Zealand market to Turners 

and Growers (T&G). T&G requested the supply of 500 cartons of 8 ounce Cook Islands 

pawpaw. However, due to the size and market constraints within the Cook Islands, only 

200 cartons can be supplied on a regular basis. It is unclear whether these numbers can 

be sustained in the medium to long term, but there is an assertive effort on the part of 

the local pawpaw growers and that of the Ministry of Agriculture, with assistance from 

Business Trade and Investment Board, to stimulate the exports of Cook Islands Pawpaw. 


Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement 

The Government of Kiribati is still yet to announce its readiness to implement trade in goods. 

PICTA Trade in Services is being negotiated. Draft Trade in Services offer is yet to be submitted to 

Cabinet. 

57



European Union – Economic Partnership Agreement (EU-EPA) 

• Negotiations with internal stakeholders are on-going; draft Goods Market Access Offer is 

yet to be endorsed by Cabinet. 

Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Agreement (PACER) Plus 

• As above, internal negotiations with local stakeholders are on-going. 


• Over the past 12 months New Zealand has participated in two PACER Plus officials 

meetings in October 2010 (Honiara) and March 2011 (Palau). During this time progress 

has been made on the development of a possible framework to enable those countries 

ready to move ahead with negotiations to progress, while allowing other countries more 

time to prepare. 

58 


• Palau, together with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall 

Islands, established the Micronesian Shipping Commission (MSC) to reduce costs of 

shipping and maintain a consistent supply of goods. This shipping service has benefited 

Palau with fresher produce, better goods (in comparison to our fellow Small Island State 

countries), and a consistent supply of petroleum, however high the price continues to 

climb. Palau’s shipments come mainly from the United States, supplying stores with their 

products and allowing the US priority of shipping services. The current shipping scheme is 

part of Palau’s Compact Agreement with the United States and the Most Favoured Nation 

Clause. Through this clause, Palau can engage in negotiations but must consult with the 

US before signing any trade agreements as the US trade takes priority over other trading 

partners. Palau has not signed or ratified PICTA but has considered participation on PICTA 

Trade in Services. Currently PICTA Trade in Service negotiations concentrates only on 

business services, tourism, transportation and labour mobility beyond Mode 4. Palau 

submitted draft Trade in Service Offers, but submission of Offers do not obligate Palau 

to sign or ratify PICTA. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Industry and Commerce is 

overseeing the establishment of our National Trade Policy and until it is in effect with a 

legal framework in place, the PACER Plus endorsement has been put on hold. 

• Palau’s participation in the EPA is contingent upon our consultations with the United 

States and how we address the most favoured nation issue in our compact. We are 

currently working with the Micronesian Trade Committee with the Federated States of 

Micronesia and the Republic of Marshall Islands on high level consultations to address 

this matter. Further we have sought assistance from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat 

for funding from the EU for a trade policy adviser who will assist in the process. The role 

of the trade policy adviser will be to finalize the National Trade Policy, revive the National 

Trade Facilitation Committee and help Palau engage the US in its consultations regarding 

the most favoured nation. The trade policy adviser will be hired in-country and the process 

of advertisement will commence as soon as the terms of reference is finalised. 

• The third meeting of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) 

Plus Officials took place 14-15 March 2011. Discussed during the meetings was the 

legal establishment of the Office of the Chief Trade Advisor (OCTA) as an independent 

institution from the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat. The OCTA Constitution has been 

endorsed by all Forum Island Countries ministers and signed by all members of the 

Governing Board, including Palau. PACER Plus has reserved discussion on any Trade in 

Services until proper national consultations have been made. Everything must be set in 

place at the national level before anything can move forward in trade agreements at the 

regional level. Legal framework and national policies need finalization before Palau can



agree to anything, which is the case with many other countries. In addition, workshops 

conducted in every Forum Island Country for the customs and trade officials on the lower 

level must align with these policies and agreements so that they can be implemented and 

practiced. 

• Palau still stands on the defence in terms of labour mobility as foreign workers from Asia, 

mainly the Philippines, continue to work in Palau (most of which are employed in the 

private sector). Palau’s key struggle with Labour Mobility is the concept of Brain Drain 

and how to address this. Palau’s objective is to bring back its educated professionals and 

skilled workers. An increase in cheap foreign labour in these areas provides less incentive 

for Palauans living abroad to come back home. Efforts to bring back Palauan educated 

professionals and skilled workers are difficult when opportunities for success are easily 

accessible in the United States. 

• Palau completed its Market Access Offer, along with most of the Forum Island Countries, 

for review by the EU in an attempt to conclude the EPA by the end of 2011. Due to the 

overwhelming regional activity in the trade sector, Palau’s limited trade staff has been 

focused on finalizing its market access offers and little activity has been done on the 

domestic front. Work has focused on cooperation with the Customs Office for submission 

of market access offers consistent with the desire of the EU for Substantially All Trade 

Level of 80% liberalization in 20 years with 50% done in the first 5 years. This is possible, 

but requires significant tax reform to ensure minimal loss of revenue from import taxes. 

Along with this, Palau has pushed for the inclusion of a development chapter to ensure 

that implementation costs associated with the EPA do not become the burden of our 

national government. We have also sought to ensure that funding comes outside of 

the EDF envelope, otherwise other national priorities would outweigh trade issues and 

thus create an undue burden for us to comply with the protocols of the EPA in terms of 

funding. 


• Tuvalu ratified and implemented the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) 

to identify the resources or goods that could be exported to other Pacific Island countries, 

and which would help the Government balance its trade activities since Tuvalu is highly 

dependent on import goods. Tuvalu has announced its readiness to trade under PICTA, 

that changes of tariff to Harmonised Tariff Schedule 2007 version are completed, as are all 

other requirements. 

• Tuvalu conducted a survey to identify high potential export products, including brown 

coconut and fish. 

• A National Trade Steering Committee was established to assist the Department of Trade to 

provide guidance on trade initiatives and oversee all trade activities and trade issues. 

• National consultations were held on tax reforms. 

• An assessment was undertaken of the trade related development needs and constraints in 

Tuvalu in relation to engagement in a possible future PACER Plus Agreement. 

• The Diagnostic Trade Integration Study was completed. The study aims at identifying all 

bottlenecks and constraints on sectors which have trade potential or may contribute to the 

economy. 

• EPA national consultations and training on data tool was also held. 

Achievements 

• Formulation of PICTA Trade in Services offers and draft request for Development 

Coordinating Committee and cabinet approval. 

59



• WTO Trade in Services training held in Nadi in 2010 for Pacific Island Countries. It 

provided the trade officer with a better understanding and ideas on scheduling and 

formulating Tuvalu PICTA Trade in Services offers. 

• A Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) validation workshop was completed and the 

final report was endorsed by cabinet. 

• A tier 1 proposal was drafted and budget formulated for the Development Coordinating 

Committee’s consideration and Cabinet endorsement. 

• The achievement of tax reform was assisted by technical assistance. 


• Vanuatu has completed its PICTA Trade in Goods ratification process and commenced 

implementing the Agreement in January 2010 but thus far there has been no trade under 

PICTA. 

• Vanuatu’s trade under the MSG Trade Agreements has increased. 

• Vanuatu has also continued to be involved in the PICTA Trade in Services negotiations 

and has submitted its proposed ‘offers’ and ‘requests’ for further negotiations. 

• Vanuatu considers the EU – EPA as an important mechanism for greater economic 

integration and has been fully committed to the negotiations. In early 2011, it finalized its 

conditional EU – EPA Market Access offers. 

• Three consultations have taken place on PACER Plus for government stakeholders and 

private sector including in early 2011. The focus was on “Beyond Trade” in the hope of 

taking on board the, views of key stakeholders at an early stage of negotiations. 

• The negotiation’s of Vanuatu’s accession to the WTO has taken well over 15 years and 

work towards the completion of its WTO Accession Package has been finalised. 

• The Recognised Seasonal Employees Scheme has proved to be of benefit to Vanuatu with 

more than 2,000 workers in New Zealand and 18 in Australia, forecast to increase in the 

next 12 months. 

• There was no progress on the SPARTECA review that would entail some change to the 

rules of origin so as to allow for the easier access to Australian and New Zealand markets. 

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat 

• Over the past 12 months, the Secretariat continued providing support to the Forum 

Island Countries on engagement with the WTO, the preparatory work relating to the 

EPA and PICTA trade in services negotiations, implementation of PICTA, and broader 

national consultations on trade-related matters, including development of Trade Policy 

Frameworks to foster greater international and intra-regional trade opportunities. 

Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) 

• The PICTA is a free trade agreement among the Forum Island Countries, with the goal 

to gradually establish a Free Trade Area among the fourteen Forum Island Countries. 

Seven Forum Island Countries (Cook Island, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu 

and Vanuatu) have completed necessary domestic arrangements for trading under 

PICTA preferences. The remaining Forum Island Countries have been progressing work 

to announce their readiness to trade under PICTA over the past 12 months. The Forum 

Secretariat, in partnership with relevant agencies, also delivered training on the PICTA 

Rules of Origin, in the Solomon Islands from 20 – 28 September 2010 to assist the Forum 

Island Countries in implementing PICTA. 

60



• The Forum Island Countries are also in the process of broadening PICTA to include 

Trade in Services and Temporary Movement of Natural Persons. The Forum Island 

Countries have held five rounds of negotiations on the PICTA Trade in Services and 

Temporary Movement of Natural Persons, and have exchanged their offers and requests. 

The Fifth Round of PICTA Trade in Services Negotiations was held in Koror, Palau from 

16 – 18 March 2011. Forum Island Countries are currently involved in further national 

consultations and bilateral negotiations to improve their PICTA Trade in Services offers. 

The Pacific ACP Trade Ministers at their meeting in February 2011 reaffirmed the need for 

Trade Officials to work towards concluding PICTA Trade in Services negotiations by the 

end of 2011. 

Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus 

• PACER Plus aims to deepen trade and economic cooperation between Forum Members. 

The objective of PACER Plus arrangement is to provide a comprehensive framework for 

trade and economic cooperation between Australia, New Zealand and the Forum Island 

Countries. 

• In the past 12 months, the Secretariat convened several meetings to progress the PACER 

Plus negotiations. A PACER Plus Rules of Origin and Customs Procedures Workshop was 

held in Nuku’alofa, Tonga from 1 – 3 September 2010. Further, the Second and Third 

PACER Plus Trade Officials Meetings were held in Honiara, Solomon Islands from 19 – 20 

October 2010; and in Koror, Palau from 14 – 15 March 2011. A Non-State Actor Dialogue 

on PACER Plus was also held on 18 October 2010 to discuss related issues with the private 

sector and the civil society representatives. 

• The Office of the Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA) to assist the Forum Island Countries in 

PACER Plus negotiations has been operational since March 2010. 

• The Forum Trade Ministers at their meeting in April 2011 discussed the way forward on 

PACER Plus negotiations and noted the need to progress PACER Plus negotiations with a 

meeting focused on selected priority issued as agreed by Forum Trade Ministers. 

Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU 

• The EPA negotiations with the EU have been going on for nine years at the ACP level 

and seven years at the Pacific ACP (PACP) level. The Caribbean region is the only region 

that has concluded negotiations on a comprehensive EPA. Papua New Guinea and Fiji 

initialled the interim EPA (iEPA) in 2007 mainly to prevent market disruptions for their 

exports and later signed the agreement in 2009. Papua New Guinea ratified the iEPA in 

May 2011. The PACP region has, however, continued to negotiate a comprehensive EPA 

with the EU. 

• Much of the focus of the PACP region for 2010 and 2011 has been on technical 

preparations which involved the pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and TradeCom assisting 

PACPS to formulate their market access offers. In this regard, a number of technical 

meetings on customs-related issues, the draft legal EPA text, fisheries and market access 

offers were held in the region in preparation for the next negotiating session with the 

European Commission (EC). 

World Trade Organization (WTO) 

• Currently, six Forum Members (Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, 

Solomon Islands and Tonga) are WTO Members. In the last 12 months, Vanuatu and 

Samoa have continued to further engage with the WTO in seeking full membership 

status. In May 2011, Vanuatu’s accession package was adopted by a special session of 

the General Council. Vanuatu has six months to ratify its accession package, and 30 

days after the ratification date, Vanuatu will become a full-fledged Member of the WTO. 

61



Samoa’s initiatives towards accession to the WTO, are ongoing. Bilateral market access 

negotiations on goods and services are underway. 

• The Forum Secretariat has been supporting the Forum Island Countries in their 

engagement with the WTO, through the Office of the Delegation of the Pacific Islands 

Forum to the WTO (Geneva Office). The Forum Island Countries WTO Members 

and Observers are expected to benefit from a strengthened Geneva Office which will 

have improved facilities, specialist staff to promote trade with EU, and ensure greater 

collaboration with like-minded countries on trade issues of interest to the Forum Island 

Countries. This will be particularly important as the international community works to 

bring a successful conclusion to the Doha development round – something that looks 

increasingly challenging, but which is of great strategic interest. 


• SPC facilitated consultations with Fiji and Tuvalu, resulting in the Fiji Islands government 

declaring Rotuma an ‘international port’ which enables Rotuma to export agricultural 

produce to Tuvalu. SPC’s Land Resources Division and Maritime Programme, worked 

in collaboration with the Oceania Customs Organisation hosted by SPC and the two 

governments to achieve this outcome. This agreement has benefits for rural farming 

communities in Rotuma and for the people of Tuvalu. 

• A sub-regional shipping service connecting Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru is now 

operational using ships from Kiribati Shipping Services Ltd and provides a new trading 

route between these four countries, with Fiji as the hub port. The establishment of this 

service has resulted in a reduction in freight costs for goods, as well reduction in the price 

of goods for users in importing countries. 

• Work has continued on quarantine awareness efforts to prevent transborder movement of 

invasive pests and diseases threatening trade and food security. 

• Fourteen export enterprises in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa 

and the Republic of Marshall Islands were assisted to comply with biosecurity standards to 

enable access to export markets. Assistance covered supply chain management, including 

product labelling, marketing and internationally accepted standards. 

• Twelve selected small and medium enterprises were assisted to access to the growing 

market for Fair Trade, ethical and sustainably harvested goods. Enterprises that gain 

accreditation and thus access these important niche markets add value to their exports. 

One full-time Fair Trade Facilitation Officer is provided to build capacity and provide 

training to assist Pacific Island Countries and Territories access to high-value ethical trade 

niches in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. 

• Eighteen private sector agricultural and forestry exporters and associations in Papua 

New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and the Republic of Marshall 

Islands were strengthened and supported through the provision of technical advice and 

training to engage in agribusiness and trade. An Australian Centre for International 

Agricultural Research agribusiness project was also developed. 

• EU funding was secured for a structuring of the cultural industries in the region. 

Technical support was given to Tonga’s Langafonua Handicraft Centre to strengthen its 

business management and product development capacity. 

• Community Education Training Centre established a partnership agreement with the 

Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) project to develop business training 

modules in support of the agribusiness sector. 

62



• The Commonwealth Secretariat supported development of a Community Education 

Training Centre regional strategy for micro and small and medium enterprises (MSME) 

capacity building and networking based on regional consultations on MSME networking 

in July 2009. An enterprise network portal was also established. 

• The Statistics and Demography Programme provided technical assistance for the 

collection and processing of food import data. 

• With assistance provided under Pacific Regional Economic Integration Project, SPC 

through the Land Resources Division participated in the final design missions for the 

Pacific Horticulture and Agriculture Market Access project for Fiji, Samoa, Solomon 

Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. 

• Commencement of Pacific Horticulture and Agriculture Market Access project in Pacific 

Island Countries and Territories provided a mechanism to support and expand export 

market opportunities for horticultural and other agricultural commodities through the 

creation of regional mechanisms to identify and prioritise suitable products and facilitate 

the development of market access submissions. 

• The Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade pilot project has facilitated the 

development of skills in post-harvest quality assurance, and processing and packaging 

of products to increase compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary standards. Products 

include essential oils (Papua New Guinea), cassava chips (Vanuatu), Virgin coconut oil 

(Fiji), banana chips (Samoa) and pandanus juice (Marshall Islands). Aspects examined 

included market access, shelf life, and value adding to enhance the competitiveness of 

export products. 

• Launching of the Central Pacific Shipping Commission to enhance trading route for small 

island countries. 

• Under the guidance of the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community, formerly 

the Regional Organic Task Force, the national organics associations of Cook Islands, 

Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, 

Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, were assisted by the SPC with the development 

and promotion of local organic production and marketing. Some national associations 

have commenced exports, for example, coffee from Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, and 

organic coconut oil from Samoa and Solomon Islands. 

• Enterprises from 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories were selected for the design 

of an independent economic and systems analyses of production, export and marketing 

requirements with support from the Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade project. 

Based on these studies, the project has begun to facilitate ongoing improvements to 

assist in developing commercially viable, sustainable and market-oriented production 

programmes for these enterprises. 

• Continued building Pacific Island Countries and Territories capacity on biosecurity and 

trade facilitation. 

• Both SPC Human Development Programme and Land Resources Division collaborated 

in training activities for approximately 80 people from four Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories, provided jointly with the Land Resources Division’s Facilitating Agricultural 

Commodity Trade project. Training covered areas such as food processing and 

entrepreneurship. 

• Through SPC’s Statistics for Development Programme, four staff members from the 

Kiribati National Statistic Office received 20 days of on-the-job training in international 

trade statistics. 

63



• Technical assistance provided to at least 5 countries in support of meeting seafood export 

requirements. 



• Further PACER Plus meetings are anticipated in the next 12 months, with the next 

meeting expected to be held in Brisbane in late 2011 and a subsequent meeting to be 

held in early 2012. Australia will provide assistance to support Forum Island Countries’ 

involvement in these meetings. The next meeting of PACER Plus Officials will focus 

on customs procedures, rules of origin and regional labour mobility. Other priority 

negotiating issues will be discussed at the subsequent officials meeting. 

• There remains good prospects for completing WTO accession negotiations with Samoa 

and Vanuatu in 2011. 


PACER Plus 

• Further progress and development is expected. The Cook Islands will attend further 

regional conferences in anticipation of strengthening the PACER agreement for the benefit 

of the region and that of the Cook Islands. 

Partnership Agreements 

• Further advances in identifying and signing potential partnerships with local business in 

an attempt to increase their “import substitution” and/or “export capabilities”. 

Pacific Cooperation Foundation 

• Business Trade and Investment Board to continue supporting local businesses identified 

by Pacific Cooperation Foundation as: capable of supplying Cook Island products/produce 

through PCF distribution network; and further advance other local businesses in order to 

achieve the minimum requirements of being an accepted supplier, a joined with PCF and 

the Pacific brand mechanism. 

Cook Islands Branding 

• Progress towards the mechanism that can support a Cook Islands branding initiative in 

country namely: a logo; administration processes; application processes; criteria; and 

legislation. 


PICTA 

• To revisit the PICTA trade in goods implementation by working closely with Ministry of 

Finance and Economic Development (MFED); to submit draft Cabinet memo on PICTA 

services offer for consideration. 

EPA 

• To submit joint Cabinet memo for consideration. 

PACER Plus 

• To undertake national consultations on PACER Plus issues in Tarawa and Kiritimati. 

64



• The next PACER Plus officials meeting is scheduled for November 2011 with the 

possibility of another in early 2012 before the next Forum Trade Ministers Meeting. It has 

been agreed that the focus of the next PACER Plus meeting will be customs procedures, 

rules of origin and labour mobility. 


• Progress in trading with other Pacific Island Countries. 

• Appointing a National Trade Advisory to finalize trade issues mentioned above. 


• The Department of Trade will continue to work and explore potential sectors for 

possibility to export under PICTA. It will continuously work towards achieving 

outstanding activities under PICTA, such as training on Rules of Origin and monitor 

progress under this agreement. 

• To continue conducting national consultations on PACER Plus. There is a need for 

technical assistance to assist with national consultations on PACER Plus. 

• Continue national consultations on EPA. There is also a need to request external technical 

assistance to assist with conducting national consultations. 

• Work towards Tier 1 funding and budget for Cabinet endorsement. 

• National consultation on the formulation of Trade Policy for Tuvalu. 

• Closely working with the Tuvalu National Private Sector Organization (TNPSO). 

• Start implementing activities under the Diagnostic Trade Integrated Study Action Matrix. 

• The Department of Trade will continuously work with PIFS to achieve common priority 

issues approved by Trade Ministers in all the trade agreements that Tuvalu is or would be 

party to. 

• Work closely with PIFS in conducting workshop(s) for customs, private sector and all 

relevant stakeholders in Tuvalu on the outstanding activities. 

• A new structure for the Department of Trade will be finalised when new officers are 

recruited, hopefully before the end of 2011. The Department desires to conduct training 

for employees involved in all trade related activities and businesses in order to improve 

service and products delivery. 


• Vanuatu will continue to carry out consultations on its EU EPA with the hope of 

completing negotiations by end of 2011 and envisages its accession to the WTO to be 

ratified in 2012. 

• Review of the Diagnostic Trade Integrated Study (DTIS 2008) and the approval and 

implementation of the Enhanced Integrated Trade Framework to implement projects 

within the Diagnostic Trade Integrated Study Action Matrix which support areas in 

improving and facilitating trade. 

• To complete the Trade in Service negotiations under PICTA by December 2012. 

• The kava restrictions imposed by Australia will be pursued with a view of allowing 

commercial exports to commence. 

65


Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat 

• The sixth round of PICTA Trade in Service negotiations is anticipated to be held in mid- 

August, 2011, focusing on the PICTA Trade in Service text, as well as the finalization of the 

PICTA Trade in Service offers. 

• National consultations and training on PICTA implementation and the Rules of Origin are 

expected to continue based on requests by Members. 

• The Forum Trade Ministers at their meeting in Vava’u, Tonga on 18 – 19 May 2011 

agreed that the next Meeting of the PACER Plus Officials be held before the end of 2011, 

preferably in November, and the possibility of another meeting of PACER Plus Officials in 

early 2012. 

• The next Non-State Actor Dialogue on PACER Plus would be held in the margins of the 

next PACER Plus Officials Meeting. 

• The Forum Secretariat will continue to provide support upon request to individual 

Forum Island countries for the formulation and implementation of their Trade Policy 

Frameworks. 

• PACP Trade Ministers met in February 2011 in Apia, to take stock of the EPA negotiations. 

They considered a number of approaches to the negotiations, including the option 

of ceasing negotiations with the EU. Ministers agreed, however, that the region 

should continue negotiations on the EPA as a single region, with a view to concluding 

negotiations before the end of 2011. In this regard, Ministers adopted the PACP EPA draft 

2011 Strategy document which outlined a number of options and strategies for moving 

the negotiations forward, and established the negotiations with the EU as top-priority for 

2011 with a commitment to its conclusion by the end of 2011. 

• Eight PACPS, namely Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Palau, Samoa, 

Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, submitted their draft market access offers to the EC between 

15-22 July 2011. The PACP position on the draft legal text was also submitted to the EC 

on 15 July 2011. A joint PACP Fisheries and Trade Ministers’ meeting as well as a PACP 

Trade Ministers’ Meeting was held on 8 and 9 August 2011, respectively, in Port Moresby, 

Papua New Guinea. Fisheries and Trade Ministers reviewed their mandate of 2006 and 

agreed on a broad approach for the region to adopt with regards to fisheries in the EPA 

negotiations. PACP Trade Ministers also agreed to the revised EPA roadmap that would 

see the negotiations now brought to a conclusion in 2012. The revised EPA roadmap was 

also endorsed by PACP Leaders at their meeting in September 2011. It is anticipated that 

the region will be busy preparing for their meeting with the EC over the next few months 

into the second quarter of 2012. 


• Convene a meeting between exporters and imports from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu 

to enhance further opportunities for increased trade between the four countries to benefit 

from the new sub-regional shipping service. 

• Complete the commodity mapping study on trading between Pacific Island Countries 

and Territories, as well as trade flows into Pacific Island Countries and Territories, in 

particular comparative analysis of freight costs for goods using direct routes and certain 

transhipment routes to benefit from the newly established sub-regional feeder shipping 

services. 

66


• Under the Pacific Regional Economic Integration Programme (PACREIP), assistance will be 

provided to Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Marshall Islands 

by the end of 2010. French Polynesia has also been assisted. 

• Specific pest surveys will be conducted in some Pacific Island Countries and Territories in 

relation to market access to New Zealand, Australia and other trading partners. Ongoing 

training will be provided for Pacific Island Countries and Territories quarantine staff, for 

example in pest and disease identification, and pest risk analysis for imports. 

• Support will be provided for enacting biosecurity laws in Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories that have yet to enact such laws, and assistance will be given for drafting 

supporting regulations and a biosecurity strategy for Fiji and Cook Islands. 

• The biosecurity information facility will be made fully operational in Fiji, Cook Islands, 

Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Tonga and Tuvalu. 

Assistance will be given to French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna to 

ensure the facility is operational in the French language. 

• Under the new AusAID Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) 

project, Pacific Island Countries and Territories will be assisted with capacity 

strengthening in relation to market access and trade negotiations. 

• Support will be provided through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural 

Research project on improving commodity pathway for taro and ornamental to Australia 

and New Zealand. Selected Pacific Island export enterprises will be helped to diversify 

into semi- and fully processed products, with added value but reduced biosecurity risks 

and cost, for example frozen and cooked taro and root crops. Value-adding strategies for 

key Pacific crops including coconut, breadfruit, pandanus, cocoa and sandalwood will be 

developed through research and development technical support. 

• A marketing strategy for exports to the EU and other regions will be developed for cultural 

industries, and Community Education Training Center will pilot customized business 

training modules in the areas of handicrafts, food processing and export planning. 

• The Statistics and Demography Programme will work with Pacific Island Countries 

and Territories to improve national capacity in managing core statistical collections 

and reporting through administrative databases, assisted by the recruitment of two 

additional professional staff: an Economic Statistician (Trade) and a Database Specialist 

(Civil Registration). It will undertake a gap analysis in seven Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories that have reported incomplete or poor civil registration and develop plans to 

improve their systems. 

• The Land Resources Division will lead the implementation of the Increasing Agricultural 

Commodity Trade (IACT) project which aims to ‘improve Pacific–ACP Community of 

States economic integration through strengthened national systems and institutional 

frameworks to develop trade capacity, increase private sector competitiveness and 

increase international market access’. The project aims to strengthen productive export 

capacity in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. 

• Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community invited to put up an organic display and 

arrange an organic luncheon for the Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting in September 2011 in 

Auckland. 

67




Turner and Growers 

• If history has any bearing, it will be difficult for local pawpaw growers to increase their 

production yield due to the following reasons: worker scarcity; lack of resources; lack of 

capital (purchasing capability of fertilizers); heat treatment deficiencies; and land scarcity. 


• Adverse impacts of trade liberalization (for example revenue loss due to reduced or no 

import duties, and influx of people). 

• Limited export capacity. 

• Lack of funding to undertake national consultations. 

• Need for capacity building and training of nationals. 


• The current data base and system in place to track the 5,000 non-resident workers is hardly 

usable. The amount of time and resources it takes to track all foreign workers (who must 

renew their contracts every two years) is wasteful when considering there are many other 

important things needed to be done. An updated, easily navigatable data base/system can 

deliver tremendous improvement in record keeping, information sharing and monitoring 

of the country’s foreign workers for better policy making. The Bureau is now looking to 

approach SPC for assistance on obtaining such a network. 

• Due to the Most Favoured Nation Clause, the United States takes priority in trade. 

Consulting the United States before signing and implementing agreements causes delay in 

progressing in the area of regional and sub-regional trade. 


• The Department of Trade has a fairly large workload shouldered by only one staff member. 

There is a need to increase staff numbers. 

• The Department always seeks external technical assistance due to lack of knowledge and 

experience on trade related technical areas. 

• The Department needs timely legal assistance on trade agreements and other trade legal 

issues. 


• The lack of human resources in trade remains a problem. 

• A trade policy that is late in the making thus not providing the policy guidelines to 

advance trade issues in a coherent way. Resulting from this and amongst other things, 

it will be necessary to ensure trade is mainstreamed into government policy making 

and policy implementation and to ensure a climate for enhanced development partner 

engagement with Vanuatu. A National Trade Development Committee that is currently 

inactive must be reactivated. 

• The need to develop industrial policies that are compatible with trade policy and the 

Diagnostic Trade Integrated Study action matrix. 

68



Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) 

• The Forum Secretariat undertakes its work on the instruction of Members and is guided 

accordingly by Ministerial decisions. 

• Much progress relating to negotiation and implementation of trade agreements hinges on 

delivery at the national level. 


• The major risks associated with facilitating export trade of agricultural and forestry 

products relate to adverse climatic conditions, natural disasters and any possible 

downturn in the global economic outlook and trading environments. 

• Availability and reliability of shipping services and storage infrastructure is a key 

constraint for trade in the Pacific. 

• For Community Education Training Centre, more financial and human resources are 

needed for continued development and delivery of appropriate business training modules. 

• The culture sector has not reached its full potential in many of the Pacific Island Countries 

and Territories, particularly in the areas of heritage preservation and the promotion of 

cultural industries. This is mainly due to lack of qualified personnel in the area of heritage 

and cultural management and entrepreneurship, museum management, cultural law, 

cultural economic, Pacific ethno-biodiversity and cultural studies. 


(viii) 

Strengthening the ability of the private sector to participate competitively in an 

integrated economy through the necessary enabling environments and support 

mechanisms. 


months 


• Australia provides support to the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), 

the ADB, the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Pacific 

Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP). 

• Australia’s support for PFIP (AUD4.3 million to 2012) has assisted in their work on policy 

and advocacy, innovative banking solutions, knowledge sharing, financial awareness and 

competency training. 

• Australia funds Pacific Islands Trade & Invest, the trade arm of the Pacific Islands Forum 

(AUD1.25 million annually). In 2010, this support has led to: 

• AUD7.4 million goods exports facilitated (around AUD6 million from Papua New Guinea, 

Vanuatu and Tonga); 

• AUD3.5 million in investment facilitated, particularly into Tonga, Solomon Islands and 

Cook Islands; and 

• A 44 percent increase in Wotif bookings and a 92 percent increase in room nights over a 

two-month campaign period, with Lonely Planet and SPTO. 

69




Business Trade & Investment Board 

• Partnerships (MoU): The continued pursuit to develop key partnerships with local 

business entities in order to stimulate import substitution and exports internationally. 

For example: Signed a MoU between the Business Trade and Investment Board and 

CISFP (Cook Island Smoked Fish products limited). This is a 100 percent locally owned 

business venture that was established to meet a niche market demand in the supply of 

smoked fish products. With strong import substitute and export possibilities, this was 

further strengthened when CISFP received their Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points 

certification in May, 2011; a certificate in recognition of quality food processing standards. 

• In May 2011 BTIB identified four local businesses with a preparatory view to establish 

a MoU in and around the potential growth and development of the following products: 

tabasco sauce; vanilla; coconut harvesting; and algae harvesting. 

• There is a high degree of interest, on the part of BTIB, to monitor and support businesses in 

the pursuit of exporting Cook Islands products. 

• Labelling/ Branding: The BTIB ‘Trade and Marketing Division’ has worked closely with 

a number of private sector businesses and individuals in order to support their business 

interest. There is a need to utilise the expertise of BTIB staff in the field of graphic 

design, to create cost effective labels and branding designs, in order for Small to Medium 

Enterprises (SMEs) to develop their products in preparation of market entry and without 

expending high costs typically associated with product labelling and design. 

• Cook Islands Made: BTIB have conducted two workshops in country to brainstorm a Cook 

Islands Branding Strategy. It is important to establish a branding initiative through public 

consultation and awareness. Following this process, we envisage the next stage being the 

development of a plan to drive this strategy through to implementation. 

• Support local products/promotional awareness (Go Local): BTIB commenced a ‘Go Local’ 

marketing strategy that has since gripped the nation. Local people have quickly embraced 

this concept and have jostled to attach their businesses and products to it. BTIB is working 

through a mechanism to further explore the opportunities that surround this marketing 

phenomenon in an attempt to ultimately stimulate import substitutes in country; a key 

objective of BTIB. 

• After 5 Biz talks – 3 (150 attended): workshops have attracted some 200+ plus businessminded 

individuals. The after 5 Biz talk targets existing SMEs as well as business ‘fence 

sitters’, uncertain of the next step, stagnant in terms of progress, de-mobilised due to 

inadequacies’ and fearful of failure being common denominators. 

• The monthly After 5 Biz talk is designed to fill the void of uncertainty by encouraging, 

motivating and educating business minded, ‘fence sitting’ individuals into business. 

• Economic Development Taskforce: In January 2011, the Prime Minister established an 

Economic Development Taskforce, comprising members from a broad cross section of the 

community to conduct consultations and propose to the Government directions that will 

energise, invigorate and grow the economy. 

• A National Economic Development Summit, held on 11 - 12 March 2011, provided an 

open forum for the community to raise issues and discuss/dispute the Taskforce findings, 

as well as raising further economic development ideas. A strong partnership between the 

public and private sectors was a key focus of the Taskforce consultations and the Summit. 

70




• Government of Kiribati (through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives) 

has been working collaboratively with the Kiribati Chamber of Commerce & Industry 

to develop a Private Sector Development Strategy to address the needs of the private 

sector. This exercise is still in progress and being considered by Secretaries/Development 

Coordination Committee. 


• New Zealand has a strengthened focus on supporting the private sector. Key successes 

include: the introduction of the Pacific Business Mentor Programme into 4 countries, 

including the Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu; and increased support to 

businesses in Tonga, through the funding of the new Tonga Business Enterprise Centre 

and a full-time Business Advisor. 


• By promoting the private sector through capacity building, Palau’s Small Business 

Development Centre has helped many business owners with their monitoring services. 

A new five-year strategic plan is under review and is looking to be adopted soon. 

Comprehensive annual, semi-annual, and monthly reports help in analyzing their success. 


• Plans are underway to review potential for a re-energized Local Economic Development. 


• The development of a fist ever Medium Small Micro Enterprise Policy was launched 

including the fully fledged Department of Industry (commenced in February 2011) to 

focus on the capacity and strengthening of SMEs and industries in down processing with a 

view to improving trade in goods both domestically and internationally. 

• The strengthening of cooperatives throughout Vanuatu under the Ministry of Ni- 

Vanuatu Business Development and Cooperatives has targeted the provinces, seeing 

the establishment of 18 new cooperatives societies in 2010 (overall there are now 254 

cooperatives nationwide) and the diversification of another 18 cooperatives into fisheries 

and poultry industries. This has included the offer of 30 training plans to existing 

businesses to ensure smooth operations; and in doing so boost their level of participation 

and competitiveness in the economy. 

• Development of a database with up-to-date registered businesses, contacts, form of 

business and services provided which has provided, a close network between the 

cooperatives, businesses and the Department of Ni-Vanuatu Business Development. 


• USP’s Faculty of Business and Economics has carried out a number of relevant 

presentations and seminars. For example, USP gave a presentation at the Pacific Business 

Conference in June 2011, on the topic of “Economics and Regional Integration”. Another 

paper on “New Opportunities for Enhancing Sources of Economics Growth in the Pacific 

Islands” was presented at a conference in February 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. 

• The faculty also worked with Vanuatu on the formulation of a trade policy framework. 

71



• The recently commenced Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) 

is AusAID’s flagship program. It works with government and industries to address 

regulatory challenges associated with gaining and maintaining access to key markets 

for high-value primary products. Australia will provide funding of AUD14 million from 

January 2011 to June 2013 to the PHAMA program, which will cover Fiji, Samoa, Solomon 

Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. 

• Australia is committed to expanding the provision of basic financial services to the 

Pacific through the: Pacific Microfinance Initiative in partnership with the IFC (AUD9.5 

million for 2010-13); Papua New Guinea Microfinance and Employment Project (AUD6.7 

million for 2010-13) in partnership with the ADB; and Pacific Financial Inclusion Program 

(AUD4.3 million to 2012). 


• Adoption of a Cook Islands Branding mechanism. 

• Development of a Business portal. 

• Increased export capabilities. 

• Increased import substitute. 

• A framework for economic development was presented at the National Economic 

Development Summit. Following the Summit, taking into account all feedback from 

the community, the Taskforce presented a list of 200 recommendations to Cabinet for 

consideration of which 199 were approved by Cabinet. The final Summit report is yet to 

be presented. 


• To continue assisting the private sector and to ensure they operate in compliance with 

relevant business regulations. 


• The following key areas of focus are being developed: ongoing roll-out of the Pacific 

Business Mentoring Programme to the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Kiribati 

and Tuvalu; support of a strong Private Sector Dialogue at the Forum Leaders’ Meeting; an 

enhanced focus on supporting tourism development in the region; and a strong focus on 

strengthening Business Support Services across the Pacific. 


• Formulation of preliminary study and research on business opportunities for outer 

islands. 


• Finalization of the National Trade Policy Framework. 


• USP intends to hold more presentations related to regional integration and will include 

stakeholders in these events. 

72




• Lack of funding, political reform, loss of specialist expertise, maintaining the momentum 

to implement the recommendations, and prioritising the implementation of the 

recommendations. 


• Financial aid needed by Small Business Development Centre to enhance their office 

infrastructure. The renovations to include solar panels and other methods of energy 

efficiency. 


• Lack of resources and export market opportunities. 


• There is need to stream line and improve mechanisms of coordination between the 

government arms that assist and develop policies for the private sector, including the 

Department of Industry, Department of Ni-Vanuatu Business Development and the 

Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

• The need for a private sector incentive scheme. 


(ix) 

Addressing issues that hinder the movement of goods and services through expediting fitfor-purpose 

solutions in the transport sector and, in particular: 

• improving and developing necessary infrastructure; 

• supporting the implementation of the region’s 2009 Shipping Ministers’ directions; and 

• the ongoing implementation of PIASA in the aviation sector, to ensure greater security, 

safety, reliability and competition of services across the region. 


months 


• The Government of Kiribati’s Kiribati Shipping Services Ltd (KSSL) company has assisted 

the PIFS in the implementation of the feeder services which is needed by Smaller Island 

States. 

• The Government of Kiribati and Japan has signed an agreement for the extension of the 

port under the Kiribati Ports Authority (KPA) Port Upgrading Project. The project will 

commence in 2012 and aims to improve and expedite the loading and unloading of goods 

from container vessels. 

73



• Government of Kiribati has also identified an Airport Upgrading Project, to improve safety 

and reliability of air travel domestically and internationally. The project is expected to 

commence in the near future. 


• New Zealand is supporting current improvements “to ship to shore” facilities in Tuvalu 

and the Cook Islands. 

• New Zealand is a partner in the Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility (PRIF), providing 

regular input on policy and programming decisions via the PRIF work group and senior 

management team. 


• Palau is the latest nation to join the ship registries entities. Under the Palau Open 

Ship Registry Act, President Toribiong appointed the International Shipping Bureau 

Management Limited (IML) to provide ship registry and management services to Palau. 

• Malakal Port needs improvement not only in its infrastructure, but also in its management 

and enforcement of proper protocols as assessed by the United States. 


• A Majuro small committee is working with Our Airlines - the Nauru-based jet service – to 

re-establish a new weekly flight that will reconnect the Marshall Islands with Australia 

and Fiji. 

• The airport road realignment project commenced in May 2011. The project budgeted 

at nearly USD16 million, is funded by the US Federal Aviation Administration and is 

expected to take about 18 months to complete. When completed it will create an open 

space at the end of the runways as a safety buffer and improve security fencing around the 

airport (new location), setting the stage for a possible 1,000 foot extension of the runway at 

a later date. The bulk of the project is focused on land filling a significant area that is now 

part of the lagoon next to the western tip of the runway. 


• Installation of new navigational equipments has been completed. 

• The Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) has completed its review to identify 

requirements for the improvement of aviation legislation; policies and procedures; 

security operations and aerodrome operations. PASO’s report and their recommendations 

is yet to be received. 

• The World Bank has indicated its interest to assist Tuvalu in developing aviation 

infrastructure, equipment and capacity building, under their Pacific Aviation Investment 

Project (PAIP). 

• The Tuvalu National Security Programme has been drafted and is currently with PASO for 

revision. 

• Airport security operation is meeting the minimum international standards with the 

recruitment of a private firm to provide the service. 

• The trade in agricultural products between Rotuma and Tuvalu had been enabled by 

Tuvalu shipping. 

74




• There are in total 29 airports in Vanuatu, with three declared as international airports. 

Upgrading works are being undertaken on nine of the airports. Vanuatu has signed ten Air 

Service Agreements (ASA) with four agreements currently being utilised with Australia, 

Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and New Zealand. 

• In line with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities Corporate Plan, work 

has been undertaken over the past 12 months to rehabilitate and maintain national 

road networks and feeder roads in four of the provinces to facilitate economic growth 

and service delivery. The government with support from AusAID has embarked on 

the first phase of the Vanuatu Transport Sector Support Program (VTSSP) to improve 

rehabilitation and maintenance of road transport infrastructure in the provinces of 

Penama (Ambae), Tafea (Tanna) and Malampa (Malekula). 

• The Millennium Challenge Account funded 220 kilometres of paved and tar-sealed roads 

on Efate and Santo, supported by the governments of the United States and New Zealand. 

• JICA funded improvement of the main Port Vila wharf infrastructure, cargo shed 

administration buildings, navigational aid (installation of new harbour lights to enhance 

safety measures for ship entry) and provision of pilot and tug boat to better service this key 

commercial port. 

• Vessels Safety Measures were introduced via a weekly 15 minute radio program to revalidate 

importance of safety certificates, and avoid the overloading of passengers and 

cargo. 


• SPC has done preliminary testing of the methodology for the commodity mapping 

exercise undertaken as part of technical assistance to countries. 

• SPC continued with implementation of the Pacific Islands regional audit regime with 

safety and security audits completed in Fiji, French Polynesia, Niue, Samoa, Papua New 

Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu. 

• SPC conducted an analysis of the viability of a short-term feeder shipping service 

agreement to selected Smaller Island States by Kiribati Shipping Service Limited (KSSL). 

• SPC SOPAC Division undertook geophysical baseline surveys to support improved 

decision making in the planning and design of two new outer island jetty facilities in Rabi 

and Qarani, Fiji. 

• SPC signed a MoU with the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) to provide 

closer links with the SOPAC Division’s existing hydrographic capacity and provide 

opportunities to bring SPC hydrographic work compliant with IHO standards and thus 

allow its inclusion of SPC data in nautical charts. This has obvious application in marine 

safety, navigation, maritime boundaries. 



• Kiribati Shipping Services Ltd will continue to support the feeder service and plans to 

have a new vessel in the near future to support this route. The company has indicated its 

full support for the Central Pacific Shipping Commission. 

• Complete the designing phases of the Port Upgrading projects, and monitor the 

implementation of the projects. 

75



• Expected completion of work to upgrade airports on Kiritimati Island in Kiribati, Munda 

in Solomon Islands, and ‘Eua, Tonga. 

• Improvements in inter-island shipping services and facilities in Vanuatu. 


• Seeking funding for the needed upgrades and changes in the Malakal Port. 


• Complete and implement security procedures compatible with local operations. 

• Complete development of a security training program. 

• Progress with the production of relevant policies, and other legislative work. 

• Improvement in aviation facilities, equipments and capacity building through the 

assistance of the World Bank. 

• Improvement of reef channels on the outer islands under the Tuvalu Ship to Shore Project. 

• The installation of a navigational aid at the Funafuti main passage for the entry of ships. 

• The review of existing legislation and regulations. 

• The implementation of the Port Security Plan. 


• The upgrading and extension of Pekoa and Whitegrass International Airports is 

anticipated over the year, including the review of the Infrastructure Master Plan and 

prioritising of projects where economic benefits have been revealed. 

• The development of a Port Vila Master Plan is envisaged to support the longevity and 

sustainability of roads. 

• Review and amend the Port and Marine Act Chapter 26 and Shipping Act Chapter 53 

which were first introduced around the 1960s to improve maritime infrastructure and 

marine transport efficiency, safety and reliability. 

• Development of Security Plan to improve and develop ports, security and safety. 


• Work in the areas mentioned above is expected to continue given adequate resources and 

expertise. 




• Some market (profit making) challenges experienced by the KSSL company but has been 

addressed. 


• Implementation depends on funding from development partners. 

76




• The biggest hurdle for the Department is the lack of financial capacity to support the 

implementation of aviation strategies and activities. 

• The lack of technical expertise in the department in most areas of aviation slows the 

progress of the industry. 

• The unavailability of the necessary equipments in aviation operations restricts Tuvalu in 

meeting required standards. 

• The existing facilities are in great need of refurbishment or replacement. 

• International Ship and Port Facility Security draft regulation has not been incorporated 

into the national law due to the lack of legal expertise in Maritime Law to deal with such 

issues. 

• Port Facility Security Plan has not been implemented yet as the above regulation has not 

been endorsed. 

• Review of national legislation such as the Shipping Act, Harbour Act and the Port Tariffs 

has not been done due to lack of technical expertise. 


• The need for wide ranging reform and review of maritime policies, institutional, legislative 

and governing arrangements to improve the domestic shipping services. 

• Continued donor support and funding in the infrastructure sector. 


• Lack of political support, funding and relevant, accessible statistics. 


(x) 

Implementing the directions provided by the region’s Ministers for ICT and, in particular, 

revising and updating the Regional Digital Strategy. 


months 


• Government of Kiribati, through Telecom Services Kiribati Ltd its telecommunication 

state owned enterprise has established telecommunication facilities on 11 (out of 

19) remote islands (60 percent coverage) such as public telephone and internet. This 

accomplishes Strategy 4.2.1 ‘Promote and support the provision of accessible and 

affordable communication to rural areas and remote islands’ of the Framework. 

• Government of Kiribati (through Ministry of Communications, Transport & Tourism 

Development) has developed a draft National ICT Policy that is now being reviewed. The 

Policy’s short, medium, and long-term goals are mostly aligned with the 4 objectives under 

Theme 2: ‘ICT policy, legislation and regulatory framework’ of the Framework. 

77




• After the ICT workshop hosted by Palau in February 2011, the Ministry of Infrastructure, 

Industry, and Commerce is formulating a National ICT framework, and updating the 

telecommunication regulations to include new technology. The National Framework for 

ICT will take time to finalize, legislate, and implement. 

• Our region has adopted a new roadmap for using ICT to assist sustainable development 

(Framework for Action on ICT for Development in the Pacific, formulated by SPC), 

but lack of government funding and given the low priority level of this sector, and ICT 

development at the regional level, it will take some time to progress at the National level. 

• The next step would be removing the monopoly held by Palau’s sole service provider, the 

Palau National Communication Corporation (PNCC) and creating a competitive market 

to entice foreign investment. Work between the Division of Communication and PNCC 

to develop ICT advances for the country is challenging. PNCC is protected by Republic of 

Palau Public Law 5-43, which allows them the freedom to address the ICT sector so long as 

they provide communication services to the Republic. 

• A regional initiative can only be driven at the national level when there is government 

support. Steps have been taken to move forward in other areas, such as the workshop in 

February to encourage public awareness in ICT development, hoping public demand can 

spark the political will to move ahead. 

• Holding of ICT awareness workshops and training can only be possible with funding 

support from partner organizations. 

• Improvement in technology through the Pacific Digital Library workshop held by the 

Pacific Resources for Education and Learning. Participants from different libraries and 

agencies in Palau were trained on how to select, prepare, and properly scan materials to 

contribute to the Pacific Library. 


• Drafting of the ICT Policy. 

• Filling vacant positions held by temporary staff. 


• The Vanuatu government opened up the telecommunications sector in 2008 and issued 

its draft National Information Communications Technology (ICT) Services Policy for 

consultation in 2011. This was brought about through the support from the International 

Telecommunications Union and the European Commission (ITU-EC) project for Pacific 

Island Countries (ICB4PAC). 

• Currently mobile coverage is around 90 percent resulting from these reforms and the 

set up of a Universal Access Policy (UAP) Fund to subsidize the delivery of mobile 

telecommunication services to selected rural areas. 

• The e-government network has been established to maximize the effectiveness of modern 

ICT equipment and services in further supporting service delivery. 


Progress on implementation of the recommendations endorsed under the Tonga Declaration: 

• 1(ii) Recognise the CROP Heads decision for SPC and USP to co-chair the CROP ICT 

Working Group: SPC and USP alternate chairing the CROP ICT Working Group. 

• 1(iii) Request that SPC participate at global fora such as Governmental Advisory 

78



Committee (GAC) and the Internet Governance Forums (IGF): SPC is now an official 

observer of GAC. SPC also convened, in partnership with development partners, the Pacific 

Internet Governance Forum in April this year. 

• (iv) Acknowledge the need for the media to be partners in ICT development and to 

build their capacity to engage more actively in this area, particularly where relevant and 

practical Pacific content needs to be promoted and developed: SPC’s Pacific ICT Outreach 

(PICTO) Programme secured funding from International Programme for the Development 

of Communications/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to 

conduct training for community radio operators. 

• (vi) Urge national, regional and international agencies to collaborate better and ensure 

there is greater information sharing to promote effective coordination to reduce 

duplication and wastage of already limited resources, and in doing so to coordinate with 

SPC regarding ICT development in the region: SPC has signed a MoU with Asia Pacific 

Network Information Centre and NetSafe Ltd, and Partnership Arrangements with 

International Telecommunication Union and United Nations Asian and Pacific Training 

Centre for Information and Communication Technology to strengthened collaborative 

and cooperative efforts in ICT sector. 

• 3(i) Endorse the establishment of the Pacific ICT Regional Regulatory Resource Centre 

(PIRRRC), to be located at USP’s Japan-Pacific ICT Centre: The World Bank has recruited 

a Director for the Centre. The board of the Centre has representatives from Samoa, Papua 

New Guinea, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and USP. SPC and 

the Centre currently work on a MoU. 

• 3(ii) Direct their Officials to work with SPC, Council of Europe, International 

Telecommunication Union and development partners on developing appropriate policy, 

legislative and regulatory frameworks and strategies to combat cybercrime and promote 

Internet safety and security, including child online protection: The ITU / ICB4PAC project 

conducted a workshop in Vanuatu on assessment of cybercrime legislation in the Pacific. 

SPC/ Council of Europe/Australia’s Attorney General’s Department conducted a workshop 

in Tonga in April 2011 to build capacity of Pacific countries in developing cybercrime 

legislation and explore possibility of international collaboration. 

• 3(iv) Urge Officials to engage with the regional organizations, private sector and civil 

society to prepare for the transition of critical Internet Protocol based infrastructure to 

Internet Protocol version 6 due to Internet Protocol version 4 space exhaustion: Asia 

Pacific Network Information Centre/Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and 

Numbers/Asia Pacific Top Level Domain conducted a workshop in the fringe of the 

Ministerial meeting in Noumea. Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association/USP 

hosted a Pacific Network Operator Group (PacNOG) workshop on IPv6 in Japan Pacific ICT 

Centre at USP in June. SPC in partnership with APNIC will promote to Governments the 

need to move to IPv6. 

• 4(i) Encourage the University of the South Pacific to work with International 

Telecommunication Union, Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association, SPC and 

partners to develop appropriate higher education and training programs in ICT policies, 

regulations and telecommunications management: Pacific Islands Telecommunciations 

Association/International Telecommunication Union/USP developed a Post Grad Diploma 

for Telecom management. USP developing ICT specialisation for its Masters in Business 

Administration programme. 

• 4(ii) Request SPC and USP to collaborate with partners to ensure that human and 

institutional capacity building initiatives are developed in accordance with the Pacific 

Plan and the regional ICT framework to address the capacity constraints in the PICTs: SPC 

79



partnership with United Nations Asia and Pacific Training Centre for Information and 

Communications Technology to rollout an Academy of ICT Essentials for Government 

Leaders in the Pacific. SPC in 2011 conducted two national workshops on ICT for 

Development in Palau and the Solomon Islands. 

• Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with SPC, jointly organized a business process 

re-engineering workshop in Sydney, January 2011 and e-Government in Samoa, May 2011. 

These were both identified as priority areas in the ICT Framework. 

• The ADB/SPC/ITU jointly organized a workshop on Universal Access in Samoa, October 

2010. ITU/ICB4PAC Project organized a capacity building workshop on Universal Access 

in Kiribati, June 2011. Universal Access is a key area in ICT Framework and key for rural 

and remote communities’ development. 

• 4(iii) Agree to request the ITU to liaise with the European Commission and ACP 

Secretariat to extend the ICB4PAC project beyond the original two year time frame: ITU is 

liaising with EU on possible extension of ICB4PAC project. 

• 5(i) Call on PITA, SPC, and USP to collaboratively explore options for ICT infrastructure, 

and access development using new and innovative technologies, and to organise for such 

information to be transmitted to key national ICT focal points or provided at appropriate 

regional meetings: This is ongoing. Sessions on the topic were included in the ICT Senior 

Officials meeting in April 2011, and at the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association 

AGM meeting April 2011, Universal Access workshops in Samoa and Kiribati, and 

e-government workshop in Samoa. 

• 5(ii) Call on SPC, in collaboration with SOPAC, ITU and PITA to develop a Regional ICT 

Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework to be tabled at the next ICT 

Ministers Meeting, planned for 2012: SPC PICTO and SOPAC division working on a draft 

framework. ITU convened an Asia Pacific Forum on Emergency Communication July 

2011. The SPC SOPAC division convened Pacific Disaster Network meeting, in July 2011 

in Auckland. 

• 6(i) Encourage the Pacific Island Countries and Territories to participate in the Joint 

ADB/SPC Study on ICT for Inclusive Growth and Poverty Reduction: ADB/SPC hosted a 

workshop in Samoa in October 2010 to consult with countries on progress of project. The 

first phase of the project has now been completed. 

• 6(ii) Support the proposal to organise a Regional Internet Governance Forum in the Pacific 

in 2011: SPC convened the Pacific Internet Governance Forum (PIGF) in Noumea on 9-10 

April 2011. There were about 70 participants. 

• 7(i) Endorse the establishment of Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (PacCERT), 

to be hosted at the University of the South Pacific’s Japan-Pacific ICT Centre: PacCERT is 

now recruiting staff. USP, SPC, Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association, Pacific 

Islands Chapter of the Internet Society, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands and Kiribati are 

board members. 

• 7(ii) Support SPC, ITU, and other development partners to implement the ICT applications 

for Telecentre project: International Telecommunication Union convened the Asia Pacific 

ICT Application Forum. This forum discussed telecentres and initiatives that can support 

telecentres. A partnership between ITU and telecentre.org was launched to promote ICT 

training for women. 

• CTA/SPC developing a proposal to conduct research on status of telecentres in Pacific. 

• 7(iii) Encourage Pacific Island Countries and Territories to establish e-waste programmes: 

SPREP and SPC signed a MoU to work on a regional programme on e-waste. Cook Islands 

80



had an e-waste Day. Tonga has secured funding to deal with e-waste. Tuvalu, Kiribati, 

Samoa have also expressed interest in running similar programmes. 

• 8(ii) Request SPC to work with USP, Pacific Island Countries and Territories and 

development partners to develop the 3 year rolling Strategic Action Plan that will 

be updated annually, and to report back on targets set in the framework, and outline 

upcoming ICT activities in the region: SPC tabled a draft Pacific Regional ICT Strategic 

Action Plan (Implementation Plan of the ICT Framework) at the Ministerial Meeting 

in April, 2011. SPC is currently working on a revised Strategic Action Plan taking into 

account the comments and feedbacks received from the Noumea meetings. The revised 

Action Plan will be circulated to Members for consideration. 


• In the area of policy and legislation, USP has offered to host the Pacific Regional Resource 

Centre at the Japan Pacific ICT Centre. USP has participated in various workshops and 

seminars, and is formulating a Working Group to draft the Policy for ICT in Education. 

With regard to ICT Capacity Building, Phase I of the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre at USP’s 

Laucala Campus has been completed. USP conducts various seminars on global trends in 

ICT, covering topics such as software quality, software performance, mobile telephony, 

and cloud computing. USP is also offering special courses for the telecommunications 

industry in finance and administration. 

• USP has made a significant impact on regional ICT infrastructure and access. USP is 

upgrading USPnet with iDIRECT, thus improving USPNet’s performance by 300 percent. 

USP also runs seminars on very small aperture terminal technology. 

• USP has an improved Internet Gateway, and has secured funding from Australia for 

Synchronous Transport Module 4. 

• USP is also working on issues related to cyber security and ICT applications. USP has 

assisted with the establishment of PacCERT and has agreed to host it at no cost. USP has 

also negotiated with JICA to include the equipment for PacCERT in the USP- JICA project. 

USP has participated in cyber security workshops and seminars. 

• The South Pacific Information and Communication Technology Exposition took place in 

July 2011. 



• The Government of Kiribati to approve the National ICT Policy and key implementers and 

stakeholders to implement, monitor and evaluate the policy. 


• Palau’s ICT policy is currently being drafted and the next step is a wider public 

consultation. 


• The ICT Policy will be endorsed and implemented. 

• Computer Crimes Act implementation. 

• Some services of Government are accessible online. 

• Review the Telecom Regulatory authority. 

81




• Finalization and implementation of the National ICT Service Policy. 


• More activities in using ICT to promote and protect culture. An ICT and Culture 

Conference, is planned for February 2012. 

• Pacific ICT Regulatory Resource Centre fully operational and providing technical 

assistance to Member countries. Pacific ICT Regulatory Resource Centre and SPC signing 

an MoU on how they can collaborate. 

• Assisting Nauru, Solomon Islands, Niue, Fiji, Vanuatu with cybercrime legislation. 

• An advocacy and awareness programme for Pacific on IPv6. Capacity building programme 

for government officials on transition from IPv4 to IPV6. 

• ICT policies training/curriculum incorporated into more tertiary programmes. 

• More collaboration and complementary activities between partners in capacity building. 

• Draft ICT for Disaster Risk Management/Disaster Management Framework completed. 

• Launch of second phase of the ADB project on inclusive growth and poverty reduction. 

• Convening of next Pacific Internet Governance Forum either as a standalone event 

or as part of regional events such as PacINET or Pacific Islands Telecommunications 

Association annual general meeting. 

• Securing funding for PacCERT, recruitment of PacCERT Manager and ensuring PacCERT is 

operational. 

• Completing the telecentre study and establishing a Pacific network of telecentres. 

• Resources secured to undertake more work and to assist member countries in dealing with 

e-waste. 

• Completion of the revised Pacific Regional ICT Strategic Action Plan, and circulated to 

Member countries for endorsement. 


• With regard to policy and legislation, the Pacific Regional Resource Centre will soon open. 

The Working Group to draft the policy for ICT in Education will be meeting to draft this 

policy shortly. 

• In terms of ICT capacity building, the second phase of the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre has 

been completed ahead of schedule. The keys were handed over to USP in October 2011. 

USP is also introducing a computer literature course for all students enrolled at USP, and 

will offer two new programmes in Computing Science, in Net-Centric Computing and 

Software Engineering, from 2012. 

• USP is planning to use Ku-band for remote areas and will give full connectivity access to 

Niue High School (USP’s campus in Niue shares its site with Niue High School). USP is 

assisting the Tongan Government with their submarine fibre negotiation. 

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• Lack of technical assistance and implementation, along with capacity building. 


• A need for better political buy-in. 

• Lack of ICT skills and high cost of recruiting and retaining of qualified professionals in 

ICT. 

• Lack of technical expertise in ICT to provide support in reviewing policies and drafting of 

cyber legislation. 

• Lack of infrastructure in ICT and very high costs of connectivity among the islands. 


• Shortages of technical skills, and engineers to assist in regulatory matters or project 

management. 

• Sustainability of the e-government project. 


• Dependency on project funding. 

• Lack of long term resources (financial and human) to enable Pacific ICT Outreach to focus 

on priorities rather than seeking resources. 


• There is no risk in hosting the Pacific Regional Resource Centre. The risk relates to 

whether or not the Pacific Regional Resource Centre will meet the expectations of the 

region. USP is the prime institution for developing ICT capacity in the region and there is 

no risk of ICT’s importance at USP diminishing. If FINTEL imposes high costs on landing, 

then that will be a risk to improving the internet gateway at USP to STM4. 


(xi) 

Continuing the implementation of the economic integration agenda promoted and 

regularly reviewed by the Forum Economic Ministers and, in particular, establishing 

components of the Regional Regulatory Stepladder as directed by these Ministers. 


months 


• Government of Kiribati through the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development has 

continued to implement the economic integration agenda to promote and regularly 

review the Forum Economic Ministers Meetings outcomes especially the Regional 

83



Regulatory Stepladder. This included undertaking studies such as Financial Management 

Information System (FMIS), Revenue Modernization, and Public Expenditure and 

Financial Accountability (PEFA), with recommendations fed into Public Financial 

Management. It also reviewed the Government Financial Regulation as well as the 

Development Fund and Stores Regulations for relevance, effectiveness and sustainability. 


• New Zealand has actively contributed to FEMM’s economic integration agenda. 

• Australia and New Zealand prepared a paper “Trends in Remittance Fees and Charges” 

presented to FEMM and have been pursuing a number of initiatives to foster competition 

in the remittance market and increase transparency and financial capability. The 

cost of sending remittances from New Zealand to Pacific Island Countries has fallen 

approximately 3.5 percentage points in the past two years, from an average of 18.6 percent 

to 15.0 percent of the amount remitted. 

• Supporting initiatives to broaden the economic base and support the ability of Pacific 

Island Countries to reap greater value in sectors where they have a comparative advantage 

(for example, fisheries, tourism, agriculture), including through regional cooperation 

where appropriate. 



• The Government of Kiribati will: share the findings and recommendations from the said 

studies to its development partners; and review its Macro-economic Policy Framework 

and the Financial Regulatory and Supervision Framework to enhance their relevance, 

effectiveness and sustainability. 


• Taking forward the Regional Regulatory Stepladder’s model policy and legislative 

framework and adapt it to country context (pending guidance from PICs). 

• Exploring opportunities to strengthen relationships between NZ government agencies and 

Pacific counterparts (for example, Customs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) to 

support capacity development and enhanced regional cooperation. 


(xii) 

Increasing support for infrastructure development and maintenance across the region. 


months 


• At the 2008 Pacific Islands Forum, Australia (together with New Zealand, the World Bank, 

and ADB) announced the establishment of the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) 

to improve coordination and increase investments in infrastructure development and 

maintenance in Pacific Island countries. 

84



• A long term pipeline of works totalling approximately AUD600 million of combined 

donor resources to 2017 has been developed through PRIF. Investments include transport, 

energy, water and sanitation and telecommunications sector works, with a focus on 

planning and budgeting for whole of life costs including recurrent costs for maintenance. 

• Energy sector investments are focused on the development of whole of sector approaches 

to energy sector planning that consider recurrent cost implications in line with the 

Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific developed by SPC. 

• Approximately 50 percent of pipeline investments are in the transport sector, with 

significant programs in Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, and Vanuatu. 

Programming includes components focused on strengthening the domestic private sector 

through providing long-term opportunities for domestic contracting of maintenance 

works. 

• In the Solomon Islands, PRIF partners have directly assisted with the rehabilitation and 

maintenance of approximately 25 percent of the road network. 

• In Vanuatu, 140km of priority road on three outer islands is being rehabilitated and 

maintained. 

• In Samoa, assistance enabled a rapid response to the 2009 tsunami with the rehabilitation 

of 30km of coastal wall and the repair of seawall infrastructure. 

• In line with PRIF’s expansion into energy, water and sanitation, and telecommunication 

sectors, in Tonga, PRIF has helped the government develop a 10 year energy roadmap of 

investments to reduce reliance upon imported fuel and increased energy security. 


• Commencement of harbour projects in the Southern Group. 

• Confirmation by Government of Cook Islands that water, waste and sanitation will be the 

priority investment in the infrastructure sector. 

• Cyclone shelters built in the Northern Group. 

• Commencement of water projects in the Northern Group. 

• Completion of funding proposal to the United Nations Development Programme for 

adaptation projects with specific focus being in the water sector. 

• Completion of a water project in Mauke. 

• Progress on the Pacific Action Climate Change Project (PACC). 

• Feasibility study completed for Arorangi Jetty (alternative berthing). 

• Construction of Avatiu Port Redevelopment. 

• Implementation of the New Zealand funded “Improved Waste and Sanitation 

Programme”. 

• Implementation of the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) Strategy. 


• New Zealand has provided support for: the National Transport Plan in the Solomon 

Islands; and improvements to waste management in the Cook Islands. 


• The Palau Public Utility Corporation purchased two 5-megawatt Niigata Engine 

Generators. While they proved successful in operation, they are still in transition to full 

85



operation at the commercial level. The generators are set up in the Malakal Power Plant 

which services the majority of the country’s population. 

• The Palau International Airport is currently undergoing construction work to expand the 

runway to allow for plane/jet parking. The expansion will help in daily operations while 

accommodating airlines servicing the islands and increase visitor arrivals. 


• World Bank identification mission under the Proposed Pacific Aviation Investment Project 

identified the following requirements: resealing of the runway; replacement of tower and 

new terminal building; security screening equipment; and Air Traffic control equipment. 


• Completion of the rehabilitated Efate ring road and the South East Coast Santo Road 

in April 2011 through the Millennium Challenge Corporation. This has seen a total of 

220km of paved and tar-seal roads, from an original 73km and totalling around USD73.8 

million. The improved infrastructure has seen an increase in the consistent supply of local 

food products and also social services to the rural communities. 


• The SPC SOPAC Division continues to provide crucial technical baseline information 

and assessments to support data based and improved decision making, especially in 

coastal zones and with relevance to coastal communities and infrastructure. Surveys and 

assessments of this type have been completed in specific locations over the last 12 months 

in: Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, Cook Islands and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 




• Interim support arrangements for PRIF will be bolstered with the establishment of a 

Management Unit from July 2011. The Management Unit will improve the capacity of the 

PRIF to coordinate increasing pipeline investments with Pacific Island Countries and will 

establish sectoral advice and analysis in transport, energy and water and sanitation. 


• Adoption of polices in the water, waste and sanitation sectors. 

• Completion of harbour projects in the Southern Group. 

• Completion of water projects in the Northern Group. 

• Policy development under the Pacific Action Climate Change Project (PACC). 

• Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management. 

• Construction of the Arorangi Jetty Project. 

• Improved lagoon quality under the NZ funded “Improved Waste and Sanitation 

Programme”. 

86 


• Planned support for: upgraded water supply in the northern Cook Islands; and upgrade of 

sewage treatment and disposal facilities in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.



• Completion of the airport expansion. 

• Fully operational generators at the Malakal Power Plant. 


• Consideration by the Government of Tuvalu whether it wants to be part of the World 

Bank Pacific Aviation Investment Project (PAIP). If Tuvalu wishes to be in Phase 1, then the 

proposal will go to the World Bank Board in October. 

• Continuation of the ship-to-shore project on the improving of sea-channels in the outer 

islands. 


• To complete the development of the Vanuatu Infrastructure Master Plan (VIMP) and to 

take account of disaster and climate impacts. 


• Over the next 12 months, the SPC SOPAC Division expects to undertake additional surveys 

in support of improved understanding of coastal systems and hazards to inform decision 

making in relation to infrastructure, settlement and adaptation in Tonga, the Federated 

States of Micronesia, Fiji and French Polynesia. 




• Strengthening of the private sector in the Pacific will be challenging and will require long 

term approaches to infrastructure maintenance that provide a consistent supply of work 

and certainty to invest in the domestic private sector. 

• Assistance will need to focus on streamlining access to existing development partner 

resources. 


• Limited capacity in specialist areas – i.e. engineering and is primarily related to not being 

able to afford the going rates. 

• Over engineered technical support. 

• Ability to invest in infrastructure. 


• Lack of funding and lack of resources. 


• Whether the Government of Tuvalu decides to be part of the Proposed Pacific Aviation 

Investment. 

• Bad weather conditions in terms of the sea-to-shore project. 

87




• Budgetary and human resources are insufficient to address the backlog of inadequately 

maintained infrastructure. 

• The need to establish separate Land Transport Authority to regulate licensing and safety. 


• Lack of Programme funding and recent cuts to Programme funding threaten the Division’s 

ability to sustain these critical services to Members. 

88

| B | 

Improving livelihoods 

and the well-being of 

Pacific peoples 

89


(i) 

Continuing efforts to better ensure food security for people across the region and, in 

particular, expediting efforts to improve food standards and food quality and support 

agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries, through initiatives such as the Pacific Food Summit 

proposed for 2010. 


months 


• Australia provided AUD3.8 million, in addition to core funding, to support efforts by 

SPC Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems and the FFA to increase sustainable 

production, processing and trading of sustainable Pacific fisheries. The additional funding 

will strengthen policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, support the development 

of mariculture and sustainable aquarium fisheries opportunities, will provide export 

assistance, and support increased contribution of sustainable oceanic fisheries’ resources 

to domestic revenues, food supplies and employment. These actions are in line with the 

Draft Framework for Action on Food Security in the Pacific 2011-15. 


• National efforts to revive agriculture have been re-established by the Ministry of 

Agriculture through the ‘Te One Kura’ project. This project aims to revitalize agriculture 

using the Outer Islands based in the Southern group i.e. Mangaia, Mauke, Mitiaro and 

Atiu, to produce fruits and vegetables to supply Rarotonga. The objectives of the project 

also dovetail into the current economic development priorities that were finalised 

following a National Economic Summit held in 2011, highlighting key development 

priorities for the agriculture sector to grow the economy. 

• The National Steering Committee for the Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods 

Programme (FSSLP) was established to advise and promote the implementation of 

the agriculture programme in the Cook Islands over the next three to four years. It is 

envisaged that two projects will comprise agriculture priorities and another two projects 

will be presented by the Ministry of Marine Resources. Food and Agriculture Organisation 

as well as the International Fund for Agricultural Development are supporting the 

programme with funds and technical assistance. The Cook Islands has been earmarked 

total funding of AUD4.3 million for this programme. 

• The Cook Islands participated in the sub-regional consultation on policy and 

programmatic actions to address high food prices in the Pacific sub-region held in Nadi, 

Fiji 14-15 April, 2011. The draft proceedings of this meeting has prompted the Cook 

Islands to request assistance to run a national consultation on addressing high food prices 

given Cook Islands heavy reliance on imports. Food and Agriculture Organisation is 

taking the lead to support this agenda in country and at the sub-regional level. 


• The Government of Kiribati (through the Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agricultural 

Development) has conducted a National Food Summit Workshop in 2010 to raise 

awareness of issues related to food security, safety and quality. 

90




• New Zealand has contributed to improved food security for Pacific people through: 

support from NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) for improved Pacific 

bio-security; and support for project in Papua New Guinea to improve fresh produce 

& commodity production and value chains. 


• The National Steering Committee for the FSSPL conducted a high-level stakeholders’ 

meeting on 8 April to introduce the FSSPL project and objectives in the areas of food 

security and poverty reduction. The meeting was attended by Olbiil Era Kelulau 

representatives, government ministries, private sector and community groups and 

organizations. 

• The EU funded project “Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific” (2004- 

2009), implemented by SPC amongst other priorities taught locals how to farm and 

process foods, such as turning mango into jam or tapioca into flour. Palau has acquired the 

equipment needed for the processing of such foods, however further funding is needed for 

more technical support. The Bureau of Agriculture is working through SPC to secure more 

funding and is currently waiting for responses from the governments of Australia and 

New Zealand. 

• President Toribiong initiated Palau’s “green revolution” project to cultivate food crops 

to ensure food security for our people and promote local agricultural industry. One 

of the projects within the past year comprised agriculture and marine resources. Five 

states (Ngchesar, Ngaraard, Ngatpang, Aimeliik, and Ngerchelong) have planted 1000 

coconut trees each as part of the “Green Revolution” initiative, resulting with each state 

receiving an environment grant of USD10,000. The grants were from ROC/Taiwan given 

to five states for the promotion of food security and the protection of marine resources. 

Although there was success with the coconut trees, the marine resources area has faced 

some difficulty with viruses and other variables taken into account for failed hatcheries. 

Thankfully at least one type of fish has prevailed, successfully encouraging the hatcheries 

to keep trying. The Green Revolution support warehouse was completed in the spring of 

2011. 

• Palau held its first National Water Summit on 22 March 2011. The Protected Areas 

Network (PAN) and the Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB) were key players 

in this summit, which featured water resources, state of water in the country, and cost of 

treating water. Palau is on track to meet this Millennium Development Goal; however 

there is still room for improving the process and mechanism used. The stage for integrated 

water management was one of the outcomes of the conference. 


• The Republic of Marshall Islands National Stakeholder consultations on FSSLP took 

place from 21-22 February 2011 at the International Convention Centre . The food 

security and sustainable livelihoods program supports improved food security, import 

substitution, development of market opportunities and income generation, as well as 

institutional strengthening and programme development support processes. It will also 

address agricultural productive supply constraints, such as access to inputs, extension 

services, improved agricultural information availability and dissemination, and 

improved market infrastructure. In that context, National Stakeholders, all ministries, 

agencies, and non-governmental organisations were invited to: discuss issues of food 

security and sustainable livelihoods in our country; facilitate exchange of information 

among governments, civil society and possible solutions and potential points of 

91



collaboration; examine ways of enhancing partnerships and development effectiveness in 

country; and discuss the proposals for FSSLP and agree on next steps for finalizing project 

designs. 


• Promotion of home-gardening in both urban and rural Tuvalu in the production of 

vegetables to improve diets of household members, particularly infants; and adults 

suffering from diabetes and hypertension. This was supported by the Taiwan/ROC 

International Cooperation and Development Fund program. 

• Production of vegetables by the Fatoaga o Taugasoa Fiafia farm on Funafuti supported by 

the Taiwan/ROC International Cooperation and Development Fund to alleviate the high 

demand for imported vegetables. 

• An assessment of food security and nutrition status of Tuvalu in preparation for the Food 

and Agriculture Organisation funded FSSLP implementation in 2011. 

• Promotion of farm terracing to farmers and land owners as the way forward to enhancing 

sustainable food production from Tuvalu’s traditional farming system, supported by the 

Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project funded by EU. 

• A survey has been carried out on some of the outer- islands to determine the viability of 

undertaking aquaculture activities in the existing inland ponds. 

• A Milkfish farm was established on Vaitupu Islands with the assistance of Taiwan/ROC 

through the International Cooperation and Development Fund project. Two trainees from 

Nanumaga Island were attached to this farm with view to establish a milkfish farm on 

Nanumaga. 

• Milkfish farming is now extended to Funafuti in collaboration with the Fisheries 

Department. 

• Deployment of Fish Aggregating Devices around the fishing grounds of four islands - 

Nanumea, Vaitupu, Funafuti and Nanumaga. 


• The government continues to undertake research on traditional crops with the view of 

enhancing production and related farming systems. This is important in the light of 

emerging risks posed to food security. 

• The maintenance of root plots and related training on breeding and propagation 

techniques is ongoing to maintain agro-biodiversity and enhance food security. This 

included the establishment of three plots of forty varieties of sweet potato, cassava, yams 

and taro at the main agriculture stations. 

• There has been little effort in food standards. Work is progressing on the establishment of 

a Seafood Authority. 

• Aquaculture development is supported through the National Aquaculture Development 

Plan 2008-2012. The mari-culture hatchery was refurbished through assistance from 

JICA targeting trochus, green snail, giant clams and the production of available seeds for 

reseeding purposes in community reefs. Resource stock assessment and monitoring was 

carried out on inshore resources. 

92 


• Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) and national management 

development planning programs have a strong focus on managing the interplay between 

commercial and artisanal/semi commercial fisheries.



• EAFM and tuna management plan stakeholder consultations targeted at promoting and 

enhancing domestic developments to ensure availability of fish. 

• Continued work in support of small scale fisheries, including the introduction of smallscale 

commercial pole and line fishing that promotes fuel efficiency, food security and 

rural livelihood. 


• Launch of a trade statistics database and continued support to national statistics office to 

collect data relevant for food security assessment. 

• Adoption of nutrition-rich crops/varieties, such as orange-fleshed sweet potato. 

• Increase in number of media outlets covering rural development issues. 

• SPC SOPAC Division input from water and disaster programme relating to vulnerable 

group and food security. 

• Endorsement of the Framework for Action on Food Security in the Pacific at the 41st 

Forum Leaders meeting in held Vanuatu in August 2010. 

• Coordinated reconvening of the Food Secure Pacific Working Group meeting to undertake 

a food security mapping exercise to identify existing and planned activities that contribute 

to the achievement of the Framework and to identify gaps at the regional level that must 

be addressed. 

• In collaboration with the Global Health Institute, conducted a regional Community Based 

Access Workshop for selected representatives from health, statistics and agriculture 

ministries of Pacific Island Countries and Territories to consider policy initiatives aimed at 

improving the quality and nutritional value of food and beverages. 

• Workplan for the Food Secure Pacific Working Group was developed and regional 

priorities identified in its first workshop held in Suva in March 2011. 

• Collaborated with Global Health Institute in conducting the regional Food Industry 

Forum which was held in Fiji to discuss enhancing partnership with the private sector in 

advancing the Framework for Action. 

• Through the 2-1-22 non-communicable diseases project, promoted production and 

consumption of nutritious local foods. 

• In collaboration with partners, support for capacity building and mainstreaming of 

sustainable land management; sustainable forest management including communitybased 

forest initiatives; and support for poor and vulnerable households through 

assistance in providing seedlings and fruit trees for community gardening. 

• Studies are being conducted on the projected impact of climate change on Pacific fisheries 

and food security, and appropriate responses are being developed to mitigate risks and 

enhance the preparedness of island communities to deal with the effects of natural 

disasters on the agriculture sector. 

• Continue with quarantine awareness efforts to prevent transborder movement of invasive 

pests and diseases threatening trade and food security. 

• In collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation finalised the FSSLP. This is 

an FAO initiative with the goal of ensuring food security for vulnerable populations, 

particularly women and youth throughout Pacific Island Countries and Territories. The 

major outcome planned includes increased ecologically sustainable crop, livestock, 

fisheries/agro forestry production and production, improved land and market access for 

93



94 

vulnerable and poor households, and the development of policies and strategic actions at 

country and regional levels to address food security challenges. 

• The Pacific’s genebank (CePaCT) moved to a new location providing the region with 

vastly improved facilities to improve the services it provides to the region. The CePaCT 

is currently working with national partners to expand collections of Pacific bananas, 

aroids, breadfruit and yams. Collecting in countries is being supported along with 

characterisation so that unique accessions can be transferred to the CePaCT for virus 

indexing and sharing with other countries in the region. This expanded crop diversity 

supports all pillars of the World Food Summit food security definition as used in the 

Pacific Food Summit and Framework. 

• The CePaCT is developing in collaboration with relevant partners a climate ready 

collection comprising of crops and varieties with climate tolerant traits: some accessions 

from this collection are under evaluation in 11 Pacific Island Countries and Territories. 

The taro leaf blight breeding programme in Samoa has been expanded to include breeding 

for drought tolerance; selected varieties are made available to the region through CePaCT. 

This work on climate change will assist countries in planning which crops/varieties to use 

depending on the climatic conditions, thus supporting food security. 

• Other climate change related work supportive of food security includes: the development 

of a swamp taro collection and screening methods for salinity tolerance. The diversity 

of swamp taro will be screened to determine which varieties are truly salt tolerant; crop 

modelling for cassava which will enable Pacific Island Countries and Territories to see the 

impact of climate change on cassava production; adaptive capacity studies – what are the 

factors that influence adaptive capacity; and agrobiodiversity studies with communities – 

to raise awareness as to agrobiodiversity can assist with managing climate change. 

• Nutritional analysis of breadfruit and banana and nutrition awareness programmes. 

• SPC is one of the implementing agencies for the International Network for Edible Aroids 

(INEA) which will: increase the diversity of taro and Xanthosoma in the Pacific; make 

available drought tolerant varieties; and assist with the functional identification of 

varieties so facilitating market development. 

• Holding of a Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture capacity building workshop 

in collaboration with FAO. 

• Support provided to Pacific Island Countries and Territories to enhance on-farm food 

production and yield through improved production technologies and plant protection 

strategies. 

• Land Resources Division provided support to Pacific Island Countries and Territories in 

promoting agroforestry to integrate planting of trees in their farming system to optimize 

farm production. The establishment of model agroforestry areas were encouraged and 

training on plant propagation was conducted. Resilient tree species and climate ready 

crops were identified and recommended for planting. 

• Improved rural advisory services in technical capacity support to farmer associations on 

sustainable agricultural practices. 

• Improved capacity and skills of farmers in soil fertility testing and soil nutrients. 

• In collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development supported atoll 

agriculture research and development at the Centre of Excellence for Atoll Agricultural 

Research and Development in Kiribati. Areas of work include atoll soil management, 

water management, cultivar evaluation, and improving the resilience of food production 

systems to climate change. The centre is also documenting sustainable food production 

systems, and food preservation and utilisation methods for atolls.



• SPC SOPAC Division’s continued development of maritime boundary solutions and 

completion and defence of the Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) claims, as well and 

bathymetric mapping of nearshore environments in Pacific Island Countries brings new 

opportunities in seafloor and oceanographic data. This has the potential to provide 

invaluable information in regard to living resources management, especially for food 

security in the context of coastal fisheries. 

• Continued to provide technical support to the development of organic standards to 

comply with international standards and agreements through the Pacific Organic and 

Ethical Trade Community (POETCOM). 

• The Disaster Risk Management function concentrates on the development of in-country 

National Action Policy (NAPs) and planning for disaster risk management (DRM). 

• Inclusion of integrated agriculture and aquaculture training, food processing and food 

safety standards in Community Education Training Centre’s annual regional training for 

women. 

• The Land Resources Division Crops Team managed two projects aimed at improving 

the livelihoods of cocoa growers in the Pacific Islands: the AUD800,000 ACIAR Cocoa 

Livelihoods Project, which aims to improve the quantity and quality of cocoa produced 

in Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Fiji, and the AUD600,000 Pacific Agribusiness 

Research for Development Initiative ‘Facilitating Improved livelihoods for Pacific Cocoa 

Producer Networks Through Premium Market Access’ through facilitating improved 

access to premium markets. This activity aims to improve the prices growers receive 

for their cocoa by assisting them to access premium market niches, such as in certified, 

fine flavour and single origin chocolate. The ACIAR Cocoa Livelihoods Project began 

in January 2011 and will run until the end of 2013. The PARDI Cocoa project began in 

May 2011and runs until the end of 2014. Under the ACIAR cocoa project, over the last 

6-months (since inception) an impact assessment of the two main cocoa pests and diseases 

– Phytophtora and rats – was carried out in 8 different locations in Vanuatu. It established 

that more than 75 percent of cocoa is lost to these two threats. Subsequently, an Integrated 

Pest and Disease Management program was developed, and 134 farmers in 10 different 

networks across the country, were engaged to be involved in a Participatory Research 

Appraisal of this Integrated Pest and Disease Management approach. 

• The Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative cocoa project has just 

begun. SPC brought one cocoa exporter from the Solomon Islands to the World Cocoa 

Foundation Conference in San Francisco in May 2011 to meet potential niche market 

buyers, certifiers, and identify next steps for the project. 

• The Land Resources Division Crops Team also manages the SPC component of the 

implementation of Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative – a 5-year 

AUD10million project which includes soon-to-commence agribusiness projects aimed 

at improving the livelihoods of Pacific growers of taro, cannarium, ‘european’ vegetables, 

breadfruit and virgin coconut oil. 


• USP’s Faculty of Business and Economics staff are involved in a high profile Pacific 

Agricultural Research for Development Initiative (PARDI) research project. This 

research involves collaboration with Australian academics. Topics include taro, pearls, 

consumption patterns, fisheries research, and the role of agricultural extension offices 

in PIC. This research aims to promote development and improve the livelihood of small 

holder farmers and communities in the Pacific region. 

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• Australia through AusAID will increase funding support for Pacific fisheries under its 

Food Security through Rural Development Initiative. 


• The Te One Kura project is expected to be revised by a small team comprised of key 

personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of 

Infrastructure and Planning, who also have the mandate for the Outer Islands, as well as 

all the Island Secretaries of each island involved. It must be noted that this is a project that 

is being driven by the Minister, the Honorable Nandi Glassie and his Associate Minister, 

Kiriau Turepu as they believe that this will improve the welfare and economic status of 

each of these outer islands. 

• For the FSSLP, it is hoped that the first four priorities will be finalised and that funding will 

roll out with key activities being implemented following the National Professional Service 

Convention meeting. There is a National Project Coordinator who will work closely 

with all key stakeholders to ensure that this project gets off the ground and achieves its 

objectives. 

• It is expected that following national consultations on addressing high food prices, that 

some regulations and/or price related policies will be implemented into an already robust 

welfare system to support those most vulnerable to price shocks. Despite the introduction 

of the withholding tax, it is hoped that addressing this ‘issue’ of increase in food prices may 

shed some light on how government policy and/or regulation can support families who 

may be struggling to make ends meet. 

• A smaller initiative for the Ministry of Agriculture is to launch a ‘Food Secure Home’ 

where awareness and education is going to be the main focus. The Ministry wants to 

encourage families to grow fruit trees and or have a small family garden to drive home the 

message of food security. This will be made possible through other key partners, such as 

the Ministry of Health through their non-communicable disease policy and other ongoing 

programmes that are implemented every year. The Ministry for their part will be making 

fruit seedlings available for sale at cheap prices to encourage families to grow food around 

their homes. Also, the government has reduced the cost to the grower for fertilizer to 

encourage production. Providing cheap alternative to inputs such as fertilizer is one way 

to encourage small farmers. 

• Other small initiatives are also being planned by the Ministry, however following the 

National Agriculture and Fisheries Census that will be held jointly with the National 

Census in December 2011, it is hoped that more information and data will provide some 

direction for the future of food security initiatives and programmes for the Cook Islands. 


• Assess the implementation of the outcomes of the National Food Summit Workshop. 

• Develop the National Action Plan to implement outcomes of the National Food Summit 

Workshop. 


• Further improvements in Pacific biosecurity through scaled up support from New Zealand 

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. 

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• High value and niche product development for import substitution and exports, 

particularly organic and fair trade commodities and horticultural produce, mainly 

through support for non-governmental organisations. 

• Pacific agribusinesses more profitable and resilient through better access to business 

support. 

• Fresh produce infrastructure in Papua New Guinea improved through a new market 

infrastructure project. 


• The Marine Resource building is under construction and is nearing completion, to be 

ready by the summer of 2011. 

• Palau’s first Taro Festival (6-9 July 2011) expects to bring in greater awareness of taro and 

the importance it has in Palau’s future for food security. Greater efforts and exploration of 

ideas will help bring back Palau’s reliance on taro as a staple food. 


• The implementation of key FSSLP projects to achieve the three main anticipated outputs; 

increased agricultural production, increased local fish production and marketing of added 

value food products from both the agriculture and fisheries sectors, for both the domestic 

and overseas food markets. 

• Milkfish farming activities to be extended to other outer-islands. 

• Rehabilitate the existing land-based clam hatchery. 

• Deployment of Fish Aggregating Device around fishing ground of the remaining islands. 


• The approval and accreditation of local freshwater prawns training modules and 

continued work on freshwater aquaculture development given that these are relatively 

new activities under the responsible agency. 

• Work on agriculture to boost food security will be a continuous initiative. 


• In country support to national priorities, including the implementation of Ecosystem 

Approach to Fisheries Management outcomes. 

• Raise awareness and promote implementation of the Regional Tuna Management and 

Development Strategy by FFA members. 

• Funding sourced to undertake specific consultations with artisanal fishing sectors for 

promotion of management measures to protect and enhance food security. 


• Future research projects on food production and agriculture workshops are planned. 


• In collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation, implement components of the 

FSSLP in the Pacific. 

• Characterization and evaluation of bananas, aroids, breadfruit and yams. 

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• More information available from the countries on the crops and varieties in their 

collections that have climate tolerant traits and better evaluated CePaCT climate ready 

collection. 

• More information available on drought and salt tolerant crop varieties. 

• Improved capacity in participatory plant breeding to support proactive approaches at the 

community level to climate change. 

• Completion of an overview of food security and climate change report (contracted by 

Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency). 

• Completion of a report on adaptive capacity (contracted by Department of Climate 

Change and Energy Efficiency in collaboration with USP). 

• Work on identifying cheaper feed sources for livestock. 

• Support national food summits. 

• Hold a 2 week integrated agriculture training of trainers for 10 Vanuatu Rural 

Development and Training Association Rural Training Centre trainers in July 2011. 

• Under the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research cocoa project, 

over the next 12 months farmers will be managing three comparative demonstration 

plots and keeping detailed records to identify the most effective approach. In addition, 

three trainings will be held with the Vanuatu Department for Agriculture and Rural 

Development staff to improve their cocoa management and pest management skills. 

Farmers will also be trained on proper pruning methods in October 2011. Finally, 

an assessment of the Vanuatu Agriculture Research Training Centre (VARTC) cocoa 

collection genetic resources, and methods for improving the genetic material disseminated 

to farmers, will be carried out in July 2011. 

• Under the Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative cocoa project, cocoa 

bean samples will be sent to buyers in Australia and the United States for evaluation, 

and supply contracts negotiated. Training on record keeping and establishing basic 

product traceability systems will be held in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, as well 

as facilitating visits to Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands by the niche market chocolate 

companies Haighs, Guittards and TCHO. A training mission will also be arranged from 

Ameljaro, UTZ and potentially Fair Trade. Training on establishing the Participatory 

Guarantee Systems required for organic certification will also be held. 

• Over the next 12 months, the Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative 

projects cited above are expected to be funded, and begin implementation. 




• Capacity issues will always plague the Cook Islands when it comes to implementing key 

programmes such as those mentioned above. The absorptive capacity is very limited and 

there are key challenges in relation to implementing projects where there are not enough 

labour in country to physically implement some of the activities. 

• Lack of funding remains a risk to implementing projects and programmes as sometimes 

the development partners’ priorities will override that of the country. 

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• Lack of human resource capacity to organize and provide local information on further 

studies required for implementation of projects and programmes as requested by technical 

assistance. 

• Timing of funding and releasing of finances is always a critical risk and contributes to 

delays in the implementation of projects. 

• The institutional mechanisms of implementation can actually work against the effective 

and efficient implementation of any programme or project i.e. some national policies/ 

guidelines actually hinder or delay implementation, in particular, financial mechanisms 

should ensure efficient flow of funds from and to projects. 


• Resources constraints, including human, technical, financial and capacity in general. 


• Limited funding for proposed food security projects and maintenance for existing projects. 


• Delays in procurement of project materials to project sites in rural Tuvalu due to project 

financial mechanisms and due to unreliability of internal shipping service. 

• Lack of human resources at a technical level to facilitate project activities. 

• Lack of funding to support national initiatives. 


• Limited national capacity to carry forward work identified and or commenced. 

• Tuna management plan not implemented. 

• Insufficient funding and/or local capacity to support implementation. 


• Capacity in country to fully evaluate any new importations. 

• Cultural constraints in adopting new varieties. 

• Resources to enable planned activities to be delivered to Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories. 

• National level capacity to provide required support for project implementation. 

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(ii) 

Ensuring healthy populations through: the ongoing implementation of the Vanuatu 

Commitment and the recent Madang Declaration for Action from the 2009 Ministers of 

Health Meeting including enhanced efforts to better understand health determinants and 

build the sector’s governance and ability to respond pro-actively to current and emerging 

health needs. 


months 


• Australia provided an estimated AUD22 million for regional programs in 2009-2010 

to tackle key health issues such as workforce and specialised clinical services, increase 

immunisation rates, and to combat malaria, HIV, sexually transmitted infections, noncommunicable 

diseases and emerging infectious diseases. 

• With Australian support, the Fiji School of Medicine has increased its annual medicine 

degree intake from 70 Pacific Islander students in 2007 to 90 in 2011. In addition, 240 

doctors from Pacific countries graduated between 2007 and 2010. 

• Australian support through the Royal Australian College of Surgeons from 2009-2010 

enabled 101 specialist clinical visits to 11 Pacific Island Countries, with approximately 

2,550 patients receiving specialist surgical operations, and training provided to almost 700 

Pacific Island medical officers during these visits. 

• Australian support for the Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Project 

helped build capacity in the Pacific to prevent or respond to, a possible outbreak of 

pandemic influenza, by working across both human and animal health sectors. 

• With Australian support through the 2-1-22 Pacific Non-Communicable Diseases 

Programme, 18 Pacific Island Countries and Territories received funding to support 

implementation of activities under their national Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) 

Plans. 

100 


• Government of Kiribati has accomplished the key issues highlighted in the Madang 

Declaration as outlined below: 

(source: Country Health Information Profiles on WHO Western Pacific Region website, unless 

otherwise stated). 

Achievements in Minimizing the Child Mortality Rate 

• Building of the Health Facility that promotes the 10 steps to successful Breastfeeding 

which is one of the four regionally recognized facilities as ‘baby-friendly’ by UNICEF and 

WHO. 

• Increased coverage by 30 percent (1994-2010) of vaccination programs throughout the 

country. 

• Increase by 40 percent (1994-2005) in trained nurses in paediatrics medicine. 

Analysis & Impact 

• Infant mortality has improved. 

• Decline of 52/1,000 live births (2005) compared to 67 (1995).



• About 46 percent (from 89/1,000 live births in 1994 to 48 in 2010) decrease of deaths per 

1,000 live births from 1994-2010. 

• Although the 2010 Pacific MDGs Tracking Report claims that Kiribati is slightly off track 

in relation to MDG 4 Reducing Child Mortality, the current situation as presented by 

Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ (MHMS) achievements and WHO figures prove 

some improvements. 

Achievements of Minimizing Maternal Mortality Rate 

• Improvement of midwifery trainings and effective selection of nurses to become midwives 

on annual basis. 

• Enhancement of pap smear programmes. 

• Building a new Obstetrics and gynaecology centre at the Kiritimati hospital. 

• Building a new Obstetrics and gynaecology centre at the Betio hospital. 

• Building of new health centres and clinics throughout the country. 


• Maternal health is improving. 

• About 90 percent of all births are attended by skilled health personnel. 

Achievements to Minimize and control incidence of HIV/AIDS & Minimize and control sexually 

transmitted diseases 

• Building of clinics for voluntary confidential counselling and testing (VCCT). 

• Providing medical care to 6 identified people living with HIV/AIDS. 


• It is reported that Kiribati is gaining momentum to get back on track with combating HIV 

and other disease (MDG 6) as reported by WHO. 

• Increased prevalence of utilizing VCCT services as provided by Kiribati Family Health 

Association (KFHA), MHMS and other service providers by the public including men 

and youths. KFHA is a local non-governmental organisation with funding support by 

International Planned Parenthood Federation that supports MHMS in the health sector. 

• Observations from Kiribati Association of NGOs staff employed by the Up-Scaling of HIV/ 

AIDS Intervention Project involved with outreach program to night clubs/bars stated that 

there was an increase of condom use by the public and more awareness and increased 

knowledge about HIV and AIDS. 

Achievements to Minimize and control Hepatitis cases 

• Encouraged the public for blood testing on Hepatitis. 

• Enhanced children vaccination against Hepatitis. 


• No or limited data/information on the impact of the achievements shown above. 

Achievements to Minimizing and eliminating incidences of TB cases 

• Improved programmes/strategies in identifying people with TB. 

• 93 percent increase of TB patients being treated. 


• It is evident that there is a decline in incidence, prevalence and mortality of TB (and HIV) 

cases in Kiribati. 

• WHO released and presented 3 graphs showing a decline in incidences, prevalence and 

mortality of TB (with HIV) in Kiribati between the years 1990 and 2008. 

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Achievements to Minimize and control incidences of non-communicable diseases (NCD) 

• Establishment of the NCD Unit within MHMS. 

• Improving public awareness on encouraging physical activities and gardening. 

• Building one multi-purpose court in South Tarawa. 

• Maintaining the supply of essential medicines for NCD. 


• The prevalence of NCD is increasing despite MHMS achievements outlined above as 

reported by WHO. The increase is due to the social and cultural aspects for example gifts 

(mweaka) usually involve tobacco and providing cigarettes (whether locally made or 

imported) to guests or friends is always considered polite. 

• The changes in lifestyles (especially in urban areas) where daily food intakes are 

dependent from imported goods and paid-job work requirements have meant reduced 

amount of physical activities. As a result, approximately 20 percent of the adult 

population have diabetes, and diseases of the circulatory system which are now the second 

leading cause of mortality. This is based on the WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance 

(STEPS) of risk factors using a simple, standardised method for collecting, analysing and 

disseminating data for chronic disease risk factors in WHO member countries. 

Achievements to Improving the status of medical clinics on outer islands 

• Building of new health centres and clinics throughout the country (EU’s EDF9 Project). 


• It was observed by medical assistants and health professionals on the outer islands that 

people in these rural areas are developing a liking of visiting the newly built health 

centres. 

Achievements to Improve delivery of services and performance of Nawerewere Central Hospital 

• Increased number of overseas referrals to 50 per year. 

• Identifying and making agreements with 5 overseas hospitals to cater for overseas 

referrals. 

• Increased number of intakes to Nursing School as well as trained medical assistants and 

midwives per year. 

• Improved database system. 


• MHMS is able to provide data/info to WHO for the production of the Kiribati Progress 

Report 2010. The general observation was that there is a need to ensure that the graduates 

from the Nursing School are professionally qualified. 


• New Zealand has provided significant support for health programmes across the Pacific 

aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health, preventing non-communicable 

and communicable diseases and strengthening the health workforce. For example, New 

Zealand continued to support the Pacific HIV/STI Response Fund, implementation of the 

Pacific Regional NCD Framework and supported countries to ensure that they are able to 

respond effectively to an influenza pandemic. 

• New Zealand also provides targeted support for country health systems in Papua New 

Guinea and Samoa. 

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• The Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA) supported Resolution 48-01, which 

declared a regional state of health emergency due to the epidemic of NCDs. Earlier reports 

in Palau indicate Palauans are increasingly affected by diabetes, stroke, and heart disease 

from unhealthy lifestyles. Closely following this, Minister Stevenson Kuartei declared 

a “state of health emergency within the Ministry of Health due to the crisis of NCDs in 

Palau.” Now that we have recognized the necessity of immediate attention, the success of 

decreasing the Republic’s numbers on NCD cases relies on implementing healthy settings 

through appropriate policies and promoting health protection activities. 

• WHO/Tobacco Free Initiative held a two-day workshop themed “National Action Planning 

Process for Tobacco Control” to start the process of stakeholder consultation to develop 

priority action areas and specific actions to move tobacco control forward in Palau. 

Participants considered specific actions within the WHO Regional Action Plan 2010- 

2014; assessed Palau’s community readiness to undertake these actions; identified issues 

and challenges related to each action; and reviewed recommended indicators to measure 

progress. Continued community consultation is needed before the action plan is finalized. 

• The Ministry of Health conducted the 6th Public Health Convention addressing NCDs 

and lifestyle choices relating to NCD cases in Palau. Discussions about cultural changes on 

health issues, as well as culture and health amongst youth, were held. 


• The Education Ministry plays a complementary role to that of the Health Ministry’s 

efforts to promote healthy living through diet and sufficient exercise by promoting sports 

throughout the country. 

• This began with the introduction of the Inter-Primary & Secondary School Games a couple 

of years back. This is a bi-annual event and it brings together school children from Year 4 

in Primary to Year 12 in Secondary School. The school games have attracted a great deal of 

interest from school children as young as those in elementary school. Their involvement 

will ensure healthier children so long as sports competitions continue to be organised. 

• At the adult level, the Tuvalu Games were introduced in 2008. Not only does it serve as 

Tuvalu’s trials for the Pacific Games and other international meets, it is also intended 

to maintain the link and interest in sports from the school team. Once again, the 

involvement of youth in such activities keeps them healthy. 

• A National Sports policy is also being formulated to better coordinate these events, as well 

as underpin the government’s commitment to developing sport in Tuvalu. 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has undertaken the following: 

Food Security and Pacific Food Summit. 

• Endorsed the regional Pacific Food Summit and is now planning to host its first Food 

Summit later in 2011. 

• Development of its Food Based Diet and Guidelines, engaged with local businesses to 

discuss the quality of food that is being sold locally. 

• Conducting regular inspections of all food outlets at schools and public places. 

• Enforcing the food and nutrition policy under the Public Health Act in this regard. 

However the specific Food and Nutrition Legislation is not yet passed by Government. 

• Health Promotion Unit is implementing the health promoting school program and 

conducting community based education and radio programs on dietary choices. 

• Implementing the Healthy Family Programme which focuses on the family promoting the 

healthy island concept in Tuvalu. 

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• MOH is part of the national climate change program which looks at the development of 

clear strategies to mitigate its effects on local food production. 

• The Government of Taiwan/ROC is now operating a garden that supplies the entire 

capital island of Funafuti.The same program is conducting home gardening education 

programmes and competitions in the country. 

Health and Climate Change 

• Very little work has been done to develop national strategies and action plans for health 

sector adaptation due to lack of support from the national climate change program. 

• Dependent on the outcomes of regional studies on health vulnerability due to climate 

change. 

• Conducted seminars, radio programmes and presentions to national stakeholders about 

climate change and health. 

Health Systems Strengthening and Primary Health Care 

• Completed renovation of health facilities in outer islands with two more left to complete 

in 2011. The upgraded facilities will further improve the delivery of health services to the 

outer islands. 

• Distributed medical equipments to all outer island medical centers in early 2011. 

• Revamped its healthy islands program implemented in 2010 with the development of the 

“Tuvalu Healthy Family Program” covering all the outer islands under a specific vote in its 

recurrent budget 2011. 

The Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (APSED) and the Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic 

Preparedness Project 

• Currently implementing the International Health Regulations and Pacific Regional 

Influenza Pandemic Preparedness project in Tuvalu. 

• Focal points have been established with full access to the electronic warning system. 

• MOH is also implementing its new Syndromic Surveillance System with weekly 

monitoring and reporting to WHO. 

Maternal Child and Adolescent Health-Progress on MDG4 Reduction Under 5 Maternal Mortality Rates 

• Providing free medical services across the country. 

• Maternal deliveries are attended by a qualified midwife and all first pregnancies are 

referred to the main hospital for deliver and proper ante-natal screening. 

• Under five mortality trends are reducing. 

• No maternal deaths. 

• Recruited a special nursing officer to lead family planning services with the aim to 

improve family planning coverage. 

• Continues to work with the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) in expanding 

family planning services, including condom distribution. 

• Recruited one full time staff to work on the national Reproductive Health program under 

direct funding from UNFPA. Through this programme MOH is receiving commodities and 

support for various Reproductive Health programs. 

• Completed the Reproductive Health Policy. 

• Completed 12 months of programming with UNFPA funding covering all Reproductive 

Health services in Tuvalu. 

104



• Continues to implement its pap smear program to detect early cervical cancer and provide 

treatment for women who need it. 

• Started expanding this service to the Outer Islands with specimen collection and referral 

to Princess Margaret Hospital. 

• Referring women with cervical cancer abroad for surgery and chemotherapy. 

Pooled Procurement from Improving Access to Essential Medicines in Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories 

• Procuring medicines and supplies from the bulk purchase system in Fiji. 

• Completed revision of its Essential Medicine List in 2010. 

• A National Drug and Therapeutic Committee is in place to oversee the overall 

management of medicines in Tuvalu. 

• MOH Central Stores supplies all the outer islands with essential medicines on a quarterly 

basis. 

Human Resources for Health 

• Through its WHO program MOH is training more staffs in specialised clinical services, i.e. 

surgical nursing, intensive care nursing and midwifery. 

• Implementing its Pacific Open Learning Health Network program with more than 10 staff 

studying online towards various certificates and diploma level qualifications ranging from 

public health to clinical courses. 

• Implementing its own internal Continuous Medical Education program every week for all 

hospital staff, which also includes a Medical Journal Club and medical audits. 

Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases 

• Completed its NCD plan, including the monitoring and evaluation framework. 

• Secured funding under the SPC 2-1-22 program to implement its NCD plan for the next 2 

years. 

• Completed its STEP (UN Stepwise Approach to Surveillance – a simple standard method 

of collecting, analyzing and disseminating information) survey and is now awaiting the 

outcome of the report. 

• MOH will implement a Mini-STEP program in Tuvalu targeting the various government 

ministries. 

• MOH has included a clinical component in its NCD plan focusing on common NCDs – 

diabetes, hypertension and cardiac diseases. 

• Established a National Diabetes Association comprising of diabetic patients and clinicians 

to strengthen efforts to control diabetes in Tuvalu and prevent the onset of complication 

among sufferers. 

• Currently engaged on an ongoing program with the Royal College of Surgeon Diabetes 

Team to assist with the development of treatment guidelines, protocols and the national 

diabetes program. 

• Trained nurses in diabetes clinical care and prevention in Australia to improve clinical 

management of diabetic patients. 

Prevention and Control of HIV and other STIs 

• Held training of trainers on human rights and legal rights with the assistance of Pacific 

Islands Aids Foundation – aimed at developing HIV legislation for Tuvalu. 

• Conducted a leaders’ seminar on HIV and other STIs covering leaders can do in the fight 

105



against HIV and AIDS. 

• Has in place a HIV and STI Unit with full time staff providing STI treatment and 

prevention programs. 

• Currently implementing its STI strategy. 

• Conducting chlamydia surveillance across the country and started the presumptive 

treatment of women attending ante-natal clinic for chlamydia infection. 

• MOH has integrated all programs as recommended to strengthen integration between 

HIV/STI and other services, including reproductive health, maternal child health and TB. 

• The HIV and STI Unit have completed courses on HIV counseling. 

• The HIV and STI Unit is providing voluntary confidential counseling and testing services. 

• MOH in collaboration with Tuvalu Family Health Association (non-government 

organisation), established voluntary confidential counseling and testing services at Tuvalu 

Family Health Association with referral of testing to Princess Margaret Hospital where 

necessary. 

• Conducting surveillance for STIs in country, except for chlamydia where specimens are 

shipped to Mataika House in Fiji. 

• HIV confirmation is being sent to Fiji. 

• The training of laboratory staffs on CD4 (white blood cells) completed. 

• Tuvalu will be receiving the CD4 (white blood cells) machine in the next few months. 

• MOH is receiving Antiretroviral from the pooled procurement program in Fiji. 


• The Government, through the MOH, launched its Health Sector Strategy (2010 – 2016) to 

guide the development of Vanuatu’s health sector over the 6 year period. The strategy lays 

out the objectives and directions that will be taken to address the major constraints and 

health issues faced by the population with the initial priorities of reducing maternal and 

infant mortality rates through the continuity of improving primary health care services 

and supporting curative services. The strategy is in line with the Government’s Priority 

Action Agenda, the Millennium Development Goals’ and the declarations of the Pacific 

Islands Ministers of Health. 

• Vanuatu also launched the “Healthy Lifestyle” Women Intervention Program in March 

2011 to encourage healthy living, as according to the MOH around 70 percent of Vanuatu 

women could benefit from such an approach. 

• Furthermore, Vanuatu launched its revised National Strategy to Prevent and Control Non- 

Communicable Diseases (2010-2015) in April 2011. This document provides the policy 

directions to guide the implementation of effective intervention strategies to counteract 

the increasing threat of NCDs in the next 5 years. 


• Jointly led the implementation of the Pacific Framework for the Prevention and Control of 

NCDs through the 2-1-22 Pacific NCD Programme in partnership with WHO. 

• Eighteen Pacific Island Countries and Territories now have comprehensive multi-sectoral 

costed national NCD plans and strategies in place following the provision of technical 

assistance and support to the additional Pacific Island Countries and Territories to finalise 

their plans. 

106



• Twelve health professionals appointed as national NCD coordinators, strengthening 

national level capacity to address NCDs. 

• Ninety two small competitive grants provided to countries for community projects to 

address NCD key risk factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco and 

alcohol misuse. 

• Eleven national, multi-sectoral NCD committees have been formed and supported to 

provide guidance for implementation of activities at national level. 

• Modifications to taxation, progress towards health promotion foundations and other 

sustainable funding mechanisms in four countries 

• In collaboration with regional partners and Pacific Island Countries and Territories, led the 

implementation of the Pacific Regional HIV & STI Strategy, Three Pacific Island Countries 

and Territories (Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, and Federated States of Micronesia) 

published their second generation surveys during 2010. The body of data generated by 

these surveys allows identification of key priority areas that should be addressed. 

• Ongoing support provided to twelve national TB programmes to strengthen TB control in 

the region. TB annual surveillance report titled; Tuberculosis Surveillance in the Pacific 

Island Countries and Territories published. Operational research commenced to assess 

the links between tuberculosis and diabetes in Kiribati, which will have relevance to other 

Pacific Island Countries and Territories. 

• In collaboration with regional partners, provided technical support to Solomon Islands 

and Vanuatu through the national vector borne control programmes in line with the 

national malaria strategies. 

• Seventeen Pacific Island Countries and Territories have updated their national influenza 

preparedness plans up until August 2010, with most Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories reporting that the updated plans proved useful in responding to the 2009 H1N1 

pandemic. 

• The Guam Public Health Lab has now been established as a sub-regional Level 2 

laboratory. 

• Laboratory based influenza surveillance follow-up has been undertaken for three Pacific 

Island Countries and Territories. 

• Training programmes delivered in 12 Pacific Island Countries and Territories to public 

and community health workers as part of SPC’s commitment to strengthening national 

capacity. Training has ranged from specialised technical subjects (such as continuum of 

care and chlamydia) to general health awareness. 

• Behavioural change communication and strategic health communication capacity have 

been strengthened in three Pacific Island Countries and Territories following in-country 

training. 

• Twenty centres / clinics in six countries have been designated to receive support and are 

delivering youth friendly services to reach young people. Approximately 32 percent of 

young persons aged 10–19 years amongst the target populations have accessed the centres 

and clinics. 

• CD4 testing strategy modified in mid 2010 – with the introduction and roll out of the pima 

analyzer to 12 Pacific Island Countries and Territories – through in situ provision of CD4 

testing services in 5 out of 6 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (excluding Tuvalu), 

with another 6 Pacific Island Countries and Territories strengthening their referral systems 

with the regional reference laboratories in the Pacific. 

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• In August 2010, the Global Fund Phase 2 budget for HIV of USD13.8m was approved to 

support the second phase of the Pacific Regional Strategy on HIV Implementation Plan. 

• Undertook a multi-agency rapid assessment of climate change and its impact on health 

in the Pacific as a first step towards identifying mitigation and adaptation strategies to 

strengthen the Pacific’s response and resilience. 

• Provided technical assistance to 7 Pacific Island Countries and Territories in cost benefit 

analysis of potential policy initiatives aimed at improving the health outcomes in the area 

of NCD’s. 

• Coordinated the development of a phase II funding proposal for malaria in Solomon 

Islands and Vanuatu with USD15.9 million in incremental funding requested. 

• Twenty-two out of a target of 30 sites (73 per cent) are now providing HIV and STI 

counselling and testing that meet Pacific minimum standards. The capacity of the 

Fiji Central Pharmacy to fulfil its role as a regional procurement mechanism has been 

strengthened, thus securing continuity in the procurement of anti-retroviral and essential 

TB drugs. 

• Partners in Health agreements signed with Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as part of SPC’s 

commitment to improve alignment to country planning processes. 

• All 30 of the target sites that are providing voluntary, confidential HIV and STI counselling 

and testing will have been assessed and confirmed as complying with or exceeding the 

Pacific minimum standards for counselling sites. 

• CD4 testing is now available in 5 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (Federated States 

of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Kiribati and Solomon Islands). Roll out 

to continue in Tuvalu, while the remaining 6 Pacific Island Countries and Territories will 

be continuing with the referral systems established earlier. 

• In countries SPC’s Public Health Division assisted the national AIDS committees/country 

coordinating mechanisms (CCMs) in developing their respective proposals for Pacific 

Islands Regional Multi-Country Coordinating Mechanism HIV Grants (under the Global 

Fund Round 7) Phase 2 and in developing and implementing national strategies for 

prevention of HIV and STIs. The development of the Global Fund Phase 2 HIV proposal 

adopted a country based approach to ensure alignment with existing interventions. 

• Anecdotal reports from the Fiji Family Life Education programme have described 

success in changing behaviours among students. There is early evidence of pockets of 

reduction in the incidence of teenage pregnancy as reported by SPC’s Adolescent Health 

and Development project. The Sexuality Education and Adolescent Reproductive Health 

Education Programme is becoming very popular in nine Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories, with national working groups formed. 

• Expanded diagnostic coverage for malaria has been achieved with 86 per cent of all 

registered health facilities in Solomon Islands and 80 per cent of those in Vanuatu now 

able to confirm malaria diagnosis through either microscopy or rapid diagnostic testing 

(as compared to 51 per cent in Solomon Islands and 20 per cent in Vanuatu at the end of 

2008). 

• Twelve Pacific Island Countries and Territories implementing key aspects of the 

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), specifically providing assistance on 

drafting legislation and ensuring that tobacco control components of national NCD plans 

conform to framework requirements. 

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• In the area of alcohol intervention, SPC in collaboration with the Centre for Social and 

Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation (SHORE) at Massey University, has progressed 

on major initiatives in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands examining comprehensive 

alcohol policy. In Solomon Islands, a National Alcohol Strategy 2010–2015 will be 

developed and endorsed by government after a process of consultation. 

• The three pilot studies (Palau, Nauru, and Solomon Islands) for the Framework of Priorities 

for Health have been released and widely disseminated and have been used during 

discussions with development partners. 

• A pilot project undertaken to provide internet connectivity to 17 rural clinics in Solomon 

Islands to allow better reporting, enable distance learning and remote consultations, and 

help make health care better and more cost effective overall. 

• Coordination, governance and reporting on the second phase of Pacific Regional Strategy 

on HIV Implementation Plan strengthened during 2011 following work to refocus the 

terms of reference of the PHD HIV & STI Advisor position to make this a priority role in 

2011, with support from the monitoring and evaluation resources available within SPC’s 

Public Health Division. 



• Australia will continue to support the above mentioned priority areas in the Pacific region 

over the next 12 months. There will be a focus on increasing the effectiveness of the 

support by streamlining processes, harmonising with development partners, and making 

sure support is responsive to country needs. 


• Need to improve and strengthen data collection for health statistics at the Central Hospital 

and in rural areas. 


• New Zealand will continue to support a range of activities aimed at addressing priority 

Pacific health needs. 


• Reassessment of the workload and policies to align with health promotion and prevention 

of NCDs. The Government is looking at developing a policy on healthy food procurement, 

along with strengthening tobacco-free and chew-free zones, providing incentives to 

weight loss, and integrating environmental approach to wellness. 


• The Inter-Primary and Secondary School Games will remain and continue into the future 

with Government support. 

The Ministry of Health will undertake the following: 

Food Security and Pacific Food Summit 

• Full implementation of the Declaration on Food Security with Government funding under 

the Healthy Island program. 

109


110 

• Further engage with exporters from around the Pacific Region (New Zealand and 

Australia) to assess the quality of food and products sold to Tuvalu. 

• Engage in dialogue with local companies and businesses to reinforce the Food Based 

Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) guidelines, Food and the Nutrition Policy. 

• Continue to implement the Healthy Family Programme. 

• Advocate the impacts of climate change on health as a priority area of the overall 

government response to climate change. 

• The MOH NCD Strategic Plan prioritizes food and nutrition with an emphasis on home 

gardening and education on cooking healthy meals. 

Health and Climate Change 

• Continue to advocate for support from government to focus on climate change and health 

as an immediate threat to Tuvalu. 

• There is a need to do more to convince people on the impacts on the determinants of poor 

health on the livelihood of Tuvaluans. 

Health Systems Strengthening and Primary Health Care 

• Continue to complete three more medical centres over the next 12 months. 

• Seek further assistance from development partners to purchase more medical equipments 

for the newly renovated medical centres. 

• Expand the Healthy Family Program in 2011 onwards with the expectation that it will 

improve the standard of living and the standard of health in the Tuvaluan communities. 

The Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (APSED) and the Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic 

Preparedness Project 

• Continue to implement International Health Regulations and will strengthen its 

Syndromic Surveillance system with the expectation of introducing it to the Outer islands. 

• Conduct more training on pandemic preparedness and response to disease outbreaks in 

the next 12 months. 

• The MOH is supporting more staff to enrol in the Disease Surveillance Courses now 

available via Pacific Open Learning Health Network. 

Maternal Child and Adolescent Health-Progress on MDG4 Reduction Under 5 Maternal Mortality Rates 

• Continue to make sure that all Tuvaluans have access to health care services. 

• Training of midwives will continue. 

• Training of more nurses to specialise in special MOH projects; TB program, HIV program, 

NCD program and maternal and child health program. 

• Implementation of the Reproductive Health Policy. 

• Continue to implement its Pap smear program. 

• Procure Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for young girls to prevent cervical cancer. 

Pooled Procurement from Improving Access to Essential Medicines in Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories 

• Hold consultations with MOH Fiji on the MoU on bulk purchase from the Fiji 

Government Pharmaceutical Bulk Stores. 

Human Resources for Health 

• Devise a workforce plan, including a revision of its current structure and propose better 

packages for medical professionals (especially local doctors) to retain them in Tuvalu. 

Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases 

• Implement its NCD Plan and conduct monitoring of NCDs in accordance with its


monitoring and evaluation framework. 

• Focus on secondary prevention aiming at preventing diabetes complications, especially 

renal failure. This will reduce the need for patient to undergo haemodialysis treatment 

abroad. 

• The MOH will request an increase in national budget allocations for health towards 

“Healthy Island Activities”, which also includes NCDs prevention. 

Prevention and Control of HIV and other STIs 

• MOH and partners in non-government organizations lead the advocacy program on HIV 

and other STIs. 

• Continue to implement its STI strategy,presumptive treatment and to include other 

vulnerable groups. 


• Working with development partners to better coordinate technical and financial support, 

aligned with government strategy and plans to avoid duplications and gaps. 

• Reforms and review of the Health Practitioners Act, the Nursing Act, Vanuatu Centre for 

Nursing Education Board and Vanuatu Health Training Institute Board. 

• Training of nurse educators, in-service training for practicing nurses and reviving nurse 

aide training and running a new bridging course training for nurses. 

• Revitalising primary health care to assist in delivering essential health services at all levels 

of health care system. 

• Ensuring equitable access to services is captured in the national health sector strategy. 


• Support strengthening of Pacific Island Countries and Territories national laboratories to 

diagnose chlamydia amongst antenatal women during routine screening. 

• Support Pacific Island Countries and Territories increase number of counselling sites that 

offer voluntary, confidential HIV and STI counselling and testing that meet the Pacific 

minimum standards. 

• Support for the distribution of long life insecticide treated bednets in Solomon Islands and 

Vanuatu. 

• Strengthening all five components of the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course 

strategy focusing on strengthening TB laboratories’ capacity to detect and diagnose TB 

and identify cases of Multidrug-Resistant -TB and TB / HIV co-infection, including targeted 

screening of high risk / vulnerable populations (such as prisoners). 

• SPC’s Public Health Division (PHD) will continue to deliver training on treatment and 

programme management guidelines and will monitor and where necessary recommend 

corrective measures for TB recording and reporting systems. 

• In conjunction with the Oceania Society for Sexual Health and HIV Medicine (OSSHM), 

national treatment providers will receive additional training in counselling HIV positive 

patients for treatment compliance, with the expectation that this will reduce the number 

of patients discontinuing treatment, resulting in 100 per cent of patients remaining on 

treatment for 12 months following initiation of antiretroviral treatment. 

• The PHD will work to obtain national policy commitment for national adolescent health 

and development policies with comprehensive action plans. 

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• The 2-1-22 NCD project is currently scheduled to end in Dec 2011. The PHD will 

continue to coordinate the project jointly with WHO and will actively look at options 

for maintaining technical assistance in support of the regional NCD framework, either 

through an extension of the current project or the design of a successor project, until the 

outcome of the longer term sustainable financing strategy is known. 

• Support training that will strengthen national monitoring frameworks and improve use of 

administrative data at national level. 

• As part of the wider SPC response, the PHD will map its current interventions contributing 

towards food security in the Pacific, as a first step towards identifying gaps at the regional 

level that must be addressed. It will contribute to the development of a joint multi-agency 

plan that will be implemented progressively from 2011 onwards. 

• PHD continues to support the implementation of the Healthy Islands vision as articulated 

by Pacific Ministers of Health in their 1997 Yanuca Declaration and reaffirmed during 

their 2009 meeting in Madang, Papua New Guinea. It will support a ‘return to basics’ 

emphasising primary health care and enabling environments. 

• Support the establishment of facilities that have Internet access through the Pacific Rural 

Internet Connectivity System. 

• To contribute towards aid effectiveness, existing arrangements for channelling grants to 

countries will be reviewed and simplified / harmonised wherever possible, with a view to 

increasing the proportion of all PHD funding to countries that integrates with national 

financial systems and channels. 




• Limited number of technical health professionals (medical doctors, pharmacists, etc). 


• Lack or over exhaustion of current resources and capacity to implement preventative 

measures of NCD and tobacco use. 


• Availability of funds will determine making the inter-Primary and Secondary School 

Games an annual event. 

Food Security and Pacific Food Summit 

• The market in Tuvalu is small and therefore it might be difficult to persuade companies 

to adhere to new import measures put in place to improve the quality of imported food 

items. 


• The need for further development and implementation of reforms in the organizational 

structure of the MOH; introduce more modern management methods and the effective use 

of limited resources. 

• Currently national health expenditure is at 4.1 percent of GDP and needs to increase to 

around 5 percent to address Vanuatu’s health needs. 

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• Severe stress on the health budget and overall health system with existence of “double 

disease burden” in that both communicable diseases and emerging NCDs. 

• Low number and lack of technical professionals to drive the health sector plan and 

provide health service delivery in particular to the rural areas. 


Within SPC 

• Ability to respond to the emerging health trends is hampered by the current structure 

of health funding, which is primarily project based and disease focused. More than 90 

percent of its 2011 budget was derived from project-based funding. The PHD depends 

heavily on this often volatile source to fund the provision of key services, including 

technical assistance, on which Pacific Island Countries and Territories depend. 

• Future trends in the health of communities in the Pacific (which will determine PHD 

responses) will be dominated by a number of factors. Risk factors and morbidity and 

mortality patterns are changing rapidly, and Pacific Island Countries and Territories are at 

different stages of demographic transition. 

• The current uncertainty of funding for NCDs beyond 2011 must be addressed, and 

technical assistance must be provided to Pacific Island Countries and Territories that have 

yet to develop a national NCD strategy, along with strong technical support for Pacific 

Island Countries and Territories now implementing their national strategies. 

• A specific challenge for PHD is to formalise the routine reporting of data for monitoring 

and surveillance. Support from countries is requested to facilitate this. As part of the 

reform currently underway within PHD, an opportunity exists to redefine and expand the 

scope of surveillance under a more unified approach, as well as to adopt a health security 

approach to surveillance and response. 

From the Regional and National Environment 

• Although the overall TB rates in the region decreased over the last four years, rates have 

increased in the Micronesia sub-region, particularly in the Republic of the Marshall 

Islands, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia, where they have doubled in recent 

years. Multidrug-resistant TB in the northern Pacific poses real threats to TB control in the 

region, with recent outbreaks reported from the Federated States of Micronesia and the 

Republic of Marshall Islands. 

• The cost of delivering health services to small geographically dispersed communities in 

Pacific Island Countries and Territories, where roads are often either of poor quality or 

nonexistent, is a significant factor that limits more equitable access to basic services. 

• Service delivery needs to be better integrated throughout all levels of health care systems, 

particularly for primary health care. 

• The provision of drugs, inventory and reporting systems remain a challenge in many 

Pacific Island Countries and Territories. This is particularly critical for such services as the 

provision of antiretroviral therapy, STI and Multidrug-resistant TB treatments. 

• Countries’ absorptive capacity is a major challenge, and a pressing issue is the limited or 

volatile nature of the human resources available to implement and sustain activities both 

at the national and regional level. 

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• Despite the size of the overall health budget for the region, significant funding gaps 

remain for many Pacific Island Countries and Territories in priority areas that are not 

well addressed by current financing modalities. There is some uncertainly over continued 

funding during and beyond 2011 in a number of these areas, including for NCDs, 

pandemic / epidemic response preparedness and adolescent health and development. 

There is a clear need for donors, development partners, Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories and PHD to jointly adopt a longer term strategy to bring some predictability to 

financing of priority health concerns in the region. 


(iii) 

Improving access to opportunities afforded through stronger education systems at 

all levels by implementing the directions given by Forum Education Ministers and, 

in particular, progressing the implementation of the Pacific Education Development 

Framework to better provide Pacific peoples access to economic opportunities through 

skills and prospects for mobility. 


months 


• The Pacific Forum Education Ministers Meeting (FEdMM) held in Papua New Guinea from 

11-13 October 2010 endorsed the concept of ‘Benchmarking the Quality of Education for 

Results’ to improve the quality of education and student performance across the Pacific, 

and to build on and regionalise the work on benchmarking already taking place in selected 

countries by international and regional partners and donors. 

• The aim of the Pacific Benchmarking for Education Results pilot program is to improve 

literacy and numeracy levels of children in the Pacific region. It was agreed that the 

SPC’s Secretariat of the Pacific Board for Educational Assessment (SPBEA) division 

and its development partners should negotiate with those countries that wish to 

participate in the pilot benchmarking initiative. Three countries - Papua New Guinea, 

the Solomon Islands and Samoa – were selected to take part in the pilot. In November 

2010, representatives of these three countries met in Sydney to take further the idea of 

developing a pilot. The meeting included representatives from SPC’s SPBEA division, 

UNESCO, the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), AusAID and the World 

Bank. This was followed by a workshop with all stakeholders held in Nadi, Fiji, 22 - 24 

March, 2011. A Steering Committee met in Brisbane in May 2011 and endorsed the draft 

design proposal. 

• AusAID continues to support SPC’s SPBEA division in its work on national assessment 

of literacy and numeracy through the project, Improving the Assessment of Literacy and 

Numeracy Across the Pacific. In addition, AusAID funds the development of the Pacific 

Qualifications Register through a five-year agreement with SPBEA. 

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• The other regional program supporting skills development and prospects for mobility 

is the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC). The APTC is an initiative that spans 

over four years (2007-2008 to 2010-2011) and provides Pacific Islanders with Australian 

qualifications to increase productivity and the supply of skilled workers in the Pacific; as 

well as improving employment opportunities nationally, regionally and internationally. 

As at June 2011, 1,179 students were enrolled and 2,997 students had graduated. The 

APTC has four campuses in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu. Campuses have 

been established in partnership with various national training institutions (for example 

Fiji National University, Vanuatu Institute of Technology and the National University of 

Samoa). 


Ministry of Education 

• Governance level: revision of the Education Review processes to ensure quality education, 

development of internal quality management system for the Ministry of Education. 

Completion of Five Year Statement of Intent. 

• Human resources management: development of new Professional Development and 

Appraisal system for all staff, including Personal Development Plans that are then 

supported through personal development opportunities (sourced both internally and 

externally). Implementation of new Fast Track Initiative for Teacher Training (concurrent 

pathway allows for mix of formal university study and classroom practice). 

• School programmes: continued priority on early childhood education, literacy and 

numeracy (teacher training, resource development); and increasing the scope of 

programmes available at secondary level to meet students needs; and Pilot of Te Kura Uira, 

an online distance education programme. 

• Regional and international responsibilities: completion and moderation of baseline data 

for Pacific Education Development Framework, publication of Education For All End of 

Decade report. 


The Ministry of Education has accomplished some goals of the Pacific Education Development 

Framework as highlighted below and in-line with the Kiribati Education Improvement Program. 

• The Kiribati Education Improvement Programme is the framework within which key 

donors to the education sector will support the Government of Kiribati to address its most 

pressing education issues over the next ten years. It will focus resources on access to and 

the quality of schooling in Kiribati. It is intended to improve the standard of education 

across all 115 primary and junior secondary schools in Kiribati, and to ensure progress 

towards the Millennium Development Goal 2 target of a net primary completion rate of 

100 percent by 2015. It also intends to: encourage and facilitate high transition rates from 

primary to junior secondary school; to strengthen the capacity of the teaching force; to 

improve learning outcomes so all children are literate and numerate; and to establish a 

strong education foundation for young iKiribati who wish to progress to higher education 

and training. 

SSE 2: Formal School Education (Primary and Secondary) 

• Reviewed Education Ordinance (part of the Kiribati Education Improvement Programme). 

• Implementing the Facilities Improvement Programme (also part of Kiribati Education 

Improvement Programme component). 

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SSE 5: Teacher-development: In-Service & Pre-Service Education and Enhancing the Status of the Teaching 

Profession 

• Full assessment of the Kiribati Teachers’ College capacity under the Education 

Improvement Programme. 

• Government of Kiribati has also achieved the following MDG goals: 

- MDG 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education - Target 3: Ensure that, by 2015, children, 

everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary education. 

- MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women - Target 3.A: Eliminate gender 

disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of 

education no later than 2015. 


• New Zealand provided significant funding and technical support to education sector 

programmes across the Pacific (in Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Cook Islands, 

Niue and Tokelau) and via targeted interventions in Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru and Fiji. Key 

focus of the support provided was targeted towards strengthening of national education 

systems at all levels (at the central, provincial and school level), teacher training (preand 

in-service), increasing access, improving education quality (particularly around 

literacy and numeracy), benchmarking and skills development/Technical and Vocational 

Education and Training. 

• New Zealand also provided core funding to USP, SPC’s SPBEA division, PIFS, and until 

December 2010, to Pacific Regional Initiatives for the Delivery of Basic Education, to 

implement, monitor and provide support to education development in the Pacific in line 

with Pacific Education Development Framework priorities. 

116 


• Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF): work is still in its preliminary stage. 

At the 2010 FEdMM in Papua New Guinea, the Forum Ministers formally approved the 

implementation strategy for PEDF. The first stage of the implementation included a 

survey of the PIF countries to gather baseline data, followed by a visit of the PIF Social 

Policy Advisor (Filipe Jitoko) to the Forum Island Countries to validate the baseline data. 

Palau has completed its survey and was the first country to be visited. Palau therefore has 

completed the first stage of the implementation process and awaits further direction from 

PIFS. 

• Executive Order no. 281: President Toribiong created a Public Education Task Force in 

October of 2010, and its role was to assess the current condition of the public schools 

and make appropriate recommendations. The outcome from the findings of the Task 

Force showed deficiencies, not only with the physical aspect of the schools, but also 

with its organizational structure and the operations of the Ministry. Implementation 

of the recommendations approved by the President started in early 2011. Among the 

recommendations being implemented is the merging of three primary public schools in 

the undeveloped island of Babeldaob into one school. Students living in Ngchesar, Ngiwal, 

and Melekeok will attend Melekeok Elementary School by August 2011, once the school 

has undergone renovations to accommodate increased number of students and staff. 

• Accessibility of online library services: The University of Maine at Augustana (UMA) 

made an agreement with Palau Community College to promote and include the islands 

in their online library services program. The Palau Community College’s library services 

program is now online to allow access and make it more widely available to the rest of 

Micronesia and is likely to increase enrolment to the College.



• Training of Teachers: Teacher’s training is available at the Palau Community College 

when needed. A certificate course runs for a period of five weeks. The last course was held 

in 2008 for head start teachers. Another five week course will be held on 20 June 2011 to 

25 July, for nine participants from Chuuk of the Federated States of Micronesia and two 

from Palau. The certificate allows graduates to qualify for entry level positions for high 

school and elementary level. The Palau Community College also offers an Associate’s 

Degree in Education. 

• Palau Tourism and Hospitality School of Excellence (operating under the Palau 

Community College): infrastructure development has been completed and classes 

expected to start in the Fall of 2011. The school is equipped with a commercial kitchen, 

restaurant, bar, and alfresco area open to the general public (cost prices), while also having 

a hotel suite, reception, reservation, and concierge area. Practicum and theory classes will 

be incorporated. It is hoped that the vacancy of a culinary arts instructor will be filled by 

an Australian Youth Ambassador volunteer. Australia contributed around USD25,000 

while other local businessmen such as Shallum Etpison donated much of the material and 

labour. 


• Education in Tuvalu and training and re-training of teachers remains a priority. Every year 

a number of teachers are sent to universities to improve their qualifications and hence 

their skills and capabilities. This training has been extended to teachers at elementary 

school as these teachers are now being paid by government and more financial and 

teaching material assistance is being extended. There is also an intention to incorporate 

elementary school teachers into the public service. Government does not run the 

elementary schools so parents are currently paying fees. Government is also considering 

running the schools and extending free fees to all students. 

• Education has always been free and compulsory especially at the primary level. The 

objective is to ensure that all children complete primary school and have the opportunity 

to take the entrance exam in Year 8 to enter secondary school or the Technical and 

Vocational Education and Training (TVET), were skills such as carpentry, engineering, 

and home economics are covered. TVET arrangements have been implemented to keep 

students in school until Year 12. Once again, these approaches are intended to provide 

school leavers with skills that will help them prepare for later challenges. 

• At the tertiary level, USP’s distance and flexible learning program provides an excellent 

opportunity for further education to Tuvaluans. Government scholarships are offered 

every year and over the years this assistance has been increasing steadily. The Ministry 

also actively searches for more development partners to provide further tertiary level 

scholarships. 


• The Vanuatu Education Road Map 2010-2012 has been funded jointly by AusAID, NZAID 

and UNICEF and incorporates the strategic vision for education in Vanuatu as set out it 

the Vanuatu Education Sector Strategy 2007-2016. 

• In 2010, the government introduced “fee free” primary education (Years 1-6) across all 

government and government assisted schools which has assisted immensely in ensuring 

equitable access to education. 

• Early Grade Reading Assessment baseline study completed and reading development 

program developed to improve literacy. 

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• National Assessment Task Force appointed to formulate a harmonised Senior Cycle 

Assessment and examination program consistent with National Curriculum Reform and 

regional standards and assessment systems. 

• The National Curriculum Statement launched and provides for a clear pathway and 

system for curriculum standards from elementary through to Year 13. 


• The FEdMM held in October 2010 in Papua New Guinea, endorsed the implementation 

strategy for the Pacific Education Development Framework. This included a number of 

regional projects to be undertaken by regional and international organizations working in 

the education sector in the region. These regional projects provide common solutions to 

educational challenges that are common amongst the regional countries. 

• Baseline survey with in-country consultations on the Pacific Education Development 

Framework was completed in eight countries (Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, 

Nauru, Niue, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, Tonga, Kiribati). Country reports include 

recommended activities under the Pacific Education Development Framework to support 

country level efforts in their educational development to meet their national goals and 

move them towards achieving international commitments in Education for All and 

Millennium Development Goals. 

• Action plan on regional initiatives developed and negotiation with donors for funding are 

continuing. This includes the fast-tracking of the training of untrained teachers, extension 

of distance and flexible learning systems to schools for greater equity in service delivery 

to remote and rural communities and providing second chance education to out of school 

youths and adults. 

• The feasibility study on a Proposed Strategy to Strengthen Education Planning in the 

Region funded by UNESCO has been completed and the report presented to the Pacific 

Heads of Education Systems (PHES) meeting held in Palau August 2010. The report has 

been endorsed for tabling in the 2011 FEdMM. 

• The mapping exercise in TVET under the supervision of SPC and through a consultant 

has been completed and presented to the CROP HRD Working Group. The results 

and recommendations of the mapping study will guide the use of the EU Fund for the 

development of TVET in Forum Island Countries. 

• As the international community moves closer to 2015, the Pacific region is committed to 

achieving the Education for All goals and the education related Millennium Development 

Goals with the support of the Pacific Education Development Framework strategies. 

• Progressing work on the Pacific Qualifications Register with linkage to Labour Mobility 

strategies. One week workshop conducted in Nadi with countries and development 

partners has been completed by SPBEA. 


Community Education Training Centre 

• Thirty women from 14 Pacific Island Countries graduated from the Community 

Education Training Centre (Fiji) in October 2010 in Applied Community Development 

and Management, and Community Development and Enterprise course (level II and III 

certificates). 

• Thirty one students from 16 Pacific Island Countries enrolled in 2011 at the Community 

Education Training Centre for the 7 months Applied Community Development 

Management and Enterprise Course. 

118



• Based on tracer studies conducted by Community Education Training Centre, for 

countries such as Tonga, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, over 90 percent of Community 

Education Training Centre graduates are employed in the formal employment sector. 

• Community Education Training Centre was the first institution in Fiji to be registered 

under the Higher Education Commission and received a Fiji Business Excellence Award 

for Quality Management. 

• The Ministry for Women and Poverty Alleviation in Fiji provided 8 new treadle sewing 

machines to Community Outreach Programme (COP) villages, and the students used these 

machines for training in sewing and machine repair. 

• Approximately 240 participants from various Pacific Island Countries completed national 

level training under the Community Development course. 

• Short courses and electives were refocused to ensure that they include required workforce 

key employable skills. These include communication, teamwork, problem solving, 

initiative and enterprise, planning and organising, self-management, learning, and 

technology and occupational health and safety. 

• Decentralising Community Education Training Centre services and partnerships through 

signing of a MoU in February 2011 with the Vanuatu Rural Development and Training 

Centre Association comprising of 38 Rural Training Centres throughout Vanuatu to 

deliver Community Education Training Centre developed courses and modules allowing 

wider access to the community courses. 

• Hosting two staff from the Vanuatu Rural Development and Training Centre for two 

weeks in September at the Community Education Training Centre to observe training 

operations. 

• Development and piloting of customised handicraft modules for crafters and handicraft 

producers in Tonga. 

• Development and piloting of customised business improvement courses for business 

trainers and entrepreneurs. 

• Development and piloting of applied food processing course with a business focus 

in Pohnpei, the Federated States of Micronesia jointly with Facilitating Agricultural 

Commodity Trade, Land Resources Division. 

• Completion of the first set of modules in community development for multimodal 

delivery (self study/distant/e-study). 

• Provided input to the EU Regional TVET proposal and mapping process. 

• Provided information paper on regional TVET development to the 2010 FEdMM. 

• Held talks with the Solomon Island Rural Training Centre Association to discuss possible 

partnership agreements. 

• Technical input into Vanuatu’s national Micro and Small Medium Enterprises policy 

development in February 2011. 

• Tracer and impact studies completed for Wallis & Futuna, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and 

Kiribati. 

• Community Education Training Centre’s regional foods training, research and processing 

centre officially opened. 

South Pacific Board of Educational Assessment 

• Literacy, numeracy and life skills was endorsed by FEdMM in 2006 and reconfirmed each 

year since then. Improving the Assessment of Literacy and Numeracy across the Pacific, an 

119



120 

AusAID supported project commenced in November 2010 and is aimed at strengthening 

the institutional and technical capacity of the SPC SPBEA division to meet the increasing 

demands on its services. 

Progress to date and planned activities for the duration of Phase 1 (until April 2011) are outlined 

below: 

- Proposed programmes for country participation in the Literacy and Numeracy Project 

have been approved by nine Pacific Island Countries as follows: 

- Early Grade (Yr 2) Assessments for Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, 

Fiji. 

- Higher Grades (Yrs 4 & 6) interventions (Regional and National Assessment Resource 

Tool for Teaching and Learning) for problems identified in previous round, before 

proceeding with 3rd round for Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands; and establishing 

baselines for Fiji (LANA – baseline development work based on 2010 data) and 

Samoa (SPELL– baseline development work based on 2010 data) before offering them 

Year 2 assessments. 

- Curriculum documents for Yrs 1-6 in English and Mathematics and some vernacular 

languages have been received from all countries except Nauru. 

- Literacy and Numeracy panels were identified in member countries in February, 2011. 

- Kiribati Assessment Resource Tool for Teaching and Learning (ARTTLe): intervention 

workshop held in April 2011. Developed activities for Years 3, 5 and 8. Draft 

Assessment Resource Tool for Teaching and Learning booklets for Years 3 and 5 were 

completed in May 2011. Trialling expected in late 2011. Tasks have been developed for 

Years 3 and 5 and will continue progressively. Materials have begun coming in after 

development and are being scrutinized by the Panel Leader. It is anticipated that the 

trialling will begin in 2011. Year 8 was for Standard Tests of Achievement for Kiribati 

(STAKI) which will have its first implementation in October 2011. 

- Early grades: instrument development and trialling proposed for July/August 2011. 

- Fiji – LANA: baseline development work based on 2010 administration was completed 

in May. 

- Early Grades: pre-trial conducted in March. Trialling proposed for July 2011. 

- Samoa - establishment of baselines using 2010 Samoa Primary Education Literacy 

Level data has just begun. 

- Tuvalu - ARTTLe: item writing workshop held in March 2011; draft ARTTLe assessment 

booklets for Years 1 - 6 should have been completed in April. The return of tasks 

from literacy and numeracy has been rather slow. Teachers and Education Officers will 

need more time to complete the work. 

- Solomon Islands - ARTTLe: developed in 2010 and trialled in first quarter 2011. Review 

workshop was held from 3 - 6 May 2011. The review process gathered information 

from the trial and external evaluation of the items by SPBEA-Literacy/Numeracy. The 

outcome of the review workshop called for another review to finalize the Assessment 

Resource Tool for Teaching and Learning assessment booklets before moving into the 

next stage of training of trainers/teachers. 

- Early grades: instrument development and trialling proposed for June 2011. 

- Vanuatu - ARTTLe: item development held in March 2011, focusing on Years 3 and 5 

for intervention activities. 

• Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA) the regional literacy and



numeracy assessment, was developed in response to a FEdMM directive. SPC SPBEA 

division partnered with UNESCO to design and develop of Pacific Islands Literacy and 

Numeracy Assessment instruments. The instrument was reviewed internally and will also 

be reviewed externally. It will be trialled in six Pacific Island Countries. Instruments will 

be developed in collaboration with UNESCO for years 4 and 6 and will be trialled in the 

later part of 2011. 

• Intervention strategies developed included ARTTLe – an intervention strategy to respond 

to the learning gaps identified by the literacy and numeracy instruments have been 

designed and being trialled. 

• Partnership with USP to plan and implement the regional conference on Literacy and 

Language in early 2012. 

Regional Teacher/Principal Standards/Teacher Competencies 

• The ‘Quality education for all in Pacific Island Countries’ initiative was endorsed by 

FEdMM in 2010 in line with the vision of the Pacific Education Development Framework 

(PEDF). 

• The regional teacher standards have been completed and have been endorsed by all 

countries. One country has accepted them as its national standards, while others have 

used it as a starting point to develop their own standards. These standards have been 

incorporated into the Strategy for Monitoring and Improving Teaching Effectiveness 

software. 

• The Principal standards are in draft form and will be the focus of a regional workshop later 

in 2011. 

• Teacher Competency modules – an intervention strategy have been revised and 

distributed to national teacher training institutions for incorporation in their teacher 

training programs. Developed and finalized its five Teacher Competency modules to 

assist countries in their effort to improve teacher effectiveness and competency. Capacity 

building on the use of these modules has been implemented in nine Pacific Island 

Countries. The Kiribati Teacher College, Tonga Institute of Education, Solomon Islands 

College of Higher Education, Vanuatu Institute of Teacher Education all have access to 

these modules. In these countries, two teacher education institutions are incorporating the 

modules into their teacher training programmes and other also plan to use them. 

• A Teacher Competency Training Workshop was carried out by SPBEA in Tuvalu for 25 

teachers covering two modules, motivation & professionalism and duty of care. UNESCO 

continued the workshop with an additional 20 principals. All 22 untrained teachers 

of Tuvalu have now undergone this training which is being accredited by the Kiribati 

Teacher College. 

• In collaboration UNESCO, Teacher Competency training workshop was held in Vanuatu 

for 21 teachers and in the Solomon Islands for 20 lecturers of the Solomon Islands College 

of Higher Education. 

• A Strategy for Monitoring Teacher Effectiveness (SMITE) software, which was develop 

by SPBEA from concepts provided by UNESCO, has been made available to Fiji, Samoa, 

Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Regional teacher standards have been loaded onto this 

software and countries have adapted these as nationally required. 

Pacific Regional Qualifications and Standards (PRQS) 

• Support provided to Solomon Islands Technical Working Group to develop their National 

Qualification Framework. 

• Country consultations on the draft Pacific Qualification Register template in Samoa, 

Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. 

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122 

• The Pacific Qualification Register quality assurance processes developed and in final form. 

• Development of “accredited qualifications” domain of the register and developing criteria 

for accrediting National Qualification Agencies and the procedures for registration of 

country qualifications on the Pacific Qualification Register completed. 

• Development of Pacific Qualification Register software and database to be completed by 

mid 2011. 

• Pacific Qualification Register communication plan implemented. 

• Regional TVET mapping study design finalized and mapping exercise implemented. 

• Second regional consultation on the Pacific register completed in May 2011. 

• The Pacific Register was piloted in the latter half of 2011. 

Pacific Benchmarking for Educational Results Program (PaBER) 

• Endorsed by FEdMM in 2010, this initiative will provide Education Ministries with a 

means to improve the quality of education. It looks at high levels of educational quality 

that Pacific Island Countries can measure against. 

• A three year pilot starting in 2011 in Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands 

is being undertaken with SPC SPBEA division as the lead agency in partnership with 

development partners and pilot countries. This will be followed by two years roll-out 

to other interested countries. AusAID is finalising funding for this initiative. To realize 

the potential of Pacific Benchmarking for Educational Results Program there is a need to 

strengthen SPBEA and national assessment, monitoring and information units. The three 

components of the programme are: learning assessment, policy and systems assessment 

and policy in practices and case studies. This initiative brings together a number of other 

initiatives that have been undertaken in partnership with UNESCO and UNICEF. Pacific 

Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment is one such initiative. 

Assessment, Curriculum and Standards 

• SPBEA is playing a lead role in a number of initiatives under the PIF’s Pacific Education 

Development Framework. 

• Nineteen training workshops on assessment have been held with over 600 participants 

from all member countries. 

Senior Secondary School Qualifications 

• Regional examinations process implemented and completed successfully for 2010 for 

Form Six (Pacific Senior Secondary Certificate) and Form Seven qualification (South 

Pacific Form Seven Certificate). 

• The 2011 examination cycle is in full operation. 

• A review was undertaken of three South Pacific Form Seven Certificate prescriptions 

undertaken in 2010 in Mathematics (calculus and statistics) and English to move towards 

enhanced relevance of student learning and in reporting student achievements against the 

major learning outcomes as defined in the prescription. 

• In 2011, six Form 7 prescriptions were reviewed. These were Accounting, Biology, 

Chemistry, Economics, History and Physics. 

• A regional Certificate in Applied Learning is proposed with a focus on skills development 

and building an improved transition from formal school to either further studies or 

employment opportunities. If approved, a pilot may be carried out in 2013. 

• Outcome-based assessment trialled in South Pacific Form Seven Certificate Economics 

paper in November 2010 and will be implemented for Mathematics (Calculus), 

Mathematics (Statistics) and English in November 2011.



• ATLAS software deployed into countries to synchronies Pacific Senior Secondary 

Certificate Internal Assessment data captured in country with Pacific Senior Secondary 

Certificate examinations data that will be captured at SPBEA. 

Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Support 

• A regional workshop on data analysis, interpretation and report writing was conducted 

by SPBEA for Exams/Assessment Unit officers to identify linkages between suggested 

interventions and the data. SPBEA is also working with small island states to develop 

systems for processing their assessment data. Ongoing work for the IT officers includes 

fulfilling requests for modifications and specific data analysis as part of the software 

ATLAS, SMITE, and STALLIAN. 

• Support members education assessment units through the distribution of its board 

software (ATLAS) for the administration and management of national assessment data 

systems and providing capacity building and support for the software. Currently six of 

its nine member countries use ATLAS. Online support is also available via Team Viewer, 

MSN chat or Gmail, and where these do not work, by standard email and telephone. 

• Two research activities using SPBEA qualifications data are being undertaken this year, 

with the goal of using research to inform and improve practice and to use the findings to 

generate interest among countries. 

• As a result of technical assistance and support by SPC SPBEA division, a number of 

countries have developed national assessment policy frameworks to be in line with their 

national curriculum frameworks. 

Other Initiatives 

• Better linkage with the Kiribati Teacher College, Solomon Islands College of Higher 

Education, Vanuatu Institute of Teacher Education, and USP following FEdMM endorsed 

initiatives. 

• Development of exemplars, study guides and item banks for Pacific Senior Secondary 

Certificate subjects in readiness for the compete nationalization of Pacific Senior 

Secondary Certificate in 2013. 

• A professional officer was part of the climate change work. 

• A Financial Education Project with UNDP and Fiji Government. 

• Three papers submitted to International Association for Educational Assessment has been 

accepted. 

• Undertaking impact assessment on national workshops conducted. 

• Implementation of the next version of ATLAS software in all countries. 

• Implementation of SMITE software in all countries – this is the software which is used to 

monitoring teacher effectiveness. 

• Implementation of the revamped STALLIAN – this is the new software for recording, 

interpreting and reporting on assessments for literacy, numeracy and life-skills. 

• Implementation of the scanner technology to reduced data entry time and data entry 

errors – thus speeding up reporting of assessment results and reports from TITAN to all 

examiners. 

• Pacific Association of Teacher Educators consultations attended and supported by SPBEA. 

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• There has been major progress in the teaching of education courses through print mode 

and satellite tutorials. Satellite tutorials cover all the regional campuses and students are 

able to interact with the tutors. Countries like Nauru, the Republic of Marshall Islands 

and Cook Islands have cohorts in Early Childhood Education in which students have 

been trained in the last 12 months. USP has also worked in collaboration with UNICEF on 

learning modules to assist teachers in primary schools. 

• In July 2011, the Pacific Association of Teacher Educators (PATE) was reactivated at a 

conference in Samoa, where presentations were made by UNESCO, UNICEF and USP on 

education in the Pacific. 

• The ongoing Network of Island University’s Education for Sustainable Development 

project, involving USP, the National University of Samoa, and University of Papua 

New Guinea, involves activities including course development, staff capacity building, 

community initiatives and stakeholder engagement. 

• In addition, USP has facilitated the development of a draft Higher Education for 

Sustainable Development Policy and has designed School of Education Courses (ED461 

Education for Sustainable Development; ED457 Advanced Study of Education in Small 

Island Developing States). The Faculty of Arts and Law Seminar Series to create wider 

public awareness about Education and Sustainable Pacific Societies has been held. The 

School of Education has been examining the issue of untrained teachers in the region, 

and the need to professionalize teachers. The School of Education also has worked with 

Fiji’s Ministry of Education on mainstreaming Education for Sustainable Development, 

and held a research pilot project in 2011. There are ongoing initiatives on HIV/AIDS and 

Sexual and Reproductive Health Education in the region. 



• Australia is investing an additional AUD124.5 million over four years to accelerate 

progress in education in the Pacific region. This will enable more children to attend 

and complete primary school, improve learning outcomes (particularly in literacy and 

numeracy in the early grades), and improve employability of young people. To achieve 

these objectives, Australia will reduce financial and social barriers to schooling for 250,000 

students, upgrade facilities at 500 schools in the region; and strengthen the pathway 

between secondary school and post-secondary, technical and vocational training. 

• Australia will improve learning outcomes by: 

- strengthening early childhood education for at least 25,000 students per year; 

- developing over 7,500 teachers and introducing teacher career structures to ensure that 

schools and teacher training institutions are staffed with motivated and competent 

teachers; and 

- improve curricula and providing high-quality learning materials annually to over 

100,000 students. 

• Once implementation of the Pacific Benchmarking for Education Results begins in the 

pilot countries, the expected outcomes over the next 12 months are for the countries to 

be better positioned to plan and implement interventions that will improve learning 

through: 

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- a field tested regional tool for measuring primary level literacy and numeracy for use 

in the wider Pacific; 

- systematic, benchmarked and comparable analysis of education policies and systems 

for replication in the wider Pacific; 

- information on education policies, practices and systems and the ways in which they 

are implemented on the ground. 

• In seeking to achieve these outcomes, the pilot program will help strengthen country 

systems and build technical capacity at both regional and country levels. 


• Review and improve legislation for the Education sector. 


• New Zealand is currently developing a new approach to support for education in the 

Pacific. The new approach will have a strong focus on results at the classroom level. 

Proposed key results areas are access (all children in schools and completing basic 

education, especially girls); quality (increased number of children able to read and write; 

trained / capable / effective teachers and principals), management (incentivising improved 

school performance) and skills development (more people appropriately skilled to 

participate in the labour market). 


• Students living in Ngchesar, Ngiwal, and Melekeok will attend Melekeok Elementary 

School by August 2011. The school is undergoing renovations to prepare for the increased 

number of students and staff. 

• After the PIFS Social Policy Advisor completes the validation of the baseline data for all 

Forum Island Countries regarding the PEDF, PIFS will work with development partners for 

funding for technical support to implement recommended activities in the report. Palau is 

currently waiting for further direction from PIFS. 

• A pilot project, created to improve the learning scale and preparation of students on the 

college track, has taken a much more technologically advanced approach and will launch 

next school year at Palau High School. This iClassroom pilot project was introduced by the 

Ministry of Education and entails a network of laptops and hand held devices connected 

to servers containing rich content. It will run for one year after which its success will be 

evaluated. 

• The Health Academy, an initiative by the Ministry of Education, is aiming to jumpstart the 

path for students interested in the medical field. Students in the Academy will take courses 

stronger in health and science for better preparation in pursuing careers in the health field. 

This Academy is set to start in the coming school year of 2011-2012. 


• Maintain provision of training for teachers at secondary and primary education to have 

more qualified teachers. 


• Development of a National Human Resources Development Plan to identify labour market 

skill needs and how these can be met. 

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• Teacher professional development in the literacy and numeracy (Years 1 – 4) to focus on 

improving student performance in these areas. 

• Implementation of a national senior cycle examination program to commence in 2012 

and fully integrated in 2013. 

• The focus for the national curriculum in 2010 – 2012 will be Years K to 3 (early childhood 

curriculum) and later moving to Years 7-10 and Years 11-13. 


• Completion of baseline survey consultations in the remaining countries and 

recommended activities for all countries (Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Republic of the 

Marshall Islands and Samoa) compiled for consultation with donors and development 

partners. 

• Full implementation of the regional initiative on Literacy and Numeracy in 2012. It is 

hoped that countries will come forward and adopt the regional toolkit for measuring 

literacy and numeracy levels using the benchmarks. 

• The Forum Education Ministers will next meet in May 2012 where the results of the 

feasibility studies will be presented for their decision. A clearer picture of where the 

countries are in relation to the priorities of the Pacific Education Development Framework 

will be discussed through the Monitoring and Evaluation Taskforce report. This is after 

one year of implementation of the Pacific Education Development Framework. 

• An M&E Report to FEdMM 2012 will be compiled on progress of both regional initiatives 

and in-country strategies will be compiled over the new few months. 

• Continue consultation with the regional and international agencies tasked with the 

development and implementation of regional initiatives to ensure work is progressing and 

reports to be included in 2012 FEdMM agenda. 

• On-going partnerships and consultations with ADB and SPC on the TVET development 

and strategies for youth employment opportunities through skill development in both the 

formal and informal sectors. 

• Progressing work on AusAID’s Proposal to assist in the strengthening of Educational 

Management Information systems (EMIS) in Forum Island Countries. Reports have been 

presented to the Pacific Heads of Education Systems (PHES) and Development Partners. 

Proposed consultation meeting for further discussion in February 2012. 

• Continue providing support to countries in terms of advice and technical expertise in 

areas where PIFS have the capacity to provide assistance. 



• Completion of Community Development and Management / Community Development 

and Enterprise training for 31 women from 16 countries. 

• Tailoring and designs training pilot in Fiji. 

• Handicraft business training in Vava’u, Tonga. 

• ‘Start Your Business in Food Processing’ training in Honiara, Solomon Islands. 

• Training of trainers for 10 Vanuatu Rural Training Centres trainers in the use of 

Community Education Training Centre modules. 

• Training of trainers in tailoring for the Republic of Marshall Islands sewing trainers under 

the National Training Council. 

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• Regional Business Improvement Course for micro-entrepreneurs and business facilitators. 

• Development of a module program for internet launch of Community Education Training 

Centre multimodal modules. 

• Piloting of Community Education Training Centre self-study modules in Vanuatu. 

• Other Fiji based vocational training including handmade paper making and crafts. 

• Partnership agreement with national agencies for training support. 

• Provisional Accreditation in Fiji’s Higher Education Commission. 

• New qualifications structure in specific domains developed. 

• Results of Community Education Training Centre’s first employer survey to guide 

program development. 

• First meeting of Community Education Training Centre’s regional advisory and technical 

council. 

Literacy, Numeracy and Life Skills 

• Complete all the objectives of phase 1 and to continue into Phase 2. 

• Expansion into year 8. 

• Development of databank of questions that have been categorized. 

• Capacity building of staff to continue. 


• Technical assistance to countries as requested to adapt the regional standards for national 

use and implementing these into SMITE for implementation at various levels in the 

education system. 

• Continue working with Solomon Islands College of Higher Education, Vanuatu Institute 

of Technology, Tonga Institute of Education and Kiribati Teacher’s College in the 

adaptation of the teacher competency modules for their contexts. 

• Collect more specific data of teachers as required by Education for All goals. 


• Conduct a pilot of the Pacific Qualification Register from July – November 2011 in Fiji, 

Papua New Guinea, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and Vanuatu. 

• Complete the operational procedures for the Pacific Qualification Register and secure 

consensus and full support of member countries. 

• Implementation of professional standards on the Pacific Regional Qualifications and 

Standards. 

Pacific Benchmarking for Educational Results Program (PaBER). 

• Benchmarking the Quality of Education in the Pacific – the project is being negotiated 

with AusAID and the World Bank. The concept of benchmarking the quality of education 

for results focuses on establishing the quality of schooling and student learning outcomes 

as central to education system performance and better understanding the influences 

of various inputs and education processes on those outcomes. Benchmarking provides 

substantial scope for better information to be provided to education policy-makers, 

planners and practitioners so that they may better ensure that resources directed to 

education systems and schools are more efficiently and more effectively used. 

• SPBEA will work closely with national curriculum and assessment units in the collection, 

recording and analysis and interpretation of data. 

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• An instrumentation workshop is being negotiated with World Bank for early 2012. 

• A technical working group will work with AusAID and World Bank on tools for 

policy assessment of teacher quality, assessment systems and school management and 

governance. 

• The Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment instrument was reviewed 

internally and will also be reviewed externally. The reviewed Pacific Islands Literacy and 

Numeracy Assessment tools should be ready by early 2012, for implementation towards 

the end of 2012. 


• Training workshops on outcome-based assessment. 

• Advocacy for inclusive assessment. 

• Development of exemplars, study guides and item banks for seventh form subjects. 


• Capacity building for Examinations and Assessment Units of each member country. 

• High quality assessments and moderation practices employed. 

• Training of examinations personnel (Examiners, moderators, checkers etc) builds capacity 

at school and national educational levels. 

• Outcomes based reporting to be implemented alongside norm referenced reporting. 

• Development and implementation of a major marketing strategy for the SPBEA seventh 

form qualifications. 

• Investigation into the development of Certificate in Applied Learning. 


• Undertake research on the scaling model being used in national and regional 

qualifications. 

• Undertake more research with teachers and teacher lecturers under the PATE 

development plans. 

The Regional Rights Resource Team 

• The Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) in conjunction with Centre for Continuing 

and Community Education of USP will develop a distance stand alone curriculum 

diploma course on human rights, governance and leadership. 


• It is anticipated that education courses through various delivery modes (online, moodle, 

face-to-face, e-learning and blended approach) will be accessible to regional countries 

serviced by USP. A symposium will be hosted by SPC’s SPBEA division and USP in either 

January or July 2012 entitled ‘Lifting Literacy Outcomes: Pacific Language and Literacy 

Symposium’. USP representatives are on the organising committee. 

• USP will also continue with the EDULINK project and will focus on the training of 

untrained teachers in the region. Work on the professionalisation of teaching faculty 

in the region is also ongoing. USP aims to improve public awareness on Education for 

Sustainable Development through a seminar series. 

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• Generic senior manager training around policy frameworks (not so much development 

but management). 

• While monitoring regularly occurs, there is a lack of capacity to fully evaluate 

programmes. 

• ICT support for integration and database development. 




• Budget constraint, staff capacity and sustainability of activities. 


• Funding to enable more education opportunities especially at the tertiary level. 


• Improved and increased commitment and coordination to ensure strong linkages between 

curriculum development, assessment, teacher training and performance management 

given that the Early Grade Reading Assessment identified that only 10 percent of 

Anglophone students in grades 1-3 were reading at grade level, whilst only 8 percent for 

Francophone students. 

• Access to Early Childhood Education and under resourcing to Early Childhood 

institutions may lead to lower skill levels and abilities for children entering primary 

education. 

• Addressing human resource issues in particular inadequate number of certified teachers at 

school level. 


• The lack of funding support from development partners would impact on the progress of 


• The support from all agencies will be critical in the success of implementing the Pacific 

Education Development Framework. 

• The whole implementation strategy of the Pacific Education Development Framework is 

premised on agencies and countries working together in the development of education in 

the region. 



• The vision to develop Community Education Training Centre into a regional centre of 

excellence will require resources to establish state of art facilities to ensure training and 

research of the highest quality, and enable course materials to respond to emerging issues 

such as climate change and food security. 

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130 

• With a reduced programme budget, resource constraints will affect the ability of 

Community Education Training Centre to deliver planned courses and ability to fund 

students from Pacific Island Countries. 

Literacy, Numeracy and Life Skills 

• This project is funded until April 2011. It is anticipated that AusAID will continue to fund 

these activities into Phase 2 and continue with the achievements of the project. 

• Policy makers having a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of literacy and 

numeracy issues. 

• Competing priorities in the countries. 


• Competing priorities in the countries could slow down the momentum generated in 2011. 

• Misuse of the regional standards as remuneration criteria rather than for professional 

development. 

• Ownership of these standards by the teachers, teaching service commissions and unions. 

• Continued partnership with UNESCO. 


• Dependency on AusAID for funds for this program. 

• Ownership of Pacific Regional Qualifications and Standards and Program Quality 

Framework by member countries and National Qualifications Authorities. 

• Country endorsement of the structure of the Pacific Qualification Register as well as 

associated instruments such as the quality assurance manual, policies and guidelines 

and the application for registration form is critical to the implementation of the Pacific 

Qualification Register. 

• Registration of Qualifications by national agencies through conducting an accreditation 

exercise will depend on the country endorsement of the Pacific Qualification Register 

structure. 

• Support is required for countries on the role of the Pacific Qualification Register 

Secretariat, and this is expected to accelerate once the Pacific Qualification Register 

systems are implemented in countries that have national qualification systems in place. 

• Additional support will also be required for countries in the process of developing their 

National Qualification Frameworks. 

• Ongoing dialogue is required to take place for countries that are affiliated to other 

qualification systems, so that they are aware of the Pacific Qualification Register progress. 

Pacific Benchmarking for Educational Results Program (PaBER). 

• Dependency on AusAID for funds for this program. 

• Understanding the purpose and value of benchmarking. 


• The core work of assessment could get swamped by donor funded projects and programs. 

Thus staff time is spent doing project work rather than core work of training, support and 

advising on education assessment issues. 

• Lack of knowledge and misuse of assessment results. 


• With the nationalisation of Pacific Senior Secondary Certificate and huge portion of the 

funding for this section will be lost. Thus retaining appropriate staffing levels to cater 

effectively for the more costly 7th form will be a huge challenge.



• Nationalization of Pacific Senior Secondary Certificate requires full support from 

countries, particularly in the area of policy changes to bring about necessary amendments 

to their educational legislations and financial management regulations. 

• Countries must also strengthen their assessment units as they take ownership of their 

Form 6 qualifications. Better IT support needed at the national examinations and 

assessment units. 

• Building capacity at the national level must be prioritized. 


• Capacity of Staff could be an issue as staff are often given other work priorities. 


• USP will need to recruit additional staff for the above-mentioned projects. 


(iv) 

Urging efforts to pursue the opportunities offered by the appropriate utilisation and 

development of land resources to minimise the risk of conflict, improve security and assist 

in economic development, while recognising that land is a national responsibility. 


months 


• Government of Kiribati is in the process of reviewing and approving the draft Land 

Planning Policy. 


• Palau’s Sustainable Land Management Policy is developing steadily. Participatory 

workshops open to many different agencies, non-government organisations, and other 

groups of people are useful in providing feedback on the best way to develop the policy. 

• Technical support was provided from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

under the United States Department of State, which has a field office here in Palau. Palau 

is also a member of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS). Through this 

partnership, an online soil survey of Palau has been produced and made available. Its 

purpose is for conservationists, teachers, students, and specialists in recreation, wildlife 

management, waste disposal, and pollution control to understand, protect and enhance 

the environment. 

• The Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB), known for issuing earthmoving 

permits, has an important role in assisting with Palau’s environmental wellbeing. 


• Vanuatu held its Land Summit in 2006 and as a result some initiatives have been 

undertaken, such as the “Mama Graon Program” which was launched in Vanuatu in 

March 2011. This program seeks to support the Vanuatu’s governments land program 

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goal of benefiting from equitable and sustainable development of the land, while securing 

the heritage of future generations. 


• Regional initiative on Land Management and Conflict Minimisation – SPC continued to 

collaborate with PIFS and other partners in advancing Land Management and Conflict 

Minimisation effort within respective national development contexts while taking into 

account capacity constraints. Throughout 2010/2011, SPC worked closely with USP to 

finalise the Pacific Regional Land Programme Project proposal for AusAID consideration. 

• Sustainable land management – SPC worked with UNHABITAT to complete its proposal 

to the Cities Alliance on regional institutional strengthening and support Pacific 

Island Countries strengthen implementation of the Pacific Urban Agenda. The Pacific 

Urban Agenda was a result of the first Pacific Urban Workshop on Urban Management 

attended by 10 Pacific Island Countries where the Pacific Urban Agenda was adopted and 

subsequently integrated into the Pacific Plan under initiative 13.5 by Forum leaders in 

2005. The current Pacific Urban Agenda Regional Action Plan identifies 10 priority areas 

of focus. 

• SPC is working with AusAID, PIFS and USP on a regional land initiative and on advancing 

national efforts towards improved land management and minimization of conflict 


• USP is working with SPC on a proposal to implement a regional initiative to support 

member countries in progressing land management and conflict minimisation efforts 

within their respective national development contexts. 



• The Government of Kiribati (through Lands Division, Ministry of Environment, Lands 

and Agricultural Development) anticipates implementing, monitoring and evaluating the 

Land Planning Policy after Cabinet approval. 

• Review of internal processes and procedures to create an enabling environment for the 

Land Planning Policy. 

• Review and update of lands legislation if required. 


• The Sustainable Land Management Policy is looking for assistance in providing a legal 

expert to help in the drafting of appropriate laws. An initial draft of the policy is likely 

to be ready by the second week of May. The policy is scheduled to be completed by 

November 2011. 


• Implementation resolutions of the Lands Summit and of the Mama Graon Program. 


• Continue to explore possible partnership with the regional component of the AusAID 

Pacific Land Programme in order to design a regional Land Management and Conflict 

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Minimisation initiative. The Human Development Programme will focus on capacity 

building for community land practitioners, gender and youth impact analysis for land 

reform and strengthening land information systems for policy planning. USP will provide 

land education, training and research for land professionals. 

• Capacity building of Pacific Island Countries and Territories’ stakeholders in Sustainable 

Land Management and Land Conflict Minimisation aspects. 

• Support the development of an integrated land information system. 

• Establish linkages with International and regional land use and forestry and planning 

agencies. 

• SPC’s Human Development Programme will support national research and policy 

advocacy on women’s land and cultural rights in Vanuatu. 

• SPC SOPAC Division continues to provide GIS, geodetic, survey and terrestrial mapping 

support to members on request. Such mapping products are fundamental to the provision 

of improved, contemporary land management and boundary solutions. 




• Resources constraints including human, technical, financial and capacity in general. 


• Lack of cooperation from agencies and organizations approached in order to complete the 

Land Management Policy on a timely manner, and a lack of funding. 


• The need to restructure the Department responsible, drive recruitment and capacity 

building to improve implementation of Lands Summit Outcomes. 


• Reduced programme funding. 

• Ability of Land Resources Division to continue to deliver well targeted services relies on 

mainlining key skills in the area of science and technology that are readily available at 

national level. 

• Development and implementation of the AusAID Pacific Regional Land Programme 

is expected to play an important role in the design of a regional initiative on Land 

Management and Conflict Minimisation, although the focus and required resources may 

vary. 

133


(v) 

Supporting the implementation of measures, existing commitments and programmes 

aimed at increasing awareness of and addressing the causes and consequences of sexual 

and gender-based violence and developing legislation to criminalise gender-based violence 

in all forms. 


months 


• Australia has continued to support women’s crisis centres in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, 

Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to meet immediate needs of survivors of violence and to 

address the root causes of domestic violence. 

• Australia has supported UN Women Pacific to continue to provide funding for capacity 

building and small grants to organisations working to end violence against women. 

• Australia is also collaborating with the United States Department of State and the World 

Bank to host a policy dialogue in Australia in November 2011 on gender-based violence 

and women’s empowerment in the Pacific. 

• Australian-funded Family Health and Safety studies on the prevalence and impact of 

violence on women were endorsed by national governments of Solomon Islands and 

Kiribati. 

• With Australian support, Kiribati and Solomon Islands’ Governments have adopted 

national policies and action plans to address violence against women. 

• In Papua New Guinea, Australia has supported better access to justice and legal services for 

women through local village courts, and established ‘Stop Violence Centres’ in hospitals to 

improve access to medical treatment and counselling. 


• The Government of Kiribati (through the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs) has 

continued to support the implementation of measures, existing commitments and 

programmes aimed at increasing awareness and addressing the causes and consequences 

of sexual and gender-based violence as outlined below. 

• Conducted legal analysis on violence against women in Kiribati, and completed drafting 

instructions for legislation reform. 

• Completed a study on Gender Based Violence, with the results published in a book and 

launched by the President. 

• Locally translated brochures on Violence Against Women study findings printed and 

distributed to raise awareness. 

• Developed the Gender Equality and Women Development Policy with the final policy 

ready to be endorsed by Cabinet. 

• Developed the Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence Policy with the final policy 

ready to be endorsed by Cabinet. 

134



• Developed the National Action Plan for Gender Based Violence, with the Action Plan in 

place and ready to be approved by Cabinet. 

• Set up a new portfolio for Women as a new Division for Women Development was 

created in the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs. 

• Developed an Action Plan for Women in Decision Making; and set up Committees on 

Violence Against Women (CAVAW) in all outer islands. 


• New Zealand provides funding to NZ Police to implement the Pacific Prevention of 

Domestic Violence Programme, which aims to create a safer Pacific free from domestic 

violence. Its primary aim is to strengthen the capacity of Pacific Police Services in the 

Cook Islands, Samoa, Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu. The Programme also provides a 

modest level of support to other Pacific countries at the regional level. 

• New Zealand provides funding to the Federal Court of Australia to implement the Pacific 

Judicial Development Programme. The Programme will provide training related to raising 

awareness on family violence issues to the Pacific judiciaries across the Forum Island 

Countries. 

• The NZ Aid Programme provides funding to the NZ Crown Law Office to implement 

the Pacific Island Law Officers Network Litigation Skills Training Programme. This 

programme aims to build the litigation capacity of Pacific Island Countries government 

lawyers to enable effective legal representation for Pacific Island communities. 


• Ann Singeo took over the Division of Gender in September 2010. In October 2010, a public 

forum was organised at the Ngarachemayong Cultural Centre covering gender issues 

and civil societies’ matters on human rights, democratic rights and cultural mapping. 

Groups and organisations of women and men attended. Questionnaires were given out 

assessing the topics and recommendations. In addition, Convention on the Elimination of 

Discrimination Against Women was translated into the Palauan language and this version 

of CEDAW was passed out last year. 

• UN Women is a demand-driven section of the UN that replaced and absorbed the 

previously existing systems of the Division for Advancement of Women (DAW), 

International Research and Training Institute for Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), 

Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI), and 

the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). A representative was sent to Palau to 

engage with stakeholders to identify the priorities and needs for UN Women to address in 

the Pacific region. The consultation was conducted on 11 March 2011, across the 15 Pacific 

Countries in which UN Women currently operates. Inputs from stakeholders in Palau 

helped UN Women identify a regional civil society advisory group and contribute towards 

the development of UN Women’s first strategic plan for 2011-2013. Some results from the 

Palau consultation suggested: capacity building for women by providing higher education 

and leadership training; economic and political empowerment such as ratifying CEDAW, 

but also being sensitive to each country’s diverse culture; strengthening and utilising 

UN offices already in-country to further solidify a regional office; and other workshops 

inclusive of the education of men’s roles in the household of today’s society now that more 

mothers and wives are part of the countries’ workforce. 

• In March 2011 Palau held its 18th annual Mechesil Belau Conference. This women’s 

conference was an all-day gathering of Palau’s women from all states to find ways to curb 

the burden of traditional and cultural obligations that have become more expensive and 

135



overwhelming in recent times. Experts formed panels to address the various matters, and 

it was recognised that the custom of giving money during funerals adds up alone to being 

over USD6 million a year. 

• The year 2011 marks the 100th year that the world has recognized International Women’s 

Day. To celebrate, the United States invited 100 highly distinguished women from 

around the world to partake in a three week visit, including New York where they were 

introduced to the UN and met with leaders as well as the newly formed UN Women. 

Out of the 100 women, 16 formed the Asia Pacific Group. From these 16, Palau’s Sandra 

S. Pierantozzi was in attendance along with women from Federated States of Micronesia 

and Kiribati. Among the issues discussed were good governance, accountability and 

transparency, women’s advancement, empowerment, and helping women and girls 

around the world to reach or achieve the highest level of their given talents. The women 

learned about American civic life in conjunction with interacting, experiencing, and 

learning about the different cultures represented. 

• Currently, Palau has two legislative bills for a Domestic Violence Family Act and a 

Victim’s Assistance Act to address gender violence, human trafficking legislation (the only 

one in the Pacific), and the intention to hold a wider consultation for the establishment of 

a national human rights institution. 


• The Resource Development Committee, Women United Together Marshall Islands 

and the Office of the Legal Counsel for the Nitijela (Parliament) and SPC’s RRRT, have 

developed a Domestic Violence Protection and Prevention Bill which seeks to prevent 

domestic violence, protect complainants or survivors of domestic violence; ensure 

investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of domestic violence, and other 

related matters. Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with the Ministry 

of Justice in amending the Counter-Terrorism Act to include provisions of human 

trafficking. The Republic of Marshall Islands Government is hopeful that these will be 

considered and subsequently passed by the Nitijela at its next session this year. 

• Violence against women is prohibited by law, and is placed in the same criminal 

category of assault and battery. Women United Together Marshall Islands is active in 

raising awareness of issues concerning the rights of women. In 2003, Women United 

Together Marshall Islands completed a study on violence against women, and since then 

has developed a DVD raising awareness on violence against women. The Republic of 

Marshall Islands celebrates an international day where, amongst others, radio programs 

are conducted to identify incidences of violence against women. The Criminal Code has a 

comprehensive coverage on sexual abuse and related violence against women, including 

rape. The police usually respond to reports on rape and other violence against women, but 

there is a general understanding that not all incidents are reported. 

• In addition Women United Together Marshall Islands has two projects that address the 

violence issue: Violence Against Women-Island Growth Initiative (VAW-IGI) is a twoyear 

project funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Reykjavík, Iceland; and the 

Initiative for a Better Response to Address Violence Everywhere (iBRAVE), a three-year 

project funded by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. Both projects aim 

to educate the general public, national government and first responders about the issue 

of domestic violence, establish legislation in compliance with CEDAW, and establish 

First Response Protocols for the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health to ensure 

proper actions to protect survivors and punish perpetrators. These projects are the first 

comprehensive efforts in the Republic of Marshall Islands to develop national laws, 

136



policies and plans of action to end domestic violence, and that address three of the five 

goals of the UN’s UNiTE to end violence against women campaign. 

• Women’s activists have marked November 25 as a day to fight violence against women 

since 1981. On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 

25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 

(Resolution 54/134). 

• Held a public forum with an audience mainly from USP, College of the Marshall Islands, 

and public and private high schools. This forum focused on Bill 93- Domestic Violence. 

Sponsored by Women United Together Marshall Islands, the Republic of Marshall Islands 

Government, and College of the Marshall Islands. 


• Issues of gender governance and mainstreaming gender issues discussed at a 

parliamentarian induction workshop March 2011 and greatly supported. 

• Violence Against Women policy paper supported by the Development Coordinating 

Committee and the parliamentarian induction workshop. 

• Police community policing and domestic violence promotions conducted nationwide. 


• In partnership with SPC RRRT two separate trainings were delivered for the Judiciary; 

and police and non-governmental organisations to raise awareness of legal obligations of 

officers under the Family Protection Act. 

• Through the Department of Women’s Affairs, the National Family Protection Task Force 

was established, including Tasks Forces in the Provinces of Sanma and Tafea. 

• Review and update of the National Violence Against Women Policy, 2011-2015 and a 

consultation report on the current programs on Violence Against Women for 2011-2015. 

A draft hand book was developed for Authorized Persons and Registered Counsellors as 

required by the Family Protection Act. 


• As a result of the recently completed gender-based violence and child abuse studies, 

Solomon Islands and Kiribati now have improved data that is being used to develop 

national policies and interventions for the elimination of violence against women. Both 

countries have established very high level multisectoral taskforces to address gender-based 

violence, and in Solomon Islands the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has established 

a special unit within the force for gender-based violence. The internal capacity of both 

countries to conduct qualitative research in these areas has been improved as a result 

of training provided and the actual conduct of the studies. Nationwide dissemination 

of gender-based violence research was completed in both Kiribati and Solomon Islands. 

Both countries have approved policies and national action plans on eliminating violence 

against women. 

• Ongoing technical support is being provided to other Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories for the development of national domestic violence policies, as well as schoolbased 

advocacy programmes on domestic violence. 

• Technical advice was provided to Marshalls Island on a proposed Domestic Violence Bill. 

• Drafting Instructions for Comprehensive Integrated Violence Against Women Legislation 

Completed for five countries - Solomon Islands, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Samoa. 

137



• Comprehensive Domestic Violence Bill drafted for Tuvalu. 

• Established multi-sectoral task forces informed on comprehensive Violence Against 

Women legislation established in five countries - Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa, 

Kiribati. 

• Thirty police officers trained on the Family Protection Act in Vanuatu. 

• Training of 80 representatives of non-governmental organisations and government 

attended the Regional Training Program of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. This program 

enhanced knowledge of comprehensive Violence Against Women legislative reform. 

• Violence Against Women was raised as a critical thematic area in Universal Periodic 

Review Reports for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, and Palau. 


• USP has established a Gender Studies programme under the coordination and leadership 

of the Gender Studies lecturer. USP has mainstreamed gender modules into its four 

generic courses and has established a Gender Monitoring Mechanism. The University 

has also amended its gender policy on sexual relations to protect students against sexual 

harassment. These amendments will remain in force until the whole policy on sexual 

harassment is reviewed. USP organized workshops on sexual harassment training in 

November 2010. These sessions were aimed at general staff, and two workshops were 

also held specifically for supervisors, academics and senior staff. The workshops were 

conducted by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. 

• The University received funding from UN Women in 2010 to develop modules for the 

incorporation of Pacific Gender Media into the Journalism Programme. Two consultants 

have been hired to progress this. 

• Awareness raising, workshops, cultural events (drama, poetry reading) and research on 

gender-based violence are some other activities carried out at USP. A workshop designed 

to prevent violence against women and girls was held in partnership with the UN Women 

Pacific Office. 



• In the May 2011 Federal Budget, Australia announced funding of AUD25 million over 

four years for addressing violence against women in the Pacific. Funding will be used to 

support Pacific governments, civil society and UN agency partners through: 

- Improved emergency accommodation for victims of violence; 

- training of health workers and appropriate procedures developed within national 

health systems for proper diagnosis and treatment of victims of violence; 

- legislative reform and improved access to judicial services for victims of violence; and 

- awareness programs integrated within school curricula for long term change to community 

attitudes on violence against women. 

• Australian support to UNFPA will build the capacity of health systems to respond to 

violence against women, and provide data on the safety and reproductive health needs of 

women with disabilities. 

138


• Australia will assist the Governments of Solomon Islands and Kiribati to implement 

national action plans to address violence against women. 

• With Australia’s support, studies on the prevalence and impact of violence against women 

will continue in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, and further studies commenced in Micronesian 

countries. 


• Draft instructions for Violence against Women and Family legislation reform to be sent to 

cabinet for endorsement. 

• Review legislation on laws related to Violence against Women in the Penal code. 

• Continue work on the State CEDAW Report, final draft to be completed by July 2011. 

• Continue to implement the Action Plan for Women in Decision Making. 

• Conduct trainings on gender, CEDAW, Gender Based Violence and human rights to 

Division’s staff and all internal and external (outside Ministry of Internal and Social 

Affairs) stakeholders. 

• Implement the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). 

• Conduct the 3rd National Consultation on Violence Against Women Legislation Reform. 

• Launch the two gender policies after endorsement and approval from Cabinet. 

• Conduct the HIV legislative and policy consultation. 

• Conduct consultations with People Living With Disabilities before end of June 2011. 

• Seek and secure funds to implement the National Action Plan for Ending Sexual and 

Gender Based Violence National Action Plan. 

• Seek funds to implement the Strategic Action Plan of Gender Policy. 


• Wider official consultation regarding the establishment of a National Human Rights 

Institution is expected to be held in August of 2011. The next steps forward will be 

identified following this consultation. 


• The Republic of Marshall Islands Parliament members and Cabinet to approve Bill 93- 

Domestic Violence. 

• Continue to educate the public on domestic violence through radio station, flyers, and 

presentation. 


• Increased police monitoring of domestic violence. 

• Drafting of legislations for Violence Against Women issues. 


• Finalize and launch report on Protecting Women’s Human Rights in Vanuatu. 

• Implement program and activities to complement the Family Protection Act. 

139



• Seek support to conduct similar gender-based violence research in other countries that 

had requested support, including the Republic of Marshall Islands. Technical support on 

legislative advocacy for Marshall Islands. 

Gender-based violence in Kiribati 

• Assistance with a new policy on the elimination of violence against women and a new 

gender equality policy. 

• Assistance with roll-out of the costed and time bound National Action Plan for the 

Elimination of Violence Against Women. 

• Support for a new strengthened and dedicated Women’s Division under the Ministry of 

Internal and Social Affairs. 

• Implementation of the SAFENET referral network by key service providers, in order to 

ensure better service delivery to survivors of violence both in South Tarawa and in the 

outer islands. 

• Assistance with support to multi-sectoral task force, action plans and strategies in 

supporting Violence Against Women legislation reform. 

Gender-based violence in Solomon Islands 

• Implementation of the newly approved Gender Equality and Women’s Development 

and Elimination of Violence Against Women policies in Solomon Islands through the 

National Action Plan. 

Legislative reform relating to violence against women 

• The SPC RRRT will work with governments and non-governmental organisations in nine 

countries - Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon 

Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu with financial support from the United Nations Trust 

Fund on Violence Against Women to reform laws relating to violence against women. 

The initial objective is development of model legislation to be adapted by each country. 

Legislative lobbying toolkit 

• In collaboration with the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, SPC RRRT published a 

legislative lobbying toolkit that will assist governments and civil society in understanding 

how laws are passed in the Pacific. In the next 12 months, training will be provided 

to both government and civil society in 6 Pacific Island Countries and Territories on 

legislative lobbying. 


• The Gender Studies programme will be offered from 2012 as a minor in Gender Studies. 

A gender mainstreaming effort will be undertaken across all disciplines, schools and 

faculties. The gender modules in the journalism programme will help raise awareness 

and build the regional capacity of young journalists to be gender-sensitive. USP hopes to 

conduct more awareness-raising and decrease instances of sexual harassment and violence 

against women. A Gender Awareness Campaign will be organized by the Students 

Association and the Gender Mainstreaming Committee. 

140




• Lack of secured funds to implement policy and the National Action Plan (NAP). 

• Lack of relevant legislation to address issue. 


• Due to the lack of resources and capacity, Palau needs the help of the international 

community for technical and financial assistance to meet its obligations. 


• There is still wide public scepticism on human rights agendas pursued by various NGOs 

as they are generally perceived as threats to traditional authority therefore a violation of 

societal norms. 

• Inadequate budgets to provide ongoing community participation in gender sensitivity 

trainings and awareness. 

• Appropriate laws need to be enacted to provide monitoring and executing officials with 

powers to enforce and resolve domestic violence problems especially those against 

women. 


• There is a need for mechanisms to be established for the prevention, reporting and 

responding to cases of abuse, violence and exploitation in communities and to strengthen 

linkages with traditional social protection through community-based institutions and 

customary leadership. 


• Very low political will and prioritisation of gender equality issues. 

• Continued resourcing of work on the elimination of violence against women at national 

level. 

• Continued engagement of development partner and donor community in these efforts 

with an emphasis on improved coordination. 


• There are limited resources and there is a need to update policies (for example, the Gender 

Policy and the Sexual Harassment Policy). 

141


(vi) 

Prioritising national actions to mainstream youth issues into the national development 

agenda. 


months 


• Australia continues to provide core support to USP to become a flagship professional 

institution dedicated to providing high quality tertiary education, innovation, leadership 

and research for young people in the Pacific. 

• The Pacific Leadership Program (PLP) is an AusAID initiative recognising and supporting 

the pivotal role leadership plays at all levels in a nation’s path to development. Advised 

by a panel of eminent Pacific Leaders, PLP supports specific and willing nations to pursue 

their own plans for leadership nurturing and development. 

• AusAID is funding the Pacific Youth Council through PLP. At the national level, support 

is currently being offered to the Vanuatu and Tonga National Youth Councils through 

partnership agreements. In the Solomon Islands, PLP will support the review of the 

National Youth Council as well as Provincial Youth Forums in all 10 provinces. The 

Provincial forums will discuss the National Youth Strategy and feed into the development 

of a national youth framework. 


• Government of Kiribati (through the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs) has continued 

to prioritise national actions to mainstream youth issues into national development 

agenda by implementing the following activities/programmes: 

- Start to improve your business (commenced July 2010); 

- National Youth Week (August 2010); 

- Human rights training to identified youth leaders (September 2010); 

- Life Skills training to identified youth leaders different from above (October 2010); 

- Outer Island monthly reports on Island Youth Associations; 

- Ongoing monthly meetings of the Youth Panel whose role is to develop annual national 

programmes for Youth Associations; and 

- Review of the National Youth Policy (November 2010) and the National Youth Strategic 

Plan. 


• The New Zealand Aid Programme supports youth related programmes in the region 

through bilateral, multi-country and regional programmes. Our support has largely 

covered programmes in the areas of education (in particular), health, leadership and good 

governance. 

142




• To honour Palau’s youth, a Senate Joint Resolution 8-74 was made to recognize the 

Non-Profit Corporate Charter of the Palau National Youth Council (PNYC). PNYC’s 

Constitution includes, but is not limited to, the following objectives: to serve all youth; to 

develop and organize the Youth Council to represent and advocate the economic, social, 

educational, health, cultural, and environmental needs of the youth; and to develop an 

effective leadership role for the youth and to serve as the liaison between the national 

government and other relevant organizations and agencies on matters of importance 

affecting the youth. 

• Youth Day, a national holiday, took place 15 March. Palau’s youth participated in science 

fairs, activities, and other academic and cultural activities and programs in celebration. 


• Bill 89 was passed in March 2011 by the parliament members amending the Marshall 

Islands Youth Advisory Board Act, to reflect changes to the RMI’s National Youth Policy 

and the composition of a youth board. 

• The National Youth Policy 2010-2014 is a statement of national agenda that expresses 

recognition and commitment to the youth of Marshall Islands. In 2005, the Youth 

Service Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated a consultation process aimed 

at developing a more dynamic, focused, cross-sectoral national youth policy that would 

be implemented and monitored by a wide range of stakeholders including all relevant 

ministries non-government organizations, churches, youth groups and the private sector. 

• In January 2010, the National Youth Policy was approved by Nitijela. This policy is 

accompanied by a National Youth Strategic Plan that provides further detail on how the 

priorities outlined in the National Youth Policy will be implemented. 

• In December 2010, the Ministry of Internal Affairs contracted Dr. Hilda Heine, Ms. Marie 

Maddison, Ms. Brook Takala, and Mr. Bernard Adinwin, to conduct a research study 

on Child Protection Baseline Regional Research Project, funded by UNICEF. The scope 

of the consultancy was to align the Child Protection Baseline Research Plan with the 

Northern Pacific, as agreed between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and UNICEF. The 

research team carried out the components of the projects as follows: Component 1: Child 

protection Legislative and Regulatory compliance review; Component 2: Institutional 

Stocktaking of Child Protection Social Welfare and Protection System and Inter-agency 

Collaboration; and Component 3: Societal Behaviour Component: Assessing Current 

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Key Child Protection. A draft report has been 

compiled and submitted, and is waiting for final approval and printing. 

• Marshall Islands Youth Leadership Conference “Transformational Leadership Training” 

was held 25-29 July, 2011 for 40 participants from throughout the Republic of 

Marshall Islands. The training introduced some basic concepts, distinctions and skills 

in transformational leadership to improve the quality and effectiveness of the HIV/ 

AIDS response; and empower participants to develop transformational leadership for 

themselves, their organizations, families and communities. 

• The first Republic of the Marshall Islands National Youth Forum & Festival was held 1-5 

August, 2011. The forum and festival offered youth a platform to raise their concerns 

regarding youth development needs and their priority areas. The Forum also supported an 

evaluation and assessment of the implementation of the RMI National Youth Policy and 

created an awareness to ensure the implementation of the policy in all youth councils. 

Youths had an opportunity to exhibit and display their projects, activities, products and 

other initiatives at the Festival. 

143




• The National Youth Policy 2010-2015 has recently been developed following review of the 

2005-2010 policy. 


• The Vanuatu Youth Empowerment Strategy 2010-2019 was also developed including 

the establishment of a National Youth Council in 2010 to ensure that youth issues are 

also highlighted in national development plans. The fully-fledged establishment of the 

Ministry of Youth, Sports and Training Development and non-governmental organisations 

has assisted in prioritizing and identifying youth issues. 

• Engaging the private sector, civil society and government in reforming the TVET system 

and developing a revitalized curriculum, assessment and qualification arrangements 

based on competency standards has led to piloting of TVET for youth in the provinces of 

MALAMPA and SANMA, to enable self-employment and sustainable livelihoods. 


• SPC continued to provide technical assistance and support to the Pacific Youth Council to 

engage civil society in youth development work to compliment and strengthen national 

youth institutions. 

• National youth policies for the Solomon Islands and Marshall Islands have been finalised 

following the provision of technical support and assistance. 

• National youth councils have been re-established in Nauru and Tuvalu. Programmes and 

services for the development of youth in Micronesia were strengthened as a result of the 

Micronesia Youth Summit, organised jointly with the Micronesia Youth Services Network 

Partnership. 

• In close collaboration with partner organisations embarked on the early stages of 

gathering information on the scale and scope of existing youth services and intervention 

to form the new regional youth strategy. 


• USP held two leadership forums in August and October 2010, focusing on community 

social activism, self employment and micro finance information. USP youth groups have 

also branched out into the community, and are working with youth with disabilities 

conducting counseling at St Giles, and working on empowering marginalized youths. 

• A workshop for USP students on Domestic Violence against Women and Girls was held in 

conjunction with the UN Women Office on 12 May 2011. 



• Continued support to USP, the Australian Sports Outreach Program and through the PLP 

will result in further partnerships to improve the education and training of young people 

across the Pacific. 


• The Youth Division (under the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs) identified the 

need to build and strengthen the capacity of youths in: Commercial/income-generating 

144


activities and skills; effective communication skills in seeking employment; and 

upholding their rights, freedom, dignity and protection. The following commitments are 

envisaged: 

- Hold Career Fairs for youths seeking employments. 

- Undertake Outer island outreach programme. 

- Conduct capacity building trainings to all Island Community Workers. 

- Conduct the Youth Officers’ capacity building training. 

- Finalize the National Youth policy. 

- Implement Sport Checks for Youth. 

- Conduct the Leadership training to Youth Panel members and selected youths from 

different Youth Associations. 


• New Zealand will continue to take an integrated approach in support of youth issues. 


• Establish a youth centre, which may fall under Ministry of Education or Ministry of 

Community and Cultural Affairs. This youth centre can serve multiple purposes such as 

a summer camps for passing on cultural heritage, a youth business development centre, 

and more importantly it can house the office of the Palau National Youth Congress with at 

least one or two full time staff. 


• The National Youth Policy 2010-2015 will be presented to Cabinet before end of the year 

and it comprise all issues pertaining to youth development. It is also an attempt to draw 

government’s attention on the importance of issues that challenge the youth of today. 


• Extending the TVET programs into other provinces and ensuring youth issues are 

addressed in other sectors. 


• In collaboration with regional partners, a new regional youth strategy will be developed to 

address health, education and employment issues in holistic framework. 

• Continue support to build and strengthen capacity of regional and national youth 

institutions to deliver youth programmes. 

• In collaboration with partners, support towards the development of a comprehensive midterm 

strategy and framework on youth in the Pacific for endorsement by the Ministers of 

Youth. 

• In collaboration with other SPC programmes, support the implementation of the 

Adolescent Health and Development Programme and the Pacific Youth in Agriculture 

Strategy. 

• Conduct a regional consultation with relevant stakeholders to allow increase ownership 

of the Pacific Youth in Agriculture Strategy by Pacific Island Countries and Territories, and 

to link national programs targeting youth in agriculture and rural development to outputs 

in the strategy. 

145



• The University will continue with follow-up workshops. Outcomes from the initial 

workshop will be integrated into the Faculty of Arts and Law Youth Leadership Forums 

and the USP “Really Make a Difference” Students Association’s Workshops. 




• Funding, political will, and human capacity and technical resources to build and maintain 

the proposed youth centre. 


• Funding is a major issue that could affect the capacity of the Ministry in realising the 

issues covered in the youth policy. 


• The Ministry responsible has a broad mandate with very limited staff; also currently lacks 

basic information and data on youth employment and other youth issues. 


• Funding constraints will affect implementation of planned activities. 

• Lack of political will to progress commitments. 


• Youth development courses are no longer offered by USP. This may be reintroduced in the 

future depending on demand. 


(vii) 

Acknowledging the importance of ensuring access to greater and more equitable 

opportunities for those with disabilities, to enhance their quality of life and promote and 

protect their rights and dignity. 


months 

146 


• The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that its assistance to Pacific Island 

Countries and Territories explicitly recognizes and responds to the needs of people with 

disability in its Development for All Strategy. Early progress in implementation includes: 

- Through AusAID TVET programs in the Pacific, Australia’s increasing work with partner 

countries to assist people with disability to access training; to be retained in training; 

and to move to employment from that training, for example in Tonga and Samoa. 

These programs will include strategies to increase the participation in training and



skilling for work of people with disability, through funding for: providing additional 

support to trainees in existing classes; targeted new classes and places; and equipment 

and access; 

- AusAID’s assistance with training of workers in disability-related fields through the 

disability worker streams of Community Services vocational training courses run by 

the Australia-Pacific Technical College; 

- Funding Motivation Australia’s partnership with the Solomon Islands Ministry of 

Health and Medical Services to establish effective wheelchair provision in five provinces, 

to meet the immediate and ongoing needs of people with a mobility disability 

for access to appropriate wheelchairs, training and support through local sustainable 

services; 

- Jointly funded by Australia and New Zealand, the Pacific Eye Institute aims to train 

specialist eye doctors and nurses to work in the Pacific and is a key component of the 

Fred Hollows New Zealand’s Pacific Regional Blindness Prevention Programme. In August 

2010, Australia made a contribution of AUD4.8 million towards this Programme. 

Through the Pacific Eye Institute and the Modilon General Hospital in Papua New 

Guinea, 21 nurses have graduated with postgraduate diplomas in eye care. All graduates 

have returned to their home countries to work in the public health system. 

• At a regional and global level, Australia is seeking to raise the profile of disability-inclusive 

development with other bilateral donors, UN agencies and multilateral banks and to 

shape development partner commitment for greater regional and global effectiveness and 

impact. 


• A National Policy on Disability has been developed with the assistance of PIFS and Pacific 

Disability Forum. 

• Kiribati National Council of People with Disabilities has been established and terms of 

reference has also been developed which included – among many others – the role of 

implementing, monitoring and evaluating the National Policy on Disability. 

• A workshop on Promoting and Protecting the Rights of People with Disability was 

conducted in early 2010 by Te Toa Matoa – a national non-government organisation for 

people with disability - and the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs which aimed to 

elaborate, discuss and assess the workability of the Convention on the Rights of Persons 

with Disabilities in Kiribati. 


• New Zealand has continued to be a strong supporter of disability rights at the regional 

and international level. Regionally New Zealand has been a core supporter of the Pacific 

Disability Forum in its work to improve the lives of people living with disability. 


• Omekasang, a non-government organization, is actively involved in the promotion of 

disability awareness in Palau. 

• The Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Ministry of Community and Cultural 

Affairs, drafted Palau’s National Disability Policy through a consultation workshop. The 

said policy is pending, waiting to pass in congress. 

• 3rd December 2011 was observed as International Disability Day. 

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• Progress has been slow for Tuvalu to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons 

with Disability. 

• The Red Cross has started a small Disability Centre on Funafuti and is advocating for the 

rights of people with disability. 


• The Ministry of Justice and Social Welfare has established and recruited for the first time a 

Disability Desk Officer who will look specifically at implementing the National Disability 

Policy. 

• A MoU signed between the local provincial TVET in Santo and the two disability 

associations for the formal working relationship between SANMA TVET and the disability 

associations to increase the number of people with disabilities participating in the skills 

development training. 


• The proposal for the AUD2.1 million funding of the Pacific Regional Strategy Disability 

action plan on has been approved by AusAID. The Exchange of Letters (EoL) has been 

finalised and signed off by the Secretary General. Disability policy development in Niue 

and Kiribati in its final phase. 


• Fifteen representatives from the disability network under the Fiji Disabled People’s 

Association trained on human rights based approaches and the Convention on the Rights 

of People with Disabilities. Participants increased awareness of human rights to integrate 

into existing plans and policies. 

• The Country Focal Point Tuvalu supported the establishment and assisted with securing 

grants for Fusiolofa, Disability Organization in Tuvalu. 

• Pacific Side Event during the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva presented an 

opportunity to generate international interest on the situation and rights of persons with 

disabilities in the Pacific. Persons with disability from NUANUA O LE ALOFA participated 

during the 11th Universal Periodic Review Session when Samoa, Palau, Solomon Islands, 

and Papua New Guinea were under review. 

• The SPC RRRT supported Vanuatu Disabled Persons’ Organisation in reporting against the 

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 


148 


• Australia will continue to provide funding support (AUD2.144 million over four years) to 

PIFS’ efforts to promote and support implementation of the Pacific Regional Strategy on 

Disability 2010-2015. 

• Australia has committed AUD3 million over four years (2011-14) to support Papua New 

Guinea’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

and towards the Government’s efforts to improve the quality of life of people living with 

disabilities. 

• Australia will continue to respond to other partner government requests to support their 

efforts to ensure development includes and benefits Pacific people with disability.



• Review of internal processes and procedures to create an enabling environment for the 

National Policy on Disability. 


• Signing into law the National Disability Policy, and the beginning stage of 

implementation of the Policy. 


• Formulation of a guideline to initiate the development of a national policy on disabled 

people. 


• Developing programs and activities under the National Disability Policy. 


• Implementation of the May to December 2011 workplan will be implemented. The 

expected funding for this work is approximately AUD300,000. 

• PIFS representation to attend the Disability Reference group, Australia’s Development for 

All Strategy in Canberra in July 2011. 


• RRRT in partnership with PIFS will provide technical assistance and support to Forum 

Island Countries which wish to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with 

Disabilities, and for those that have ratified, to report on the progress of implementation. 




• Once the Disability Policy is passed, lack of funding may hinder companies, both 

government and private, to abide to the structural and physical changes required to their 

buildings. 


• Removing the stigma of people with disabilities. 

• Slow recognition of the concepts and principles for advocating support for people with 

disabilities. 

• Public perceptions that people with disabilities are tolerable but their consequent loss of 

productivity to public activities should render them as more of a liability. 


• Government commitment to the National Disability Policy. 


• Two major risks have been identified: the departure of key personnel; and commitment by 

Forum Island governments to the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability waning. 


• Limited funding and support to disability organizations. 

149

| C | 

Addressing the impacts 

of Climate Change 

150


(i) 

Continuing the implementation of the Niue Declaration on Climate Change. 


months 


• Australia’s support for adaptation to climate change in the Pacific is being delivered 

through programs with governments, community-based activities and supporting the 

adaptation work programs of key regional organisations. Assistance in the Pacific is 

consistent with the principles endorsed by Leaders at the 2010 Pacific Islands Forum, 

which called for effective coordination and delivery of climate change adaptation efforts. 

• At the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Cancun 

in December 2010, Australia announced an additional AUD80 million for the Pacific 

to support adaptation activities, bringing the total allocation to the Pacific to AUD160 

million. 


• A functional review on Climate Change has been carried out and a report presented to the 

Public Service Commission in March 2011. A key recommendation in the report is that 

a dedicated climate change agency or organisational body be established to coordinate 

and implement adaptation initiatives and action plans. At UNFCCC meeting 2010, the 

team sent out strong messages, raising issues of concern to island countries, such as: cofinancing 

under the Adaptation Fund, which should not be a burden to Smaller Island 

States; and capacity building for coordinating and administering the funds. The chair 

of Organising Association of Small Island States (Alliance of Small Island States) and 

Grenada’s Ambassador to the UN, Dessima Williams, also noted that “in the Cook Islands, 

for example, it is now impossible to insure against damage caused by named cyclones 

because they are considered too high risk due to their increasing frequency over the past 

decade. We cannot allow the most vulnerable to be left without recourse to avenues for 

addressing risks and damage exacerbated by the impacts of climate change.” 

• A delegation from the Cook Islands attended climate change talks in Bonn, Germany and 

called on the moral and legal obligations of Annex 1 countries to reduce greenhouse gas 

emissions responsible for climate change. 

• The Cook Islands is a member of the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) group. In 

recognizing common challenges, the SIDS group, for first time, jointly coordinated with 

the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). SIDS and LCDs agreed that progress must be made 

in the following key areas in the next climate change talks in Durban later this year: 

- Annex 1 parties must agree to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol; 

- developed countries must raise the ambition of their commitments to reduce emissions; 

- parties must agree to the scope and modalities of the 2015 review of the long-term 

global goal; 

- the Transitional Committee must complete its work designing the Green Climate Fund 

so that it is fully operational in 2012; 

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- the need to identify long-term sources of climate change finance; 

- increasing the transparency of the delivery of fast start finance; 

- developing an international mechanism to address loss and damage associated with 

the impacts of climate change; and 

- a recent International Energy Agency report revealed that energy-related CO2 emissions 

rose to their highest level in history 2010. 

• Cook Islands attended the workshop in Tianjin, China, in September 2010, which covered: 

shared vision, finance, technology, capacity building, mitigation, bunkers, and adaptation. 


• Develop Pacific-tailored approaches to combating climate change: Progress in Kiribati’s 

approach, with external assistance, includes continuing implementation of its 

Environment Act and Regulations and structured adaptation. While slow on delivering 

physical outputs, other supplemental approaches and opportunities for adaptation are 

being explored. 

• Advocacy at international forums on impacts of climate change and sea level rise to our 

territorial integrity with immediate impacts on social, economic and security situations: 

Kiribati actively participates at ad hoc international forums on climate change and at 

the forums for international implementation of the UNFCCC. Kiribati plays major part 

in attracting attention of international community to climate change as being a security 

issue also. 

• Pacific’s development partners to increase their technical and financial support for climate 

change action: Support in financial and technical assistance and capacity building. 

But for adaptation there is a need to supplement Kiribati Adaptation Project with an 

approach that gives priority to national needs and focuses on two sectors – water and 

coastal. Other sectors at the national level, and all sectors, particularly at community and 

household levels, require adaptation including mobilizing their capacities to reduce their 

vulnerability to climate change. These needs are not yet addressed. 

• Support for Pacific Island Countries’ efforts to move towards alternative and renewable 

energy: Support is received by Ministry of Works and Public Utilities for solar powered 

energy that benefit rural communities, and for developing biofuels using coconut oil as 

major ingredient. 

• International partners to assist through undertaking immediate and effective measures 

to reduce emissions, use cleaner fuels, and increase use of renewable energy sources: 

Negotiations as part of the UNFCCC process and leading up to COP16 has been ongoing 

since COP15 held in Copenhagen. Developed countries and big emitter developing 

countries accept the need for deep cuts, but their positions on details of how much, what 

base year, by what year, when to start and the length of the periods are widely diverse or 

simply not yet announced. 

• High sensitivity and vulnerability of Pacific Island Countries to climate change, means 

that adaptation for Pacific governments requires urgent support from regional agencies 

and development partners alike: As stated above there has been support but additional 

sectors and communities have needs that remain unaddressed. 

• Encourage all Pacific Island countries to act on the ability and information they have 

now, with the assistance of development partners, to continue to address the impacts of 

climate change through ‘no regrets’ or ‘low regrets’ actions in affected sectors that are 

already facing development challenges, including food and water security, health, and 

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the capacity to deal with extreme events such as tropical cyclones, flooding and droughts, 

thereby simultaneously delivering on sustainable development aims: Current adaptation 

activities focus on coastal and water sector and are being implemented under the Kiribati 

Adaptation Project (KAP). Wider coverage of sectors and community levels needs for 

adaptation require support but these needs are not addressed. Impacts of extreme weather 

are occasionally experienced by scattered communities but due to lack of resources there 

is usually no assistance provided by government. 

• Agree that the exacerbating effects of climate change in the region will require Pacific 

Island countries to incorporate adaptive strategies into their national sectoral planning, 

and that this integration will require a high degree of whole-of-government coordination 

and leadership: Kiribati has included in its National Development Strategy (2004-2007) 

and Kiribati Development Plan (2008-2011) adaptation issues. Wider sectoral planning 

has largely depended on available external assistance such as those provided under the 

Kiribati Adaptation Project but as noted above the Adaptation Project concentrated on 

two sectors and at the national levels. Mainstreaming adaptation throughout operational 

planning of various sectors remains a challenge. 


• Climate change objectives are increasingly being integrated into projects and programmes 

funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme. 

• Full engagement in UNFCCC processes and Pacific regional climate change forums. 


• A solar project was recently built at the Educational Building at the Palau High School, 

funded by Taiwan/ROC. An airport solar project is currently being constructed with 

funding from Japan, with completion expected by end of 2011. 

• The National Development Bank of Palau is progressing with the solar residential panel 

initiative supported by Italian and Austrian grant assistance. 


• Implementation of National Adaptation Program of Actions (NAPA) water, coastal erosion 

and food security projects and Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change projects. 


• Vanuatu drafted a Climate Change Policy in 2010, and the implementation of all climate 

change activities is overseen by the Climate Change Unit in the Meteorology and Geo- 

Hazards Department and the National Climate Change Committee. 

• Ten talkback shows were produced with the local radio station covering climate change 

issues relating to labour, forestry, fisheries, infrastructure, water, food security and coral 

reefs. 

• The Vanuatu Parliament passed the following Environment and Conservation Bills: the 

Bill for the Environmental Management and Conservation (Amendment) Act No. 2010, 

Bill for the Montreal Amendment (1997) to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that 

Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) Ratification Act No. 2010, Bill for the Beijing Amendment 

(1999) to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) 

(Ratification) No. 2010, and the Bill for the Ozone Layer Protection Act No. 2010. 

153




• In support of climate change mainstreaming and institutional and capacity strengthening 

in the Pacific, SPC developed the first draft of its Corporate Engagement Strategy on 

Climate Change to ensure mainstreaming of climate change across all sectors (for example 

human security, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, health and human development). 

• Support was provided for a regional study on dengue and climate change. 

• SPC SOPAC Division, in partnership with AusAID, Australia Bureau of Metrology and 

Geoscience Australia delivers the South Pacific Sea Level & Climate Change Monitoring 

Project (SPSLCMP). Phase IV has been extended to the end of 2011. The associated 

Observation Network Upgrade Project, which will bring significant improvements in 

measurement and instrument longevity, is now being implemented throughout the 12 

stations in the Pacific Islands. 

• In collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (formerly 

Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit) and other SPC programmes, finalised joint 

submission for the new AusAID International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative 

(ICCAI), to include marine, agriculture and land resources components. Awaiting final 

endorsement. 

• Secured AusAID funding to develop a project on monitoring the impact of climate change 

on coastal fisheries. 

• Climate change impacts on Western and Central Pacific tuna stocks completed and 

published. Also completed a study on the vulnerability of fisheries and aquaculture in the 

Pacific to climate change. 

• Compiled research on the impact of climate change on Pacific fisheries. 

• Represented the region at international forums, such as United Nations Convention 

to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), 

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Forum on Forests (UNFF), and 

the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) 

and the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). 

• SPC’s Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) continue to play an important role in 

climate change adaptation efforts, improving food security and increasing domestic and 

export trade in agriculture and forestry products. 

• In partnership with International Fund for Agricultural Development, supported 

the atoll agriculture research and development at the Centre of Excellence for Atoll 

Agricultural Research and Development in Tarawa, Kiribati. Areas of work include atoll 

soil management, water management, cultivar evaluation, and improving the resilience of 

food production systems to climate change. 

• In collaboration with the SPC/GIZ through the Adaptation to Climate Change in the 

Pacific Island Region, carried out a Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest 

Degradation policy scoping study for Fiji and produced a scoping report including a 

capacity needs and gap analysis and a proposed roadmap for ‘REDD readiness’ in Fiji. 

Assistance was also provided for the drafting of Fiji’s National REDD Policy. 

• With the support of the AusAID International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative 

(ICCAI) and the United States government, SPC through CePaCT established a ‘climateready’ 

collection of crops and varieties known to have suitable traits. The collection is 

now being evaluated in individual Pacific Island Countries and Territories for climate 

tolerant traits such as resistance to drought, salinity and water-logging. 

154



• The SPC/GIZ project Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region (CCCPIR) 

expanded to cover 12 countries namely Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, 

Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Nauru, Kiribati, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Tuvalu and 

Republic of the Marshall Islands, and additional sectors (for example agriculture, forestry, 

fisheries, tourism, and energy). 

• Adaptation approaches tested in two pilot sites in Tonga and three in Vanuatu. 

• Support will be provided for development of national adaptation strategies (land based 

resources) in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, and a climate change communication strategy for 

Vanuatu. 

• Collaboration with the Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency 

and National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health in regard to adaptation 

strategies for communicable and emerging diseases 

• Completion of coastal vulnerability assessments and critical baseline data collection with 

immediate relevance to climate change vulnerability and adaptation in Nadi, Fiji; Mangia 

and Rarotonga, Cook Islands; Nukualofa, Tonga. Work presently underway in Rangiroa, 

French Polynesia. 

• Collection and provisions baseline date to improve understanding of water flow patterns 

and possible pollution pathways in Saipan Lagoon, Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands. Work was also undertaken to improve understanding of shoreline 

processes and sediment transport all of which has direct relevance to the management of 

climate change vulnerability. 

• Completion of a rapid technical assessment of 4 coastal adaptation/engineering projects 

in Samoa with the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme staff 

and community stakeholders and with the Govt. of Kiribati (NZ Bilateral funding) on 

Kritiimati Island, Kiribati. 


• USP has started to offer a Post-Graduate Diploma and Masters of Science in Climate 

Change Programmes. USP also offers a PhD and is actively recruiting research students in 

the field. The University is proud to announce that the first group of students registered 

for the Post Graduate Diploma in Climate Change have graduated and have moved on to 

pursue their Masters in Climate Change. 

• With AusAID and EU funding, the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable 

Development (PACE-SD) at USP has been awarding scholarships to students. 

• The EU-funded Climate Change project being implemented by PACE-SD at USP will 

develop and strengthen Pacific ACP countries’ capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate 

change. The development and implementation of sustainable strategies for community 

adaptation to climate change, based on improved understanding of the impacts of climate 

change and variability in the Pacific region are among the planned priority outcomes of 

the project. The project contributes to improving the capacity of the region to adapt to 

climate change through the provision of scholarships to support students (as mentioned 

above) and the organisation of non formal training sessions to train climate change 

practitioners at the national, sub-regional and regional levels. It is also envisaged that the 

project will contribute to the establishment of a network of local, national and regional 

specialists on climate change who will support communities, governments within Pacific 

ACP countries, NGOs, and regional organizations in their efforts to address the effects of 

climate change over the long-term and in a sustainable approach manner. 

155



• PACE-SD has received additional funding from AusAID to duplicate its community 

adaptation activities in a further six communities in Fiji. In addition to this, the EU 

project will be implementing low-input, high-quality and replicable community climate 

change adaptation actions that will entail a robust process of participatory community 

engagement, knowledge of best-practice, and securing project ownership on the side of 

adaptation practitioners involved in project implementation. About 40 sites in total will 

be selected. For this particular exercise, in-country coordinators have been recruited to 

spearhead the implementation of the activities. 



• The main focus of Australia’s climate change assistance to the Pacific will continue to be 

the provision of adaptation support at the national level (bilateral support). Support will 

also continue to be provided through regional mechanisms where appropriate, including 

for scientific research and to support key regional organisations. 

• With the support of Australia, PIFS is leading the development of an Options Paper on 

climate change financing for presentation to FEMM in July 2011. The Options Paper will 

canvass a set of options for how climate change financing can be effectively delivered at 

the national level in Pacific Island Countries. 


• Adaptation activities will be extended to meet the needs of other sectors and community 

and households’ needs. 

• Advocacy will result in agreed emission reduction and limitation. 



funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme. 

• Full engagement in UNFCCC processes and Pacific regional climate change forums. 


• As of June of 2011, the Pacific Adaptation for Climate Change project has progressed 

to include additional implementing partners due to increased project activities. The 

concluded food security survey will be used for the proposed food security policy as well 

as identify other activities left to be completed before the end of the project in 2013. 

• Three workshops focusing on weather have resulted in a data collection project. The 

project in collaboration with the Weather Bureau and the Australian Government’s Pacific 

Climate Change Science Program (PCCSP) spent two weeks training staff from Palau’s 

National Weather Service Office in the use of two new computer-based climate science 

tools for data collection purposes. 


• Formulation of Tuvalu’s Climate Change Policy and its National Action Plan. 

• Completion of Tuvalu Second National Communication to the UNFCCC. 

• Enhance implementation of National Adaptation Program of Actions. 

156



• Adoption of the Climate Change Policy. 


• Coastal vulnerability assessment and baseline data collection work will continue in 

Rangiroa French Polynesia, Navua Delta, Fiji and work also expected to begin in the areas 

of the Rewa Delta, Fiji and Lifuka, Tonga. 

• In partnership with AusAID, Bureau of Meteorology Australia and Geoscience Australia, 

SPC will continue to implement South Pacific Sea Level & Climate Change Monitoring 

(SPSLCCM) project Phase IV (Phase V expected to start in February 2012) and the 

associated Observation Network Upgrade Project. The SPSLCCM project includes 

collecting, processing and analyzing sea level and climatic data and makes these openly 

available as data and information products targeted towards Pacific Island Countries 

needs. 

• Continued partnership with the GIZ on the Adaptation to Climate Change in the Pacific 

Island Region (ACCPIR) programme. This programme reflects SPC’s commitment to 

member countries to address climate change issues in agriculture, forestry and land use. 

• Continue the collection and evaluation of climate ready collections. 

• Continue training of field staff and deployment of monitoring equipment to build 

national capacity to monitor the impact of climate change on coastal fisheries. 

• Complete more detailed and comprehensive analysis of climate change impacts on tuna 

fisheries. 

• Develop and implement climate change adaptation measures in selected coastal 

communities as a pilot project to assist adaptation to impacts on coastal fish resources. 


• More regional students will graduate with Climate Change qualifications and return 

to their home countries well equipped to address the issues faced by their respective 

communities. More communities in the region will have the opportunity to engage in 

community awareness raising activities (for example, to understand the science behind 

climate change) and will have input to the type of adaptation measures that are suitable 

for their respective communities and, more importantly, have ownership over the 

strategies that will be implemented. 




• Cooperation between implementing agencies and sector ministries or government 

requires much confidence building. 


• The risk of non-maintenance was solved by including personnel from the Palau Public 

Utilities Corporation in training toward the maintenance of the solar equipment. Future 

risks remain with potential lack of funding for staff, personnel, and/or maintenance. 

157




• In country capacity to evaluate collection is limited. 

• Delays in getting policies finalised and approved due to political and other unforeseen 

circumstances. 


(ii) 

Developing Pacific-tailored responses to support adaptation and mitigation measures and 

better coordination of Disaster Risk Management-Climate Change Adaptation (DRM- 

CCA), and furthering regional and international efforts and research to support national 

action in combating climate change. 


months 


• Australia’s assistance in this area is focused on timely, practical and sensible initiatives 

that are integrated with wider development programs, including: 

- in the Solomon Islands, upgrading roads and bridges vulnerable to extreme weather 

events (AUD4 million); 

- in Vanuatu, relocating/realigning vulnerable roads, improving erosion protection and 

drainage infrastructure and upgrading river and stream crossings (AUD3 million); 

- in Kiribati, undertaking water sustainability and coastal protection work; and 

- strengthening the capacity of the region to make informed adaptation decisions by 

supporting the development of implementation of climate change education programs 

at USP. 

• Australia is encouraging greater integration of disaster risk reduction and climate 

change adaptation responses to weather and climate related hazards. Australia is already 

supporting Tonga’s Joint National Action Plan which combines the government’s climate 

change adaptation and disaster risk management plans. Australia has also provided 

additional financial support in Kiribati for the integration of Disaster Risk Management 

(DRM) as a component of Climate Change Adaptation assistance. 

• Australian assistance has supported the development of National Disaster Management 

Plans in Pacific Island Countries and has funded non-governmental organisations to help 

local communities better prepare for disasters when they strike. Over 140 community 

disaster management committees have been established in vulnerable communities in 

Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. 


• A National Adaptation Planning Week was held in Rarotonga in late February 2011 

coordinated by the National Environment Service and Emergency Management Cook 

Islands, in collaboration with SPREP, Government of Australia and UNDP. The workshop 

included presentations on the science of climate change, its impact on the Cook Islands, 

158



adaptation and disaster risk management, planning and budgeting, including participant 

group work to feed into a Joint National Action Plan (JNAP). The draft JNAP has been 

developed. 

• The Directors of Central Policy & Planning (CPPO), Office of the Prime Minister, and 

Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) represented the Cook Islands at the Global 

Platform for Disaster Risk Management in Geneva. The Director of CPPO was a panel 

member on behalf of the Pacific region, in the session entitled “Disaster Risk Reduction 

in times of Climate Change”. Her presentation outlined efforts made by Pacific Island 

Countries in integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change and the rationale 

and challenges faced by the Cook Islands in regard to the efforts of integration. She also 

presented the Cook Islands’ Country Statement reinforcing the priority Cook Islands 

Government has placed on developing more robust disaster risk management and climate 

change adaptation policies, supported by stronger legislation and governance structures. 

• The Aitutaki Recovery Programme. 95 Category 3 homes were completed. Added benefits 

for the island has been increasing the skill base and providing new technical capacity 

to now manufacture septic tanks, water tanks and has improved the quality of concrete 

and concrete blocks which are made on the island. Construction and administrative 

capabilities have improved significantly under the New Zealand Aid Programme. 

• Two cyclone centres were upgraded on the northern Cook Island of Manihiki in 2010, 

supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme. 

• A cyclone shelter funded by the EU was built on the northern Cook Island of Pukapuka. 

The Cook Islands government will be responsible for any major maintenance work on the 

building while the local community will be tasked with general ongoing maintenance. 

• It is estimated that 300 homes and 1300 people will benefit from improved catchment 

systems (water tanks, guttering, and first flush), with some improved roofing implemented 

under the Northern Water Project on the Northern Cook Islands of Pukapuka, Nassau, 

Penrhyn, Manihiki, and Rakahanga. Community water tanks will also be renovated 

across all islands. Water security will be fostered by supporting awareness programmes. 

The combination of these activities is expected to mitigate risks related to drought and 

assist local government to better manage water systems in future. The New Zealand Aid 

Programme and AusAID are supporting the project. Other stakeholders are Ministry of 

Infrastructure & Planning (project principal), island councils/administrations, Ministry 

of Health (Public Health), Internal Affairs, Red Cross and the Ministry of Finance and 

Economic Management. 

• An officer from Emergency Management Cook Islands attended a climate change and 

emergency response conference in Samoa. The work currently being carried out in the 

Cook Islands highlights the need for climate change adaptation and emergency risk 

response to be always considered jointly in all government policy. 


• Adaptation and mitigation measures are project based, and linkages to Disaster Risk 

Management are currently explored through initiatives from the latter’s focus: the premise 

being that addressing current disasters (related to climate) enhances adaptive capacity. 

But this would be correct only if disaster risk management consciously incorporates the 

consideration of climate change. The Kiribati government is included in the regional 

programme to strengthen disaster risk management in the region. 

159





funded by New Zealand Aid Programme. Disaster risk reduction forms an integral 

component of our support for climate change adaptation work in the Pacific. 

• Full engagement in UNFCCC priorities and Pacific regional climate change forums. 


• In early 2010, the Palau National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) under the office 

of the Vice-President put together the National Disaster Risk Management Framework 

2010 with assistance from UNEP and was coordinated with all relevant agencies within 

the Government, as well as other organizations involved during disasters. 

• A Task Force has been created to assess and improve the current system of disaster risk 

management. New emergency radios for the outer lying island states have been set up. 

• The idea of combining climate change and disaster risk management is in its early stages 

and has not been implemented. A workshop in Samoa held in May 2011 considered of 

issues for both areas. The two offices of the National Emergency Management Office 

and Office of Environmental Response and Coordination are in the discussion phase of 

merging into one central office. National Emergency Management Office is taking the 

lead in a proposal that will be provided to heads of Office of Environmental Response and 

Coordination (climate change) and National Emergency Management Office (disaster risk 

management) for review and presenting the idea to decision makers toward the end of 

2011. 


• On April 2011 a Public Validation Workshop for the Joint National Action Plan on 

Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management (JNAP) was conducted. 

The goals of the plan are: establish and support an enabling environment for improved 

coordination of disaster risk management / climate change adaptation in the Marshall 

Islands; education, awareness and understanding of effective DRM/CCA responses 

from local to national level; enhanced emergency preparedness and response at all 

levels; improved energy security, working towards a low carbon future; enhanced local 

livelihoods and community resilience; and integrated approach to development planning 

including consideration of climate change and disaster risks. 

• The National Disaster Risk Management Plan is completed and was endorsed and later 

approved by Cabinet in 2011. 


• The Tuvalu Disaster Risk Management Plan (DRM) was developed with the assistance of 

SPC SOPAC division and was endorsed by the Cabinet in principle. 

160 


• Vanuatu has implemented the first phase of its National Action Plan on Disaster Risk 

Reduction and Disaster Management including mainstreaming risk reduction and 

disaster management into Vanuatu’s macroeconomic policy and fiscal management and 

budgetary processes. With the assistance of the UNDP, the National Disaster Management 

Office (NDMO) has carried out workshop and awareness program for communities to 

better understand the risk reduction and disaster management issues. 

• The development of National Emergency Operation Centre Standard Operating 

Procedures has been completed for some emergencies such as the Cyclone Plan.



• Three out of six provinces have established Provincial Disaster Coordinators and 

consultations have taken place with the remaining provincial governments to establish 

coordinators. The Pacific Community Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction under the 

Vanuatu Christian Council has worked in partnership with the National Disaster 

Management Office and has set up 74 Community Disaster Committees around Vanuatu 

in particular on the islands of Tanna, Ambrym, Efate and Tongoa. A comprehensive 

Hazard and Risk Management Tool developed followed with annual on-going program 

focusing on risk reduction. 

• Four provincial advocacy programs in promoting disaster risk reduction were carried out 

in the provinces in preparation for the development of provincial disaster risk reduction 

programs. Two contingency planning and training exercise was also undertaken with 

the assistance of the Australian Defence Force and response agency with 50 participants 

from government, non-governmental organisations, UN agencies and donor partners. A 

national climate change adaptation strategy and disaster risk reduction mainstreaming 

in the Forestry and Agriculture sector meeting was carried out with stakeholders 

including farmers and government departments. Twenty five disaster risk management 

workshops were carried out at the national and provincial level including 20 volcanic 

risk awareness programs on Gaua, Ambrym and Tanna. Five flood and draught awareness 

programs on Emae, Makira, Mataso and Tanna and eight tsunami awareness programs on 

Efate. Awareness programs were also conducted for earthquake on Efate and for private 

institutions. 

• Vanuatu hosted the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) Technical Workshop on 

mainstreaming climate change into national development planning and budgeting, 

and also the policy dialogue on Aid Effectiveness and Climate Change and Disaster Risk 

Reduction in 2011. This was followed by the hosting of the Pacific Regional Conference of 

GCCA and High Level Regional Ministerial Conference on Climate change in the Pacific. 


• The EU EDF 9 funded Supporting Disaster Risk Reduction in Pacific Overseas Countries 

and Territories project concluded agreements with New Caledonia, French Polynesia, 

Pitcairn Islands and Wallis & Futuna on the allocation of resources to support a range 

of disaster risk reduction interventions in these territories. The interventions target the 

reduction of vulnerability to losses from natural and anthropogenic disasters and from 

climate and weather extremes. 

• On-going implementation of the EU EDF 9 funded Support to Disaster Risk Reduction 

in eight Pacific ACP States. The project addresses the reduction of vulnerability and risk 

to both climate and geophysical hazards through the implementation of interventions 

to support availability of safe drinking water and also to strengthen emergency 

communications and operations coordination. 

• A 3-year extension of approximately USD1 million for the Pacific Disaster Risk 

Management Programme supported by the Asia Foundation and funded by the US Agency 

for International Development through the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. 

The programme conducts a suite of 6 training courses in Disaster Risk Management. The 

programme also facilitates advocacy for disaster risk management across the region and, 

as of 2011, the development of a post graduate disaster risk management course under the 

Fiji National University. This will be the first such tertiary level disaster risk management 

course offered by a Pacific regional institution and is expected to be launched in Semester 

2 in 2011. 

161



• The Environmentally Safe Aggregates for Tarawa (ESAT) project, has signed a contract 

with Heavy Load Industries (ship builder) to build an aggregate dredge ship to supply 

sustainable sand and gravel to urban South Tarawa. This activity addresses critical 

shoreline vulnerability issues which are aggravated by beach mining. 

• The ESAT has also completed an environmental impact assessment for aggregate dredging 

and undertaken extensive community awareness work explaining the project. The work 

will continue. 

• Development of the regional and national risk exposure database was completed and will 

be officially launched in August 2011. The databases provide data and information on 

hazards, vulnerable elements and related risk levels to allow for more informed decisionmaking 

for disaster risk management and other development priorities. 

• In collaboration with the Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network on the 

development and implementation of Disaster Risk Management National Action Plan 

support provided to Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of 

the Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu 

and Vanuatu. 

• Final report on the mid -term reviews of the Regional Disaster Risk Management 

Framework and the Hyogo Framework for Action presented in 2011 to the Pacific Platform 

for Disaster Risk Management, as well as the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 

in Geneva in May 2011. 

• Geonetwork and Pacific Disaster Net development continue to be supported to provide 

a critical hazards, vulnerability and geoscience information access platforms for Pacific 

Island Countries. 

• Development of regional/national risk exposure databases through the Pacific Catastrophe 

Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative funded by the World Bank and ADB. 

• SPC SOPAC Division has undertaken baseline surveys (bathymetry and topography) to 

support tsunami inundation modelling for Tongatapu, Tonga. 


• PACE-SD continues to work with local communities and assist them with community 

adaptation programs. The focus has been on communities that are already experiencing 

problems with either water supply or coastal erosion, both of which are projected to be 

made worse by climate change. 

• The centre is also offering a 400-level course on Disaster Risk Assessment and 

Management (DRAM) from Semester 2, 2011. 



• Australia has committed to direct at least 25 percent of its AUD599 million ‘fast start’ 

climate change finance package to Small Islands Developing States, including in the 

Pacific and the Caribbean. This will include support to the Pacific under the International 

Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, totalling AUD160 million over five years (2008 – 

2013). 

• Australia will continue to support greater integration between disaster risk reduction and 

climate change adaptation and will encourage the adoption of Joint National Action Plans. 

162


• From 2012, a new follow-on program of assistance in Disaster Risk Management will be 

established. This program will be well integrated with and complement assistance being 

provided for climate change adaptation. 


• Adaptation and mitigation measures are project based, and linkages to Disaster Risk 

Management are currently explored through initiatives from the latter’s focus: the premise 

being that addressing current disasters (related to climate) enhances adaptive capacity. 

But this would be correct only if Disaster Risk Management consciously incorporates 

the consideration of climate change. Kiribati government is included in the regional 

programme to strengthen disaster risk management in the region. 



funded by New Zealand Aid Programme. Disaster risk reduction forms an integral 

component of our support for climate change adaptation work in the Pacific. 



• The completion of the National Emergency Management Office located near the airport in 

the state of Airai. 

• Improvements to the existing emergency plans. 


• Cabinet’s full endorsement of the Tuvalu Disaster Risk Management Plan would enable 

the implementation of the Disaster Risk Management Arrangement Implementation Plan 

2011 (also produced with the assistance of SPC SOPAC division). 


• Vanuatu will continue to mainstream disaster risk reduction and disaster management 

into other sectors including the carrying out of awareness programmes and workshops 

with key stakeholders and completion of the National Emergency Operation Centre 

standard operating procedures. Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and disaster 

management into other government Ministries planning including Ministry of Health, 

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Quarantine, Ministry of Education, 

Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, Ministry of Public Utilities and 

Infrastructure, Ministry of Justice and Social Welfare and Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

• Promoting disaster risk management and climate change adaptation strategies and 

policies within the tourism Industry. 


• Support ongoing efforts to develop and implement disaster risk management and climate 

change national action plans in Pacific island countries. 

• Ongoing development of intervention areas and investments at regional and national 

level in Pacific ACP States under the EDF10 EU ACP- Natural Disaster Facility. 

• Ongoing development of intervention areas and investments under the World Bank 

Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery Single Donor Trust Fund Windows for 

the Pacific. 

163


• In partnership with UNDP, support the implementation of South-South Cooperation with 

the Caribbean Small Island Developing States and partner organization. 

• Early warning systems strengthened in member countries. 

• Ongoing support for the Melanesian Volcanological Network. 

• Ongoing implementation of the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing 

Initiative under a Phase 3 project. 

• In partnership with UNESCO, support for the Pacific Tsunami Warning System and 

related capacity building at regional and national level in Pacific island countries. 

• Undertake tsunami inundation modelling in Tongatapu, Tonga once the anticipated 

AusAID funded light detection and ranging (shallow water bathymetry) mapping has 

been completed at the end of 2011. 

• In partnership with National Institute of Water and Atmospheric completing hazard maps 

for the coastal zones of Mangaia, Cook Islands to allow improved decision making in the 

coastal zone and to reduce vulnerability to coastal hazards. 

• Pacific Disaster Net web (PDN) 3-year Strategic Plan developed and undergoing 

implementation. The PDN provides Pacific Island Countries and Territories with up to 

date disaster risk management data and information to inform decision-making on DRM 

and other country development priorities. 

• Implementation of training courses under the Pacific Disaster Risk Management 

Programme supported by The Asia Foundation/USAID Office of US Foreign Disaster 

Assistance linked to SPC SOPAC Division. The programme will introduce a course in 

Disaster Risk Reduction in 2011. 

• Ongoing implementation of tertiary level training in Disaster Risk Management through 

the Fiji National University. 

• Conduct of the 2011 Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management, with the major 

outcome being the development of a ‘Roadmap’ for the development of an integrated 

regional policy framework for Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change by 2015. 

• Endorsement by Pacific Leaders of a ‘Roadmap’ for the development of an integrated 

regional policy framework for Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change by 2015. 


• USP anticipates that a large number of students will enrol in its Disaster Risk Management 

course. More communities will take the initiative to address climate change impacts with 

the knowledge and skills gained from awareness activities. 




• Lack of coordination and coherence between assistance to Disaster Risk Management and 

assistance to Climate Change Adaptation. 


• Cooperation between implementing agencies and sector ministries or government 

requires much confidence building. 

164




• Loss of participation from partner agencies and lack of resources for proper training. 


• The disaster office is managed by one staff member which could impend implementation. 


• The need for an increase in personnel and training in developing standard operating 

procedures for other agencies i.e. dedicated Provincial Disaster Coordinators are required 

to support the Community Disaster Committees; a technical officer is required to 

undertake the Hazard Risk Management and Reduction work. Budget required for Disaster 

Risk Reduction and Disaster Management policies and the need for more commitment 

from the above mentioned sectors. 

• The organisation responsible is constrained by having no power to require other agencies 

to act on any identified prevention measures. 


• To effectively mainstream disaster risk management, countries must demonstrate 

commitment via increasing level of national investments through the annual budgetary 

framework. 

• Development of a risk database will require country level commitment to ensure 

mechanisms are in place to facilitate sharing of the risk data and information to relevant 

stakeholders by adjusting national planning and decision-making frameworks as may be 

required to embrace a risk management emphasis. 

• Cuts in funding to SPC and other partner organisations will inhibit support for the 

implementation of focused Disaster Risk Management capacity building opportunities for 

Pacific Island Countries and Territories. 


(iii) 

Coordinating regional efforts in the completion and early implementation of the 

outcomes of the December 2009 Copenhagen meetings. 


months 


• At the FEMM in October 2010, Ministers tasked PIFS to coordinate the development of 

an options paper to explore a range of approaches – at international, national, regional 

and sub-regional levels for – improving access to, and management of, climate change 

adaptation assistance. Australia has provided AUD284,321 to PIFS to support the 

development of this options paper. 

165




• The Cook Islands has presented a concept note for the Adaptation Fund Board under the 

UNFCCC to fund activities for adaptation to climate change focusing on areas identified in 

the second national communication as most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 

The majority of activities proposed target the outer islands. This was accepted in March 

2011. A full project proposal is to be presented in July 2011. 

• Project components are: strengthening and implementing national climate change 

adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies; strengthening capacities for climate 

change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the Pa Enua (outer islands); implementing 

climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies and plans in the Pa Enua; 

and climate change adaptation knowledge management. 

• Cook Islands attended an international conference on climate change in Bangkok in April 

2011. The purpose of the conference and its associated workshops was to discuss access 

to major international funding allocated to climate change adaptation. The delegation 

was able to engage with other Small Island States and potential donor organizations and 

collectively address Small Island States concerns. As a result processes to access funding 

will become more transparent and donors will be more aware of the difficulties that small 

countries with capacity constraints have in accessing funding. A committee has been 

established to oversee the development of criteria for accessing funds, on which Small 

Island States have two representatives – Samoa and Barbados. 


• Kiribati initially hesitated to associate itself with the Copenhagen Accord, however it has 

now decided to. 




• The legally binding agreement failed to materialise, taking away the incentives from the 

developing countries. After the Conference of the Parties (COP) 16 in Cancun, trying to 

achieve an agreement from parties to be approved at COP17 in South Africa will represent 

progress. 


• Achieved positive outcomes out of COP16 at Cancun. In particular, an agreement on the 

framework of international action on climate post 2012 was reached by the following key 

factors which are consensus, open consultation, and respecting all views and a political 

hand to move together. 

• Every party saw some key wins for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, including; getting 

mobilisation on structure of the long-term Green Fund (USD100 billion); resolving 

the “vulnerability question”; getting a workplan on addressing “loss and damage; and 

anchoring the existing mitigation/emissions pledges in the UNFCCC. 

• Ambassador Phillip Muller was elected as a member of the Bureau of the UNFCCC, 

signalling Republic of the Marshall Islands’ increasingly visible interest in international 

climate action. The Bureau has a political role in paving the way towards further progress 

at the next round of climate negotiations, scheduled to wrap up in COP17 to be held in 

December 2011,Durban, South Africa. 

166




• Tuvalu continued to maintain its coordinating efforts in the implementation of the 

UNFCCC process through attending UNFCCC negotiation processes and COPs. 


• The Climate Change Unit in the Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department and the 

National Climate Change Committee is the mandated government entity to oversee the 

implementation of all climate change activities emanating from the UNFCCC or through 

any bilateral or multilateral initiatives. 



• The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s options paper on the management of climate 

change assistance will be considered by FEMM in July 2011 and by Forum Leaders in 

September 2011 at the Forum Leaders Meeting. 


• Anticipating approval on the full project proposal to the UNFCCC Fund Board. 


• There would be available to Kiribati benefits through aid funds to be made available for incountry 

activities addressing climate change. However, more importantly it is anticipated 

that there will be agreement on levels of green house gas reductions, for the globe and for 

groups of countries and individual countries up to and beyond 2012. 




• To make use of the opportunities by accessing the Fast Start Financing promised during 

COP15 (for projects on mitigation and adaptation) before the deadline in 2012. At the 

same time parties must work diligently to come to an agreement in this year’s last climate 

change talks before COP17 in South Africa. 


• Given that some issues in Cancun were glossed over and not fully resolved, progress is 

anticipated over the following issues; 

• develop a more focus process to eventually get greater emission cuts. Right now, the 

emissions pledges do not come close to “below 2 degrees” and need more from all though 

it will be a difficult political process; 

• need to get a work plan leading up to COP17 which provides more specifics on “loss and 

damage”; and 

• Need to confront the extension of the Kyoto Protocol. The reason for pushing this is 

trying to get a firm balance on the long term cooperative action track for all nations, and 

especially all major emitters. 

167



• Creative engagement in the UNFCCC negotiation for a second commitment period to 

continue the Kyoto Protocol. 

• Kick-start work on National Adaptation Programme of Action as per UNFCCC decision 

that focus on medium and long-term adaptation needs. 


• The regional project on the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) which envisages 

to reduce vulnerability and to increase adaptive capacity to adverse effects of climate 

change in key development sectors. The PACC will be piloted on Shefa province (Epi 

Island) and will focus on climate proofing coastal infrastructure. 




• The possibility that the UNFCCC funded project may not be approved. 


• Uncertainties about the funds under the Copenhagen Accord (CA) and over the 

procedures to tap into these funds. To date Government of Kiribati has not received any 

funding under the Copenhagen Accord. 


• Inability to come to an agreement at COP17, and not getting the fullest potential of 

funding from COP 15 due to lack of proposals turned in for review. 


• Regarding “loss and damage”, Republic of Marshall Islands (and the Pacific) needs to do 

more on this, to see what models (such as trust fund) best fit the Pacific, in addition to 

an “insurance” model. This is a clear development barrier but we have to work through 

some complex questions like how we define the “baseline” or valuation for the insurance 

scheme. 


• There is no risk to the Department of Environment in implementing this process. 


• Delay in disbursement of funds to implement the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change 

project and activities. 

168


(iv) 

Enhancing the resilience of ecological systems and associated biodiversity and providing 

ecosystem services with a focus on the impacts of climate change in line with the Year of 

Biodiversity in 2010. 


months 


• Government of Kiribati (through Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural 

Development) has: 

- developed a Biodiversity Bill which will be read (second and last Reading) in next Parliament 

sitting in June/July 2011; 

- established lease agreements with landlords/landladies for water collection areas and 

develop policies to protect these areas; 

- improved control and security for sand and gravel mining; 

- about 72,000 mangroves planted in places where erosion is badly experienced in 

Tarawa and in some outer islands; 

- implemented awareness programs for the promotion of agroforestry in outer islands; 

- enforcement and implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment process as 

stipulated in the Environment Act 2009; 

- developed policy papers for improving initiatives/strategies to address climate change 

impacts; and 

- about 40,000 coconut trees planted in several targeted outer islands. 


• Support for the Pacific Invasives Initiative throughout the reporting period and funding to 

SPREP. 


• The Protected Areas Network, the Micronesian Challenge, Palau Conservation Society, 

and Palau International Coral Reef Centre all play roles in the protection, conservation, 

and preservation of Palau’s biodiversity with respect to the impacts of climate change. Not 

only is this done through their resilient efforts for greater public awareness, but there are 

also laws in place to protect the biodiversity and ecological systems, with punishment 

resulting in fines or jail time. 


• The monitoring and strengthening of existing conservation areas on all islands by Island 

Councils (Kaupule) have enhanced the resilience of ecological systems and biodiversities. 

169




• Completed lagoon habitat maps and oceanographic baseline data collected in Rarotonga 

Cook Islands, to assist government to understand lagoon ecological processes and to act as 

a baseline for the detection of environmental change. 

• Completion of baseline date collection and modelling to improve ecological 

understanding, water flow patterns and possible pollution pathways in Saipan Lagoon, 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 


• USP’s Institute of Applied Science supports the community- based management of coral 

reefs to enhance their resilience to climate change. It has worked on reforestation in three 

districts for watershed management and resilience to climate change. USP’s scientists are 

also studying the biodiversity of cloud forests as a baseline to interpret future effects of 

climate change, and are gathering data on biodiversity plots in a corridor from ridge to reef 

to monitor future changes that may be due to Climate Change. 



• More activities on biodiversity protection, conservation and enhancement, and wider 

and more extensive coverage of the geographic extent of Kiribati with such activities are 

desired, for example mangroves replanting. 


• Support for the Pacific Invasives Initiative throughout the reporting period and funding 

to SPREP, but anticipated increase in Pacific Invasives Species management through the 

design and implementation of a new partnership activity. 


• Increase of the Green Fee, which is the departure tax paid by departing visitors to assist in 

funding conservation efforts. 


• Continue to pursue initiatives as outlined above. 


• The activities mentioned above will continue in the next year. 




• Ignorance of the issue and lack of funding or shift in political and government priorities. 

170




• Since the conservation areas were managed through traditional arrangement by 

communities themselves, there was no related risk to the Department of Environment. 

Secretariat of the Pacific Community 

• Yes, continual cuts to programmatic funding and elevated reliance on project based 

funding places regional technical support services, such as those of the Ocean & islands 

Programme, under untenable strain. It is not possible to maintain such a technical service 

to members unless adequate programmatic funding is made available. 


(v) 

Assisting with the assessment called for by the United Nations General Assembly 

Resolution A/Res/63/281 Climate Change and its possible security implications. 


months 


• This has been followed up internationally and Kiribati has been invited at times to 

participate in key forums on the issue. 




• According to the Alliance of Small Island Developing States (AOSIS) during the climate 

change talks last June 2011 in Germany, the Security Council is to meet in September 

2011. A proposed meeting of AOSIS members is to take place beforehand to discuss the 

issue further. 



• Full recognition of this issue and for this to be linked with measures to guarantee 

avoidance of ultimate plights of those who would be displaced if measures to address 

climate change should prove to be inadequate. 




• The UN Security Council is to take up this issue come September 2010 assembly in New 

York. 

171




• Lack of agreement from heads of states for lobbying at the UN Security Council. 


(vi) 

Strengthening data collection and analysis for improved climatic monitoring and 

preparedness through integrated whole-system approaches. 


months 


• Australia has supported two long-standing projects to strengthen data collection for 

improved climatic monitoring and preparedness: 

- the South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project, which has collected 

records of changes in absolute sea levels for 19 years. Data will inform Pacific Island 

Countries governments’ risk assessments, planning and vulnerability reduction efforts; 

and 

- the Pacific Island Climate Prediction Project, which supports Pacific national meteorological 

services in developing long range rainfall predictions and helping climatesensitive 

industries and public utilities to use them effectively. 


• Some activities under the Kiribati Adaptation Project II (KAP) intend to provide 

equipment for Kiribati Meteorological Services, and personnel participated in regional 

projects on capacity building. 

• Analysis of data is also carried out by the Environment and Conservation Division of 

Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agricultural Development (MELAD). 


• New Zealand continues to fund the production of the Island Climate Update, administered 

by SPREP. 


• The Palau International Coral Reef Centre (PICRC) launched a database to help monitor 

Palau’s marine resource, aiming to standardize information on data gathered from the 

field. The new database, financed by the Micronesian Conservation Trust and Palau 

Automated Land and Resource Information System, will be more user-friendly and will 

maintain the integrity of the data gathered, being able to provide a summary of the useful 

172



information. Persons or states, especially those with marine protected areas, are welcomed 

to learn how to use the database. 


• A team from the Australian Pacific Climate Change Science Program (APCCSP) spent a 

week in Majuro training staff from national government ministries, agencies, academic 

institutes as well as non-governmental organisations in the use of two new computer – 

based climate science tools. A key part of the PCCSP has been developing computer based 

tools to support the role of national weather service offices in partner countries. 


• Some achievements were made through participation of the Tuvalu Meteorological 

Service in the APCCSP and in the Severe Weather Forecasting and Disaster Risk Reduction 

Demonstration Project (SWFDDP) in Region Association V – South Pacific Islands. Both 

activities are currently ongoing. 

• Under the APCCSP, assistance received was in the form building capacity of Met staff 

through trainings and meetings, and a few equipments. Other benefits from the Project 

included, such as networking with people who can offer help on climate science 

information, getting new and up to date information on climate variability, climate 

change and what may happen to the country’s climate in the future. 

• The SWFDDP provides useful internet online access to a website called MetConnect 

Pacific where all relevant information for preparing forecasts and warnings are available. 

The availability of this information is a resource to improve ability of the Tuvalu Met 

Service to forecast severe weather events. 

• Another achievement was the endorsement in June 2010 of Tuvalu becoming a member 

to the World Meteorological Organization. This represents a great national success which 

will open up more assistance to Tuvalu from the organisation that has an authoritative 

voice on weather, climate and water. 

• Planting of protective trees “togo” in coastal waters at Nanumea and Funafuti are seen 

as achievements that influence the build-up of resilience of social-ecological systems to 

absorb recurring extremes such as tropical cyclones and swells. In fact, the activity will 

also protect the island should a tsunami hit. 

• The Department of Meteorological Services continued and maintained its climatic data 

collection and analysis. 


• A Climate Baseline Report was developed in 2010 following the Second National 

Communications Project (SNC) funded climate data digitization programme. This will 

enable the compilation of climate, environmental and socio-economic baselines in 2011. 

• Completion of the agriculture sector greenhouse gas inventory work from data collection 

to data analysis. 


• SPC SOPAC Division continues to support the ongoing monitoring of sea level and climate 

data in 12 locations across the region through the SPSLCMP (South Pacific Sea Level and 

Climate Monitoring Project). Additionally, SPC has linked tasks in the area of shoreline 

monitoring (PRISMS – Pacific Regional Island Shoreline Monitoring System) and salinity 

monitoring in the Central Pacific Atolls given their critical issues of coastal vulnerability 

related to climate change. 

173



• Australia will continue to support data collection for improved climatic monitoring and 

will integrate the above mentioned two projects into a single program by 2012. 


• Full recognition of this improved climate monitoring and preparedness issue and for this 

to be linked with measures to guarantee avoidance of ultimate plights of those who would 

be displaced if measures to address climate change should prove to be inadequate. 


• Continued support for the Island Climate Update and a broader review of the provision of 

climate forecast information/service for the Pacific. 


• Development of a standard indicator on what measures will be used in monitoring the 

marine resources within the region, approved during the Micronesian Challenge Measures 

Meeting held last February-March by representatives from Palau, Federated States of 

Micronesia, Guam, Saipan and Marshall Islands. Technical Assistance provided by JICA 

will train staff on how to use the database and the information gathered. Security and 

backup protocols for the database need to be developed. 

• Another team at APCCSP is working with the Office of Environmental Response and 

Coordination in assisting the Palau Automated Land and Resources Information System 

toward data collection as well. 


• Continue to pursue assistance to support institutional strengthening of the Meteorology 

department, to build the capacity of indigenous people in climate science, to establish an 

early climate warning system in the meteorology department. 

• Improved quality of weather forecasts and climate predictions and their lead time in 

alerting severe weather events and the extreme climate events is a supporting response to 

mitigate risk from disasters caused from weather and climate. 

• Advocate the planting of indigenous trees such as fala and felo that are edible and can 

stand the strong winds and tolerate droughts. These trees can also become climate 

monitoring instruments also because if they show signs of decay and dying, we 

presumably can tell the pace at which climate has changed. 

• The Department of Meteorological Services will continue and maintain its climatic data 

collection and analysis. 


• The compilation and finalization of the report on the greenhouse gas inventory work in 

the Agriculture sector. 

• New version and upgrade of the VanuaCLIM climate change model will commence in 

2011. 


• Phase V of the SPSLCMP is expected to be implemented from Feb 2012. The associated 

Observation Network Upgrade Project, which will improve the detection capacity and 

lifespan of the SPSLCMP array, is also underway. 

174




• Still searching for funding support for the scheme and to provide infrastructure to get 

away with the manual time consuming quality checks of meteorological observations and 

climatological data. 

• A major issue in the implementation of APCCSP and SWFDDP is the lack of capacity 

and limited number of staff in the department to carry out climate tasks and weather 

forecasting duties. In the current structure of the department, the climate section does not 

exist, therefore climate jobs and duties and any climate related tasks have been loaded on 

to the two existing staff, This has created a lot of stress on these staffs and problems for the 

department. 

• Getting the paper work completed by designated authorities within the government is 

an issue that is impacting the Meteorology department since the decision was passed by 

Cabinet. 


• The reduction in New Zealand government programme funding for 2011 will negatively 

impact both shoreline monitoring work in Central Pacific Atolls and salinity monitoring 

efforts. 


(vii) 

Building scientific capacity across the region through strategic partnerships with bodies 

such as the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, and an expansion in scientific 

education and training programmes. 


months 


• Participation of nationals in regional workshops that are organized under the auspices of 

the IPCC and UNFCCC. 

• Some measures of collaboration between international scientists assigned to undertake 

studies on Kiribati related to climate change impacts, and national technical personnel. 

• Mentoring by the international scientists can be useful to build the capacity of nationals. 


• New Zealand fully engages in the IPCC and secured a number of author positions for the 

upcoming fifth assessment report. 

175




• Scientific capacity building still continued and maintained through collaborative 

partnerships with regional organizations and institutions such as SPREP, UNDP, SPC, GIZ 

and the USP; as well with international affiliated counterparts such as IPCC. 

• Access to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scholarship programme from 2010. 


• Three week long regional workshop on the Assessment of Climate Change Impacts in 

agriculture organized by the Cuban National Meteorology Institute and by UNDP, in 

collaboration with SPREP and SPC covering impact assessments, weather and climate 

forecasts for agriculture and the models that determine crop production based on climate 

change. 


• The University offers postgraduate courses on climate change. The Postgraduate Diploma 

is relevant to anyone involved with planning for natural resources, economic and 

social development, and/or the natural environment, especially graduates working in 

governments or non-governmental organisations who are not yet familiar with climaterelated 

issues but need to be so. With funding from EU and AusAID, research students and 

staff will have the opportunity to engage in exchange visits with centres of excellence to 

take up new and innovative research that is relevant to the Pacific region. 

• In terms of USP’s partnership with IPCC, key staff members are engaged in research and 

the writing of chapters that contribute to the Fifth Assessment Report. 


• The SPC SOPAC Division supports IPCC process through the provision of input into the 

Fifth Assessment Report on the Small Islands Chapter. The SPC SOPAC Division provided 

a Lead Author to IPCC’s Working Group II - Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. 



• Continued input to the work of the IPCC through its working group and on the Bureau. 


• Such collaborative partnership will continue in the future. 

• Advocate the opening up the scholarship programme to all ages and not only will those 

who are young be more suitable for island countries and also not discriminative. 


• The development of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment 

Report is underway and expected to be released in 2013. SPC SOPAC Division will 

continue to support this effort. 


• Staff and students exchange visits will be successful, and will see those involved returning 

with acquired skills and knowledge that will be used to address the issues of the impacts of 

climate change in the region more appropriately. 

176




• The age-discriminatory nature of the scholarship program is an issue that does not cater 

for different needs of countries. 


• Competing time constraints. 

• Limited financial resources and technical capacity to invest in appropriate adaptation and 

mitigation actions. 

• Limited reliable information on specific impacts of climate change for different countries 

and the relative timing and severity of these impacts which makes targeting and 

prioritising response difficult. 


(viii) 

Building support, with the assistance of regional and international partners, for the new 

Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food security, and capitalising 

on the offer made by Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands to share relevant lessons 

learned. 


months 


• Initial consultation was undertaken in July 2010 with the Australian Government’s three 

priority countries for Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) support. Of the Pacific countries, these 

include Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The purpose of this consultation 

was to meet and establish positive working relationships with respective counterparts and 

identify priority needs in their CTI National Plans of Action (NPOA) that would benefit 

from Australian Government support. This support is being provided as part of the AUD3 

million grant from AusAID for CTI Support, managed by the Department of Sustainability, 

Environment, Water, Population and Communities. In addition, AUD245,000 has been 

obtained through AusAID’s Pacific Public Sector Linkages Program (PPSLP) for specific 

governance support to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. 

• At the regional level, work has been ongoing to support the transition from an interim to 

a Permanent CTI Secretariat. This has included provision of a range of technical expertise, 

including legal drafting and advice, organisational planning and communications 

support. This support has been provided to the working groups of the Interim Secretariat, 

which is currently hosted by Indonesia. Although support to the Interim Secretariat is 

outside of the Pacific, the establishment of a Permanent Secretariat will have positive flow 

on benefits to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and to the effectiveness and 

longevity of this regional forum as a whole. 

177




• Support to SPREP and relevant UN system agencies and processes. 


• The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs did not include Palau. 

• Palau adheres to the Micronesian Challenge. The Micronesia Challenge is a commitment 

by the Chief Executives of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 

Federated States of Micronesia, the US Territory of Guam, and the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands to “effectively conserve at least 30% of the near-shore marine 

and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by the year 2020.” The Protected 

Areas Network is the framework agreed upon by government and non-government 

organizations to fulfil this commitment. 


• USP’s Institute of Applied Science has provided consultancy services to the development 

of the Coral Triangle Initiative, and will be the main implementer of the capacity building 

component. 



• The next 12 months will see the implementation of phase one of the Australian 

Government CTI Support Plan and the PSLP grant. This includes support to nongovernment 

and community-based organisations in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon 

Islands, to undertake activities that support National Plan of Action priorities. It will also 

involve direct support to government counterparts to improve their capacity to engage in 

the CTI. 

• Planning for phase two with priority countries will be undertaken concurrently during 

phase one implementation. 

• Regionally, it is anticipated that the legal documents required to establish the Permanent 

Secretariat will be signed by the CTI countries at the Third Ministerial meeting. This will 

be a significant milestone in the evolution of the CTI. 


• Palau being at the end of the biodiversity current of the world, there are many benefits 

of joining the Coral Reef Triangle Initiative. Senior officials will discuss Palau’s 

reengagement with the Initiative. 




• Lack of political will, shift in priorities. 

178

| D | 

Achieving stronger 

national development 

through better governance 

179


(i) 

Demonstrating strong national leadership and enhanced regional attention to accelerate 

improvements to development coordination in the region, to maximise the effectiveness 

and impact of the resources of Pacific island governments and development partners to 

make faster progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. 


months 


• Australia has strongly supported regional efforts to strengthen development coordination 

and effectiveness through implementation of the Cairns Compact on Strengthening 

Development Coordination in the Pacific. Working closely with PIFS, other Forum 

members and development partners, Australia has made a significant contribution to the 

substantial progress that has been made to date. Specific contributions from Australia 

include: 

- preparing a Development Partner Report on Australia’s efforts to reduce aid fragmentation, 

ease the burden of aid administration and improve development effectiveness; 

- participation in the Technical Working Group supporting preparation of the 2010 

MDG Tracking Report; 

- funding for PIFS’ work to manage implementation of the Compact (AUD1.41 million 

for 2010-2011); and 

- convening a high level informal consultative group of key development partners 

to support implementation of the Cairns Compact (comprising ADB, Australia, EU, 

France, Japan, New Zealand, United States of America, UNDP, World Bank and PIFS). 


• Key development Ministries (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and Ministry 

of Finance & Economic Development) have collaboratively worked together to improve 

reporting mechanism internally and for developing reports for external, regional and 

global requests. 

• Regular meetings and consultations with development partners have also been effectively 

undertaken. 

• Government of Kiribati has launched its Public Financial Management Plan (PFMP) which 

accomplished one of the peer review recommendations. 

• Several initiatives had been undertaken to complement/accomplish the peer review 

recommendations, such as the establishment of a working group that would provide input 

on priorities selected for reform under the PFMP, and ensure result-oriented guidance and 

monitoring of a balanced coordination between prioritised PFMP reform activities and 

broader economic and structural reform priorities. 

180 


• New Zealand actively supports development coordination by assisting PIFS with Cairns 

(Forum) Compact implementation with funding and analytical support.



• New Zealand Aid Programme is operationalising the Compact as part of its own 

operations. New Zealand actively supports Pacific-country led donor coordination 

mechanisms at national and sectoral level, and supports sector wide approaches in a 

number of Pacific countries. 

• New Zealand has also supported the 2011 Vanuatu Compact peer review as a peer 

reviewer. 


• A delegation from Palau participated in a Cairns Compact Workshop in February 2011. 

The trip established better communication between the Forum and Palau’s Ministry 

of Finance, more specifically in the area of the Cairns Compact. In correlation to this, 

PIFS assisted the Republic with the Paris Declaration Monitoring Survey. This survey is 

imperative in the area of aid effectiveness and ultimately lays down a better understanding 

of the country’s development coordination system, the main element of the Cairns 

Compact. 

• The Director and Special Assistant from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Industry and 

Commerce attended the roundtable discussions on regional Aid for Trade and a workshop 

on a Development Cooperation chapter for the EU EPA. 


• PIFS supported the Republic of the Marshall Islands with the Paris Declaration Monitoring 

Survey. 


• Consultation process held for the Mid-term Review of Te Kakeega. 


• The national governments Priority Action Agenda 2006 - 2015 is recognized amongst 

government and donor partners as the top level policy of Vanuatu’s development 

direction. The 2009 Annual Development Report, which provides a snapshot on the 

progress and challenges in the PAA, and the Plan Long Act Short matrix, were launched in 

September 2010. 

• Vanuatu has acknowledged the importance of the Cairns Compact on Strengthening 

Development Coordination and had a peer review in February 2011. 

• Reviews of the progress of the Priority Action Agenda was undertaken to update it. The 

review highlighted a number of cross-cutting issues either requiring further attention or of 

which have not received much attention. 


• In its responsibility to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the Cairns (Forum) 

Compact, the Forum Secretariat convened a regional workshop in February 2011 to 

engage Forum Island Countries and development partners to provide guidance on: 

priority actions to strengthen development coordination; the thematic focus of the 2011- 

2013 Regional MDG reports; and policy work on climate change financing and role of 

Economic Ministers in the Forum Compact. 

• In addition to the peer reviews of Kiribati and Nauru in 2010, the Forum Secretariat 

convened and facilitated three additional peer reviews in Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Niue in 

2011. Peer review teams comprised of senior officials from the Nauru, Papua New Guinea, 

Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu with development partner representation on the peer review 

181



teams from New Zealand, UNESCAP and Australia. 

• The peer reviews provided an opportunity to assess development and budget planning 

processes, aid coordination mechanisms and the involvement of all development 

stakeholders in these processes, through peer to peer leaning and exchange between 

countries and development partners. Recommendations from the peer review process 

targeted actions that would achieve immediate gains for both countries and development 

partners built on the fundamental premise of country leadership and ownership. 

• Country reports were received through the Paris Declaration Monitoring Survey and 

Evaluation process from Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and 

the Cook Islands outlining results on progress made on implementation of the Paris 

Declaration and recommendations for strengthening relevant structures and processes for 

improving aid effectiveness. 

• PIFS supported the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands 

and Palau in undertaking self assessments of the strengths and challenges of their 

existing systems and processes of national planning, budgeting, public financial and aid 

management processes. Priority areas of focus were identified for the governments to 

consider supporting existing efforts in development coordination. The assessments were 

based on the Paris Monitoring Survey questionnaires to ensure consistency of information 

across the Pacific. 

• Development partners reported on their efforts to apply aid effectiveness principles in 

their bilateral and multilateral programmes with a view to developing performance 

measures to monitor good practice in their engagement with partner countries. To 

maintain consistency across Forum Compact reporting, development partners used the 

Donor Questionnaire of the Paris Declaration Monitoring Survey and provided data for 

those Forum Island Countries who had not participated in the global monitoring of the 

Paris Declaration. 

• In assessing the overall state of development coordination in the region, the annual 

Tracking the Effectiveness of Development Efforts Report was published and endorsed by 

the Forum Leaders in September 2011. The report combines the key messages from the 

Compact deliverables, with recommendations aimed at specific actions for Forum Island 

Countries and development partners to strengthen development coordination efforts and 

results. This also included the key Pacific messages for the 4th High Level Forum on Aid 

Effectiveness scheduled for Busan, Republic of Korea in November 2011. 

• Tracking MDGs progress remains a central part of PIFS responsibilities under the Compact. 

The 2011 MDG Pacific Regional Tracking Report was endorsed by the Forum Leaders in 

September 2011. The thematic focus of the 2011 Report was on ‘Health’, focussing on the 

progress, constraints and key intervention policies to accelerate the achievement of the 

health-related MDGs, including NCDs. Although NCDs are not included in the global 

MDG targets, majority of Forum Island Countries included combating NCDs as part of its 

national MDG targets. The 2011 Report highlighted that excluding Papua New Guinea, 

the region is on track towards reducing child mortality, with mixed progress on all the 

other goals. Polynesia’s progress is comparatively better than any other sub-region, with 

Micronesia not on track for any goal. 

• The Forum Secretariat in collaboration with New Zealand and PIPSO coordinated and 

convened the High Level Private Sector Dialogue with Forum Leaders in Auckland. The 

meeting brought together key private sector representatives from Forum countries, 

discussing with Leaders opportunities for private sector financing and the importance of 

strengthening the enabling environment for private sector growth. 

182



• The Forum Secretariat is facilitating and leading the regional and international 

preparations and engagement of the Pacific in international preparations and shaping of 

the agenda for 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan Korea. 

• The Forum Secretariat is also facilitating Forum Island Countries involvement in 

finalising the global Partner Country Position paper highlighting the views and 

perspectives of partner countries to inform the agenda and outcomes document for Busan 

pushing for Pacific positions and consideration of special situations of (SIDS) to be made 

explicit in global partner country positions. 

• The Forum Secretariat is collaborating with the PIFTAC to facilitate the implementation 

of the Public Financial Management Road Map. As a result of the efforts of Forum Island 

Countries and PIFTAC on the Public Financial Management Road map and through efforts 

of ADB and EU, numerous public expenditure and financial accountabilities have been 

implemented across Forum Island Countries resulting in significant Public Financial 

Management reforms to improve Public Financial Management systems. 



• Australia will continue to strongly support this work through the Cairns Compact, 

and will be an active participant in, and advocate for, regional initiatives to advance 

development effectiveness and coordination. This will include continued involvement 

in the Cairns Compact Development Partner Group which will play an important role in 

building partner consensus on actions required to improve development coordination in 

the Pacific. 


• Negotiations are still underway between Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration 

and Ministry of Finance & Economic Development to expand the terms of references of 

the current MDG Task Force to coordinate reporting mechanisms of the Government of 

Kiribati’s commitments to regional and global reporting requirements. 


• Continued support for implementation of the Cairns (Forum) Compact at both national 

and regional level. 


• Better communication and coordination between the Grant Office and all other 

departments and bureaus in the country. 

• Palau needs to centralize an office to track donor development assistance. We have the 

Office of Budget and Grant Oversight, an ideal candidate; however the intention for this 

office was more for national fiscal administrative measures. Hence, Palau needs an office, 

not only to serve as a clearing-house, but also to document and keep an institutional 

memory of all assistance and how it applies in accordance with our national priorities. 

This will allow us to determine where the gaps are and provide donors a better idea of 

where their assistance is best placed. 

183



• Experience from the Forum Island Countries who are most advanced in managing their 

relationships with development partners. 

• Government to review and then identify next steps to progress towards fully controlling 

and managing their development agenda that takes into account their domestic and 

external resources. 

• Participate in the peer review process in 2012. 


• Undertake the midterm review of Te Kakeega. 


• Familiarising parliamentarians with monitoring reports on the Priority Action Plan 

and a program to support them in finding and using information on the Action Plan to 

contribute effectively on discussions regarding Vanuatu development plans. 

• Consultation on the updated Priority Action Plan and strengthening policy objectives and 

strategies in areas of climate change, disaster risk reduction, gender mainstreaming and 

youth. 

Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) 

• Facilitate and convene peer reviews for those countries expressing interest to undertake 

the peer review process. 

• Facilitate a coordinated approach within PIFS and across development partners to support 

the implementation of peer review, country report and development partner reports’ 

recommendations and actions. 

• Consult on and establish a regional mechanism for south-south/triangular cooperation to 

ensure practical support to Forum Island Countries that have undertaken peer reviews to 

strengthen development coordination including through implementation of their peer 

review recommendations. 

• Prepare and share widely within the Pacific and globally, good development coordination 

practices of governments and development partners gathered over the past two years. 

• Follow up and track progress of Forum Island Countries and development partners in 

implementing priority development coordination actions including the peer review and 

Country Note recommendations. 

• Performance measures developed for monitoring development partner good practice. 

• Establish a monitoring framework for the implementation of the Forum Compact. 

• Resource mobilisation to support PIFS coordination and implementation of Forum 

Compact and associated aid effectiveness efforts – both country and regional levels. 

• Streamlined country and development partner reporting on development coordination 

progress and results. 

• Regional reporting on development partner performance and tracking effectiveness of 

development efforts. 

• 2012 Pacific Regional MDGs Tracking Report with the thematic emphasis on Poverty. 

184




• The Cairns Compact is a long term endeavour whose success depends on the sustained 

commitment and participation of Forum members, development partners and other 

stakeholders. The benefits of better development coordination – more effective use 

of development resources, reduced administrative burden for countries, improved 

information to guide decision-making – will only be fully realised over time. As such there 

is a risk that insufficient commitment from key parties will undermine achievement of 

these important objectives. 

• Adopting new, more coordinated approaches to delivering development assistance 

requires changes in practice, and in perspective. There is a risk that Australia, along 

with other Forum members and partners, will not manage the transition to these new 

approaches effectively, which would also undermine achievement of objectives. 


• Lack of resources or qualified personnel. 


• While the Republic of the Marshall Islands does not have a National Sustainable 

Development Plan, the vision 2018 is actually quite similar to other National Sustainable 

Development Plans in the Pacific but recognize that there is a need for a more operational 

strategy to guide sector planning and budgeting. 


• The lack of linking the Priority Action Plan, budgeting process and the corporate plans of 

respective ministries. 

Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) 

• Sufficient resource mobilisation for PIFS efforts to support implementation of 

recommendations from Compact deliverables, and also resources for Forum Island 

Countries themselves to implement the recommendations remains a risk to ensure 

sustainability of the Compact’s work. 

• Coordination and streamlining Compact work into existing regional and country 

programmes of both Forum Island Countries and development partners presupposes 

support across all stakeholders for the Compact – significant work still remains to leverage 

some Forum Island Countries and development partners to recognise the value of the 

Compact process. 

185


(ii) 

Committing to sustainable and appropriate collection and compilation of statistics, 

information management and records-keeping, to ensure the development and 

implementation of better-informed national policy. 


months 


• Australia has provided an estimated AUD6.9 million this financial year to improve data 

across the Pacific. This funding will support implementation of the Pacific region’s Ten- 

Year Pacific Statistics Strategy, through: 

• AUD1.6 million to support the Statistics and Demography Programme at the SPC, which 

provides technical assistance and training to Pacific countries across a broad spectrum 

of statistics. This includes planning, implementing and evaluating censuses and major 

household surveys, strengthening administrative databases and compiling economic 

indicators such as national accounts. SPC also maintains the regional Minimum National 

Development Indicators database and the Pacific Regional MDG database. 

• AUD1 million for the Australian Bureau of Statistics to provide technical support and 

capacity building for Pacific Island National Statistics Offices. 

• Core funding of PFTAC, which provides advice and capacity building in four main areas 

of financial and economic policy formulation and management, including economic and 

financial statistics (approximately AUD250,000 for statistics). 

• AUD300,000 to the Partnerships in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century 

(PARIS21) for their work to strengthen statistical capacity in the Pacific region. PARIS21 

assists low-income countries in the development, implementation and monitoring of 

National Strategies for the Development of Statistics. 

• Approximately AUD3.7 million through bilateral programs to support the roll-out of 

surveys in country and strengthen sectoral data (recent examples include Papua New 

Guinea Household Income and Expenditure Survey; Solomon Islands and Kiribati 

censuses; education, health and transport management information systems in Solomon 

Islands, Nauru and Papua New Guinea respectively). 


• The National Statistics Unit has completed the 2010 Population Census with the 

assistance of the SPC Pacific Regional Information System (PRISM). 


• The New Zealand Aid Programme funds the Pacific Judicial Development Programme 

(PJDP) which will help to build the capacity of Pacific Island judiciaries and courts to 

improve case management and record keeping to enable prompt access to justice for 

Pacific communities. 


• Island data profiling project works toward this objective. 

186




• National data collation on Vanuatu’s labour shortages and surpluses to assist with 

labour mobility policy. The national Statistics Office was also awarded a Certificate of 

Appreciation for the quality of data and statistics collected and shared to all levels of 

governance and civil society. 


Capacity building/training 

• Capacity transfer and skills development have been integrated into all aspects of Statistics 

for Development work, with an emphasis on training national statistical officers to 

undertake census and household survey field operations, including field edits, data 

processing, tabulations, analysis and report writing. Of the 83 Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories staff that received training or were on attachments during the report period, 50 

were female (or 60 percent). 

• Technical assistance totalling 138 person-weeks has been provided to 15 Pacific Island 

Countries and Territories this year to date in support of national statistical systems. 

• Six staff from four Pacific Island Countries and Territories spent a total of 75 days on 

professional attachments with Statistics for Development in support of national census 

and survey analysis, geographic information system (GIS), satellite imagery and economic 

statistics. 

• Seventy four national statistical office and field staff from seven Pacific Island Countries 

and Territories received a total of 490 person-days of training during national and subregional 

workshops conducted in support of census planning and implementation, 

consumer price index compilation and the use of the International Household Survey 

Network (IHSN) toolkit. 

• Four staff members from the Kiribati National Statistics Office received 20 days of on-thejob 

training in international trade statistics. 

Population and Household Census, Household Income and Expenditure Surveys (HIES) and Demographic 

and Health Surveys (DHS) 

• 2010 census rounds in the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati and the Republic of the 

Marshall Islands are being implemented following technical assistance provided by SPC 

Statistics for Development. 

• SPC Statistics for Development provided assistance to Tonga and Tuvalu on their 

household income and expenditure surveys. Reports have been finalised and endorsed by 

government. The Kiribati demographic and health survey report and summary fact sheets 

have been published and were disseminated in May 2011. 

• Demographic and health surveys guide policy development work and anticipate future 

demand for social and other services, including health, education and housing. Household 

income and expenditure survey provide important information on household income, on 

expenditure, assists in the rebasing of consumer price indices, and also provides critical 

poverty benchmarks. 

Facilitating decision making health 

• Improved targeting of health interventions in Kiribati as a result of technical assistance 

and support provided by Statistics for Development to conduct, collect, analyse and 

publish a demographic and health survey for Kiribati. This report was been published and 

disseminated in May 2011. 

187



• With technical support from Statistics for Development, senior health planners in Tuvalu 

are better informed about inequitable access to health services and other health concerns 

following the publication and dissemination of the Tuvalu demographic and health 

survey report and the Tuvalu ‘Facts and Figures at your Fingertips’ policy briefs. 

Minimum core dataset of development indicators 

• A third annual update of the Pacific Region’s MDG indicators was produced, and has 

been supplied to PIFS to feed into the annual tracking report; it has also been supplied to 

the UNDP Pacific Centre regional MDG database, to feed into the World MDG database. 

Multiple reporting by agencies, and inconsistent use of national and regional statistics, 

continues to jeopardize consistent reporting on development progress. 

• In parallel to this routine activity, development has begun in earnest in compiling a core 

list of development indicators across sectors, as mandated by the Pacific Plan. A stock-take 

report will be presented to the SPC Committee of Representatives of Governments and 

Administrators (CRGA) meeting in November 2011. 

Strategic and Corporate Activities 

• Development of the Ten-Year Pacific Statistics Strategy (TYPSS) and the associated Pacific 

Statistics Action Plan 2011-2014, which also provides the framework for the Statistics for 

Development programme’s own Strategic plan 2011-2014. 

• Long-term strategies for developing functioning national statistical systems are being 

guided by the gradual introduction of national strategies for the development of statistics. 

Four countries have committed to this process (Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Fiji and 

Tonga), with work well advanced in Samoa, which has completed its draft design in 

April 2011, and Papua New Guinea recently completing its “road map” to statistical 

development. 

Pacific Regional Information System (PRISM) 

• A publication of important regional economic and social statistical tables is occurring 

as part of the redevelopment of the SPC Pacific Regional Information System (PRISM) 

website. Key developments include setting up a full test website for PRISM that includes 

an interactive map viewer, graphics system, and will include a table-builder in 2012. 

Comprehensive analyses of National Statistics Office website requirements were 

undertaken for Fiji Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu, with training in article maintenance, file 

uploads and menu management. 


• USP’s Faculty of Business and Economics recently launched a book based on papers 

presented at a joint United Nation Population Fund USP regional symposium on 

population and development in the Pacific held in December 2009. The book is a 

compilation of all the presentations and discussions. This publication is expected to be 

a comprehensive and useful resource for Pacific population and development policy 

makers, academics, students, development partners and the general public. 



• Australia is providing funding for SPC to strengthen the statistical capacity of Pacific 

Island countries (AUD10 million over 4 years to 2013). 

188


• Initial technical assistance and training conducted to support planning and budgeting for 

implementation of regular censuses and surveys. Skills audits also need to be undertaken 

in National Statistics Offices across the Pacific and long-term training strategies developed. 

• We expect regional endorsement of the National Minimum Development Indicator 

dataset in 2011. Statistical master plans for five Pacific island countries should also be 

completed and approved by 2011. 


• The official release of the Population Census Report is scheduled soon. 


• The New Zealand Aid Programme will continue to support initiatives such as the Pacific 

Judicial Development Programme. 


• Continue the work on analysing data and disseminating them to stakeholders. 


• In line with Pacific Statistics Action plan, Statistics for Development will continue to 

provide technical assistance and training support to countries across the full spectrum of 

population census and household survey activities. 

• A major new strategic initiative under TYPSS and the Pacific Statistics Action Plan will 

focus on strengthening national administrative databases to help fill data and information 

gaps in four priority sectors identified by the benchmarking study and TYPSS: economic 

sectors (which will include agricultural and also labour force statistics); vital statistics 

and civil registration; and health and education statistics and associated information 

management systems. A key outcome will be to make available data more accessible, fill 

critical data gaps in certain sectors, and to ensure existing databases are set up in such a 

way that they are able to produce real-time data (not just statistics referring to 2-3 years 

ago). 

• While the programme’s strategic and operational focus will be on strengthening the four 

thematic priority areas identified by the benchmarking study and the ten year strategy, 

assistance will also be provided, pending available resources such as staff time and budget, 

to assist other SPC programme areas (such as Human Development Programme with 

gender and cultural statistics; fisheries and agriculture), as well as contribute to crosssectoral 

policy priorities such as food security and climate change. 

• Begin implementing the Pacific region statistical development strategy and develop 

and manage a regional database on agreed core minimum development indicators. 

It will update MDG indicators for all 22 Pacific Island Countries and Territories as its 

contribution to the annual regional MDG Tracking Report. It will continue the work 

undertaken during 2010 on harmonisation of standards regarding statistical collections 

and products. 

• In line with TYPSS priority objectives, the programme will also undertake a skills audit 

of staff of all Pacific island statistical agencies, with the results providing the empirical 

basis for developing a long-term Pacific statistics training strategy and human resources 

development plan. 

189


• Undertake a gap analysis for Pacific Island Countries and Territories that have reported 

incomplete or poor civil registration and develop plans to improve their systems. 

• In collaboration with PFTAC and other potential providers of statistical assistance, 

SPC’s Statistics and Demography Programme (SDP) will coordinate assistance in the 

compilation of national accounts, including short-term capacity supplementation to assist 

Pacific Island Countries and Territories through arrangements for cooperative assistance 

between countries. 

• Planning for a demographic and health survey in Tonga has been completed and survey 

implementation, originally scheduled for 2011 has been postponed until 2012, due to 

Government of Tonga’s decision after the recent elections to hold a full population 

census at the end of 2011. Planning for such a survey is about to begin for Fiji, and funding 

permitting, will be implemented in 2012. 

• National planning, policy and statistical offices in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the 

Federated States of Micronesia and development partners will have access to updated 

population census data before the end of 2011, as a result of technical support that has 

been provided by Statistics for Development with data processing, tabulation, analysis, 

report writing and dissemination of countries’ 2009 and 2010 census data. Similar analyses 

and reports will be forthcoming for Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands in 

early 2012. 

• In collaboration with Paris21, technical support will be provided to support the gradual 

implementation of national strategies for the development of statistics in Fiji Islands, 

Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. 

• Human Development Programme and Statistics for Development inaugural regional 

workshop on cultural statistics bringing together National Statistics Office and cultural 

agencies of nine countries held in collaboration with, and funded by the UNESCO 

Institute of Cultural Statistics with financial assistance from the UNESCO Office of Pacific 

States and support from PIFS. 


• USP plans to introduce an Official Statistics programme, in partnership with UNFPA. The 

UNFPA - Fiji Economic Update took place in September 2011 in Suva and Nadi. 




• Consistent collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistics by national resources will 

see an increase in the use of such statistics for: national policy development; planning and 

lobbying; and informing development assistance decisions of financial/technical partners 

and other stakeholders. 


• Citizens might be reluctant to participate. 

190




• Generally, Pacific Island Countries and Territories’ national capacity to collect, process and 

analyse statistical data is limited due to staff and budgetary constraints, with few countries 

currently able to sustain key statistical collections with their own resources. 

• The lead times that some Pacific Island Countries and Territories schedule for planning 

and implementing censuses and printing relevant documents are still way too short, and 

collections are still more often than not undertaken when funding is available rather than 

in line with domestic policy development and planning requirements. Widespread lack of 

capacity to understand and properly use statistics across the board limits evidence-based 

decision making, planning and the regular tracking and reporting of policy performance 

and development progress. This lack of statistical literacy impacts on the ability to read 

and interpret numbers and time series, and transcend sectors from social statistics, such as 

gender statistics to health and economic data. 

• Concerted efforts will be undertaken during Phase 1 of the Pacific Statistics Action Plan 

to address this situation, targeting statisticians and policy analysts, as well a sectoral 

specialists and journalists. 

• Weak statistical legislation and limited enforcement capacity makes it difficult for Pacific 

Island Countries and Territories to collect economic statistics from businesses. 

• Limited financial resources are accorded to the regular collection of statistics across the 

board. 


(iii) 

Implementing efforts to allow for improved access to official information. 


months 


• The Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) funds the UNDP Pacific Centre to 

provide training and technical assistance to support freedom of information to the media. 

In previous years training has been provided in Palau, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tonga 

and Vanuatu, as well as to regional policy-makers from 10 countries. Training has been 

followed up with technical assistance to a number of countries. 

• In 2010-2011, the program has particularly worked to build freedom of information 

approaches with the Government of Vanuatu and is working with the Commonwealth 

Pacific Governance Facility in support of the Tongan Government’s push to develop a 

freedom of information policy in 2011. 


• New Zealand has provided funding to support initiatives aimed at increasing the demand 

for transparency and good governance at national levels within the Pacific region, and 

strengthening the integrity of institutions and the legislative environment to help 

promote improved access to official information. 

191



• For instance, the New Zealand Aid Programme funds the Commonwealth Ombudsman 

Alliance, which provides organisational and institutional support to members of 

the Pacific Ombudsman Alliance (POA) such as training in financial investigations, 

development of complaint handling systems, legislation development, and sharing of 

information. 

• The New Zealand Aid Programme also funds Transparency International (TI) in Fiji, 

Vanuatu, Tonga and the Solomon Islands. TI is a global network of over 90 national TI 

Chapters, who work cross-sectorally to promote transparency in public administration, 

procurement and business. TI’s global network of national chapters and contacts use 

evidence based advocacy campaigns to lobby and support governments and businesses to 

undertake and implement anti-corruption reforms. 


• Article 4, Section 12 under the Fundamental Rights of the Constitution of the Republic of 

Palau states: “A citizen has the right to examine any government document and to observe 

the official deliberations of any agency of government.” 

• To ensure the Palauan citizens their fundamental right to the freedom of speech while 

discouraging the anonymous posting of false, libellous, or defamatory statements, a bill 

was proposed that takes action against, while at the same time protecting, anonymous 

writing. If comments by an anonymous writer are false and injurious to one’s personal 

reputation, business reputation, or other pecuniary interest the bill allows the victim to 

take action on identifying the anonymous writer. 


• The draft ICT Policy will assist in improving access to official information as within 

Government, the e-Government network system has been completed in early 2011 with 

the funding assistance from the Peoples Republic of China. 

• Rural internet connectivity pilot sites have been established in 2011 to allow more access 

by the wider community. 

• Training and capacity building for agricultural officers and meteorology officers to ensure 

information is passed on to farmers and those in the agricultural sector to support the 

increase of food security through weather services. 

• The completion of the e-Government network across all ministries. 


• Implementation of TYPSS priority objectives and associated activities are on track, with 

most planned activities implemented and completed on time. Those not implemented, 

such as completing the Papua New Guinea census cartography for the 2011 census or 

undertaking the 2011 Tonga Household Income and Expenditure Surveys, were outside 

our control. 

• Some delays were experienced with recruitment of two key positions due to our 

requirement to await final sign-off of priorities by the Pacific Statistics Steering Committee 

in March 2011. 

192



• The Pacific Media Assistance Scheme Program (PACMAS) was reviewed in 2010 and a redesign 

of the program will be completed in late 2011. Under the new design there will be 

an increase in the program’s resources and a continued focus on supporting governments 

and media organisations to improve access to official information. PACMAS will support 

four strategic regional activities, which will include a media policy and legislation activity. 


• New Zealand will continue to support initiatives such as those described above aimed at 

improving transparency and access to official information. 


• Discussions on passing a Freedom of Information Act in Congress. This Act will ensure 

that information sharing is protected by law if denied by any person or agency. 


• Training and awareness on the use of the e-Government network system. 

• Expansion of the rural internet connectivity initiative to all six provinces. 


• Expect to make good progress in the area of economic statistics (national accounts, trade, 

as well as agricultural statistics and labour force statistics) and vital statistics and civil 

registration; these are two of the four TYPSS priority thematic areas earmarked for early 

attention in 2011-2012. 

• Complete provision of technical assistance to all countries undertaking census in 2011 

and 2012, which completes the 2010 World census round (with activities not picking up 

again until 2014/2015). 

• Conduct demographic and health surveys in Fiji and Tonga, in collaboration with UNFPA 

(with financial support from UNFPA and ADB, as well as Pacific Island Countries and their 

donor’s.). 

• Conduct household income and expenditure surveys in at least Nauru and the Federated 

States of Micronesia, which we are committed to completing. 

• Successfully test the new multi-development indicator household survey, with protype 

testing in Vanuatu scheduled for October 2011-September 2012. 

• Develop and obtain country endorsement of the new household income and expenditure 

surveys regional methodology, in line with Pacific Plan request to strive for greater 

harmonization of concepts, systems, classifications, methodologies. 

• Start planning/development process pertaining to regional statistical training and human 

resource development strategy. 

• Get country sign-off and commitment to contribute to maintaining/sustaining the 

regional National Minimum Development Indicator database. 

193




• Little progress has been made on the Freedom of Information Act. 


• Failure to acquire increased capacity to maintain the sustainability of the e-Government 

network system. 


• Financial partners reneging on their budgetary commitments to SPC as a whole, or to 

specific programme activities, thus jeopardising programme delivery. 

• Technical and financial partners ignoring national data/statistics/ indicators and at best 

rely on “estimates” from major multilateral organizations instead. Recent examples 

are the 2010 UNDP HDI report ignoring 5-7 Pacific Island Countries for which data was 

available, and the 2010 WHO Progress report on Achieving Health-related MDGs in the 

Western Pacific Region. 


(iv) 

Supporting efforts to allow an enhanced role for women in national decision-making 

processes. 


months 


• Continued support through the Pacific Leadership Program of the Gender Equality in 

Pacific Governance program, which supports women’s leadership across all political levels 

in the Pacific. 

• Support to the Centre for Democratic Institutions on women’s political participation. 

• Collaboration with the US Department of State and New Zealand to increase support for 

women’s leadership in the Pacific. 

• Australia had also supported the Women’s Leadership Mentoring Program in the Solomon 

Islands, which has supported women within government, civil society and the private 

sector to build their leadership skills and develop mentoring networks. 

194 


• Government of Kiribati through the Ministry of Internal & Social Affairs (MISA), has 

developed a National Action Plan on Women in Decision Making through a national 

consultation; endorsed Regional Action Plan for Women in Decision Making; reviewed the 

draft cabinet paper for Reserved Seats for women in Local Government for approval; and 

planned for Mock Parliament Session for women.




• The New Zealand Aid Programme provided funding to a number of initiatives aimed at 

enhancing the role of women in decision-making processes at all levels. For instance: 

- Initiated, consulted on and funded the Emerging Pacific Women’s Leadership Programme, 

a joint initiative supported by New Zealand, the United States, Australia, 

the World Bank Group and the ADB, to build women’s economic empowerment and 

public leadership in the Pacific; 

- Fostering leadership and capacity development of Pacific police women across the 

region through providing funding to support the Pacific Island Chiefs of Police (PICP) 

Women’s Advisory Network (WAN). 


• An official from the Ministry of State attended the “Empowering Women in the Pacific.” 

meeting in Nadi, July 2011. A draft regional action plan was finalised and will be presented 

to the next Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting for endorsement. 

• A National Action Plan regarding women in policy-making decisions has been drafted and 

is pending to be reviewed and finalized by the appropriate authorities. 

• Women’s roles in decision-making positions are making progressive steps by having a new 

Assistant Attorney General, Ruth Victoria Roe, sworn in. The Assistant Attorney General’s 

focus is on felony and child abuse cases. 


• Police has developed a ‘No Drop’ policy on cases of violence against women. 

• Tuvalu National Council of Women has established a Women Crisis Centre to provide 

counselling services to victims of Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women. 

• National CEDAW Coordinating Committee ongoing review meetings. 

• Study and survey on barriers to women participation in decision making. 


• The National Plan of Action for Women 2007-2011 has identified 12 critical areas of 

concern for women consistent with the Beijing Platform for Action. Vanuatu has also 

developed a draft Women in Government Policy which will soon be finalized. 

• The Shefa Provincial Government Council has reserved 5 allocated seats for women 

within the overall 15 provincial nominates seats as an outcome of the BRIDGE Workshop 

on Gender and Election with the province. 

• A training workshop with Head Boys, Head Girls and Head Teachers in selected Schools in 

Port Vila were carried out on Civic Education, Human Rights, Democracy and Leadership. 

• A Sexual Harassment Policy document was developed as an outcome from a training 

workshop organized in collaboration with the Department of with all Government 

Ministries, Human Resource Officers and non-governmental organisations. 

• A review of the Women in Decision Making Policy was completed and the reestablishment 

of Gender Equality for Political Governance Committee which will oversee 

and direct program activities on gender equality. 

195




• In 2010, all Smaller Island States conducted national consultations on women’s 

participation in decision making processes to discuss barriers and opportunities at the 

national level and agree on recommendations and activities to be carried out over the next 

five years. Following these national consultations, a Smaller Island States Sub-Regional 

Action Plan for Women Participation in Decision Making was developed by PIFS in 

collaboration with the Smaller Island States countries and subsequently endorsed at a 

regional meeting in November 2010. The action plan has five major outputs: increased 

public support for women in decision making; stronger institutional capacity to support 

women’s advancement in decision making; increase in number of women in legislature/ 

parliament; increase capacity of women to enter parliament; and increased capacity of 

members of parliament to dialogue and raise issues of gender equality in the House. 


• The 11th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women endorsed a range of strategies proposed 

by Human Development Programme to accelerate gender equality commitments 

previously made but not yet implemented. These include a recommendation that at least 

one representative of national women’s machineries for each sub-region and a regional 

sectoral gender expert be included as official delegates to all key sectoral meetings and that 

all CROP agencies strengthen their implementation, monitoring and reporting on gender 

equality commitments. 

• Establishment of an SPC gender committee is a significant step forward towards 

mainstreaming gender within the organisation through the endorsement in principle a 

monitoring and planning framework for gender commitments. 

• The Kiribati National Action Plan was presented to Cabinet for consideration in 

September 2010, and subsequently approved. 

• With support from Human Development Programme, a National Women’s Policy was 

endorsed by the Government of Tokelau. 

• Capacity assessments for gender mainstreaming have been conducted in six Pacific Island 

Countries and Territories (Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New 

Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Tonga) as a prerequisite to 

delivering targeted capacity building programmes in 2011. 

• Terms of reference have been finalised for coordination of a multi-agency network of 

Pacific gender and development partners. 

• Technical expertise and assistance have been provided to undertake a review of the 

progress over the past 15 years across the region in implementing the 1995 Beijing 

Declaration and Platform for Action. The report was presented at the 11th Triennial 

Conference of Pacific Women. 

• A workshop was conducted for French-speaking territories on using gender statistics in 

international reporting to the UN CEDAW. 

• In the Solomon Islands, 20 female community leaders were trained in leadership and 

rights based reporting and documentation. Support was provided to enhanced capacity on 

women’s leadership at the national level. 

196



• Mock Parliament Session for Women to be held in August 2011. 


• The New Zealand Aid Programme continues to support a number of initiatives aimed at 

enhancing the role of women in national decision-making processes for example, capacity 

development of Pacific police women via core funding to the Pacific Island Chiefs of Police 

(PICP) Women’s Advisory Network (WAN). 

• The first phase of the Emerging Pacific Women’s Leadership programme will be 

completed, improving Pacific women’s formal participation in the labour force; increasing 

opportunities to engage in entrepreneurship; and increasing young women’s participation 

and leadership in civil society. 


• The finalization and initial implementation of the Women in Policy-Making Decisions 

National Action Plan. 


• The Clerk of the Parliament Office is organizing with PIFS a Women’s Mock Parliament 

Session at the end of August 2011. This is part of empowering women through political 

participation, hence this Mock session will give an opportunity, for women to learn and 

understand the issues that are usually discussed in this High office and the importance of 

being a leader, especially at the political level. 


• Development of a Plan of Action to focus on the elimination of Domestic Violence and 

Violence Against Women. 

• Counselling services had been established within the Tuvalu National Council of Women. 

• Formulate a policy on Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women to strengthen the 

role of traditional leaders, government and island communities. 

• Complete reporting to United Nations – Civil Society Organisations on women status. 

• Temporary special measure to participate in local municipal elections. 


• In August and September 2011, PIFS, UNDP Pacific Centre and national stakeholders 

in Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands respectively, will convene a Mock 

Parliament training for women. The idea of a Mock Parliament for Women draws on the 

very positive experiences that have been reported from recent youth parliaments, for 

example, in Tonga, Samoa, Marshall Islands and Niue. Such Mock Parliaments have been 

shown to provide a practical forum to expose participants to the realities of policy-making 

and parliamentary engagement. While a range of training opportunities have been 

provided to Pacific women, there has been a criticism that these have not often resulted in 

concrete impacts in terms of leading to women actually engaging in parliament processes. 

This activity seeks to directly address that concern by specifically training women on 

parliamentary engagement, and then immediately providing them with a forum to apply 

the skills they have learnt. 

197



• Pacific Island Countries and Territories gender mainstreaming: finalisation of phase one 

stocktake reports and roll out of an implementation plan. 

• Gender mainstreaming in CROP agencies: implementation of the CROP gender 

mainstreaming monitoring mechanism across all CROP agencies, including transparent 

reporting of findings. 

• Gender equality architecture: continued conceptualisation of a regional strategy to 

enhance the architecture and support for gender equality in the Pacific. 

• Implementation of the Union des Femmes Francophones de l’Océanie project. 

• Compiling baseline data in all 22 SPC member Pacific Island Countries and Territories 

and providing national level technical assistance in analysing existing data and filling 

statistical gaps. Funds are currently being sought by the Human Development Programme 

to support this multi-year initiative. 

• Continue to advocacy for gender-balanced legislatures in Pacific Island Countries and 

Territories. 

• Continue support for efforts to address domestic and gender based violence. Support 

for this was initially funded by the UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate 

Violence against Women, which is phased out at the end of 2011. Additional support is 

expected to come from AusAID and UN for Women. 

• Resource mobilisation to implement gender statistics initiative. 

• Implement strategic for strengthening gender mainstreaming capacity. 

• Enhancing women’s participation in politics – RRRT will work with other SPC 

programmes and UNIFEM to assist Solomon Islands to develop temporary special 

measures to enhance women’s participation in politics. 






• Lack of political will. 


• Division of men’s attitude towards the participation of women in decision making. 

• Government’s commitment to the above mentioned women issues. 

• The continuation of funding after the 2 year programs under Australian funding. 

• Capacity of Tuvalu National Council of Women on domestic violence and violence 

against women. 

• Traditional reconciliation may interfere with the police ‘No Drop’ policy. 

198




• The only real issue is funding. However, the Secretariat continues to work strategically 

with development partners to combine resources and minimise risks of duplication of 

efforts. 


• Uncertainty of funding will affect the delivery of current services to members. 

• Low political attention to prioritise women’s issues. 


(v) 

Continuing to strengthen accountability and integrity institutions, through approaches 

such as the Pacific Ombudsman Alliance and Pacific Regional Audit Initiative. 


months 


• Australia’s support for the Pacific Regional Audit Initiative (PRAI) is provided to the Pacific 

Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI). In 2010/11, Australia provided AUD1 

million to PRAI as core funding support, which maintained 80 percent of the PASAI work 

program. 


• The Kiribati National Audit Office (KNAO) was highly commended on the effectiveness 

and success of the PRAI through the Sub-Regional Audit Support (SAS). 

• The SAS has greatly improved the National Audit Office staff audit practices and assisted 

to improve its processes in auditing government ministries and state-owned enterprises. 

The performance of the National Audit Office was acknowledged in the last Parliament 

sitting by the Public Accounts Committee. 


• New Zealand has provided practical support to address corruption and strengthen the 

rule of law in the Pacific through core funding the work of the POA, and TI to develop and 

advocate for strengthened systems and zero-tolerance of corruption. 

• New Zealand has provided funding to PASAI to assist with the delivery of outputs for 

PRAI. This includes training to: build and sustain public auditing capacity, conduct 

cooperative financial and performance audits, and strengthen communications for 

advocacy of accountability and transparency. 


• Palau’s involvement with the POA has led to the creation of the Office of the Ombudsman, 

which sits in the Ethics Commission office. The current Ombudsman, Lucio Ngiraiwet, 

attended the annual Pacific Ombudsman Alliance. 

199



• Much like our fellow Small Island State countries, Palau’s politicians have had frequent 

incidences questioned by the Ethics Commission and the Special Prosecutor. The House 

of Delegates proposed a bill to actively decrease these occurrences by having a mandatory 

training on code of ethics. 

• Bill 83 was passed on March 2011, which amended the proceeds of crime act establishing 

provisions for dealing with international money laundering and combating the financing 

of terrorism. 

• The position of Special Prosecutor is still vacant as the nominee, Mr David Hutton, who is 

the former Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Assistant Attorney General, 

was rejected by the Senate. Rather than nominating another candidate, the President has 

asked the Senate to advise on a further act, allowing the Senate to determine the outcome 

of the office of the Special Prosecutor. 


• The PRAI has assisted in strengthening accountability and integrity through the Tuvalu 

Audit Office. The initiatives that have performed this strengthening are: 

- Providing training to the staff of the Tuvalu Audit Office. One staff member attended 

the Supervisory skills for audit staff training held in the first half of 2011 and two other 

staff members have been involved in the multiple co-operative performance audit 

trainings held in Fiji over the last 12 months. 

- Providing assistance in the form of co-operative performance audits. The Waste Management 

Performance Audit has been completed and tabled, Access to Safe Drinking 

Water Performance Audit is waiting to be tabled in Tuvaluan Parliament and Sustainable 

Fisheries Performance Audit is currently in the planning phase. The co-operative 

performance audits ensure that staff experience and perform a high quality International 

Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions audit methodology and are able to 

consult with extensively experienced reviewers who have significant knowledge of the 

topic within the Pacific. 

- Providing assistance in the form of the Sub-regional Audit Support (SAS) program, 

both through strengthening of staff seconded to the program and the provision of quality 

audit services in Tuvalu. To date two staff has been seconded to the SAS program, 

one of which is currently on the SAS program in Kiribati. The SAS assisted the Tuvalu 

Audit Office perform the Tuvalu Whole of Government 2008 Financial Statement 

Audit and is expected to visit and assist Tuvalu in early 2012. Additionally, the SAS 

Financial Audit methodology, which is based on the NZ Audit Office, has been adopted 

to ensure the maximum benefit is received from staff members attending the SAS program. 

- There has however, been no progress in the area of Ombudsman Office under the Leadership 

Code Act 2006. 



• Australia’s support for PRAI will continue in 2011/12 with the aim of ensuring that 

throughout the region, 70 per cent of available Pacific Island Country public accounts are 

audited in a timely fashion to internationally accepted standards. 

200



• Continuing sharing of experiences between Tuvalu, Nauru and Kiribati regarding best 

practices as gained from the SAS programme and implemented in work. 


• New Zealand will continue to support practical initiatives aimed at strengthening 

accountability and integrity of institutions through the POA, TI, and the PRAI. 

• New Zealand’s support to PASAI to deliver the PRAI is expected to continue. During 

this period, PASAI will facilitate a follow-up study to their 2009 Accountability and 

Transparency Report. The new report will assist in monitoring trends in the use of public 

resources, as well as providing a means for Auditors-General to influence the development 

of accountability institutions in their countries. 


• More awareness, which in turn gains more support for the Ombudsman’s office. 


• These initiatives will continue to strengthen accountability and integrity in the Tuvalu 

Audit Office. 




• Lack of cooperation with other departments and agencies. 


(vi) 

Encouraging greater involvement of parliamentarians in the development agenda, 

through the Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks/Pacific Parliamentary Assembly for 

Population and Development (FPOC-PPAPD) and other leadership groups. 


months 


• The New Zealand Aid Programme provided funding to a number of initiatives aimed at 

encouraging the greater involvement of parliamentarians in the development agenda. 

201




• Palau hosted the 14th Micronesian Chief Executive Summit, held 15-17 December 2010. 

As opposed to the Micronesian Presidential Summit, which requires the collaboration 

of the heads of states and works on an international level, the Chief Executive Summit 

is inclusive to all governments in Micronesia. This summit brings an opportunity for 

governments to share common issues at the national and regional level and is highly 

important on the practice of good governance. 

• Palau hosted the 5th Micronesian Traditional Leaders Conference from 22-25 November 

2010. The main issues discussed consisted of the role of traditional leaders and how they 

can be awarded leadership roles as a separate system to be included in traditional and 

political decisions; historical and cultural preservation through education and language; 

environmental protection; and the traditional settling of disputes regarding land and 

money. At the conclusion of this conference, the body will now be recognized as the 

Council of Pacific Island Traditional Leaders Incorporated and is expected to hold its 

first summit in 2012 in the island of Phonpei. Palau is the secretariat and focal point of 

exchange of information, contact, and administrative coordination. Another important 

end result is the eight resolutions adopted to help overcome, alleviate, and/or prevent 

future challenges for the preservation of cultural heritage and identity while promoting 

social, economic, and political autonomy. 


• The Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference (FPOCC) and the Pacific 

Parliamentary Assembly for Population and Development (PPAPD) Secretariat [a one-man 

secretariat] operated within SPC. In 2009 there was an agreed proposal for that Secretariat 

to be re-located to Cook Islands, to be renamed as the Pacific Legislature on Population 

and Governance and to be managed by a Coordinator and a Project Manager. This did not 

come to pass due to financial issues and nothing has been heard since. 


• Facilitated the Symposium on Population and Development for legislators of the 

Federated States of Micronesia. 

• Conducted a Benchmarking Exercise for the Federated States of Micronesia National 

Congress. 

• Facilitated the Cook Islands Peoples Forum for Change, which allowed candidates 

contesting for seats during the Cook Islands general elections in November 2010 to speak 

on their proposed policies and to answer questions posed by the general public. 

• Facilitated the Open Forum for Youth in the Cook Islands. This was similar to the Peoples 

Forum for Change but focused on young people under 34 years of age. 

• As part of the national commentaries on the outcomes of the Cook Islands’ general 

elections, PIFS organised the publication of the Forum Principles of Good Leadership 

and Accountability through Cook Island’s media sources. This was provided to allow the 

elected Parliamentarians and the general public to generate discussions on the peoples’ 

expectations of the newly elected national leaders. 

• Supported the preparations for the Climate Parliament regional parliamentary hearing for 

the Pacific Island Countries held in October 2010 in Lautoka, Fiji on the theme “Climate 

Change and Energy Access for All”. Over the three days, parliamentary representatives 

from the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Palau, Vanuatu, Kiribati, the Cook Islands, Papua New 

202



Guinea and East Timor were joined by experts in discussing how best to design green 

energy systems – focusing on both household-level standalone systems and village-level 

mini-grids. 

• Facilitated consultations with the local media outlets, freelance journalists and a number 

of NZ and Australian based media outlets, to establish working relationships and to secure 

support in effectively promoting the activities of the Pacific Legislatures for Population 

and Growth. A draft MoU is in place for finalisation with members. 

• Completed pre-testing of a Mapping Exercise methodology on national capacity building 

priorities for the Parliament of the Cook Islands. 

• Facilitated the participation of Parliamentary Champions on Gender, HIV/AIDS and ICT 

issues in regional and international meetings. 

• Organised the formal incorporation of Pacific Legislatures for Population and Growth. 



• The New Zealand Aid Programme will continue to advocate for a greater involvement of 

parliamentarians in the development agenda for instance via the Women in Leadership 

initiative. 


• Annual Micronesian Chief Executive Summit meeting will be held in Pohnpei, Federated 

States of Micronesia in July 2011. 

• Better sub-regional coordination in overcoming common issues and challenges. 


• Ongoing work to improve capacity of national parliaments to enable the efficient and 

effective performance of oversight, accountability, legislative and representative functions 

and roles. 

• Support for a national advocacy campaign with parliamentarians and various sectors on 

Population and Development thematic issues. 

• Continue to provide advocacy materials. 

• In collaboration with UNDP and other partners, undertake an International Conference on 

Population and Development thematic advocacy workshop and induction workshops for 

members. 

• In collaboration with member countries, continue to support for national advocacy 

campaign with parliamentarians on raising awareness on issues relating to population 

and development. 

• Continue mobilising resources to support advocacy programmes for legislators. 

203




• Lack of funding and limited human resources. 


• Acknowledgement by parliamentarians of the important role they play in shaping future 

population and development issues and effective engagements by them in population and 

development debate and decision-making. 

• Limited financial and human resources available to support the advocacy initiatives of 

parliamentary groups on population and development. 


(vii) 

Addressing corruption through the use and implementation of relevant and existing 

national, regional and international mechanisms and commitments. 


months 


• New Zealand has provided practical support to address corruption and strengthen the 

rule of law in the Pacific through core funding the work of the POA and TI to develop and 

advocate for strengthened systems and zero-tolerance of corruption. 

• New Zealand has also funded initiatives aimed at enabling prompt access to justice for 

Pacific communities through: 

- the Pacific Judicial Development Programme which provides capacity development 

training to approximately 400 Pacific judicial and court officers to strengthen their 

professional competence, and the capacity of their systems and processes; and 

- the 2010 Pacific Island Legal Officers Network Basic Litigation Skills Training Programme, 

which trained up to 40 Pacific Island Government legal officers to support 

prompt access to professional legal representation for Pacific Island communities. 

204 


• A priority in the Pacific that links to every issue or agenda item is that of human rights. 

Palau’s opportunity to improve the country’s implementation of these rights came on 3 

May 2011 during our presentation of the Universal Periodic Review to the Office of the 

High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. Many achievements and 

constraints were highlighted, providing an accurate and blunt report where the country 

could be proud of their achievements while shining light on areas of improvement, 

which will require financial assistance from donors. Palau’s progress towards achieving 

the MDGs is promising alongside the many commitments to democracy and the respect 

for the rule of law. Ratifications of conventions were recommended as were the urgency 

to address food security (to complete the MDGs) and revisions of laws in accordance



with international norms. Although there is always room for improvement, Palau must 

be delicate in addressing these recommendations while protecting the unique culture, 

heritage and tradition. Currently, Palau has two legislative bills for a Domestic Violence 

Family Act and a Victim’s Assistance Act to address gender violence, a human trafficking 

legislation (the only one in the Pacific), and the intention to hold a wider consultation for 

the establishment of a national human rights institution. Due to the lack of resources and 

capacity, Palau needs the help of the international community for technical and financial 

assistance to meet its obligations. 


• From 16-17 February 2011, the Nitijela (National Parliament) of the Republic of Marshall 

Islands hosted a National Workshop on Ratification and Implementation of the UN 

Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) for members of the Nitijela. The workshop 

was facilitated by the UNDP Pacific Centre. The workshop discussed the value of UNCAC 

ratification to the Republic of Marshall Islands national development efforts and 

achievement of the MDGs. The provisions of UNCAC were explained in detail to Senators, 

as well as the UNCAC Review Mechanism. 


• Tabling before Parliament of the Auditor-General’s Report 2009 - 2010. 

• Public Accounts Committee studied report, made investigations and made 

recommendations to the Parliament. 

• Parliament debated Public Accounts Committee’s recommendations for the first time. 

• Parliament obligated the Government to act on Parliament’s decisions from Public 

Accounts Committee’s recommendations and submit to Parliament a Government 

Response Report. 

• Government Response Report tabled in Parliament in August session 2010. 

• Procurement policy and system now in place and implemented. 


• Vanuatu ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption Act No. 15 of 2010 

and officially commenced in March 2011. 


• RRRT, in partnership with PIFS conducted further research and scoping towards the 

development of a regional human rights mechanisms for the region, including meeting 

with: 

- Pacific Judges and Magistrates in December 2010; 

- Pacific Lawyers and the Pacific Human Rights Lawyers Network in November 2010; 

- regional civil society human rights defenders in September 2010; and 

- drafting a policy paper and information kit on the advancement and proposed path 

towards a human rights mechanism for the region. 

Human Rights 

• Report to the UN Human Rights Council under the new Universal Periodic Review 

reporting mechanism on human rights in partnership with the Office of the High 

Commissioner for Human Rights, RRRT assisted both civil society and the governments 

of Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Papua New 

205



Guinea, Palau, Nauru and the Republic of the Marshall Islands in reporting to the UN 

Human Rights Council under the new Universal Periodic Review reporting mechanism on 

human rights. 

• Support was provided in the form of training in each country, as well as technical 

assistance in report writing. In addition, “mock” UPR sessions were conducted for the 

Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Kiribati and the Republic of Marshall Islands. 

• RRRT staff provided technical assistance in Geneva to the government delegations of 

Nauru, Samoa and Solomon Islands. 

• In partnership with UNDP and SPC’s Human Development Programme, assistance was 

provided to Fiji and Kiribati to update reports on international conventions such as 

CEDAW, as well as support to Nauru for ratification of CEDAW. 

• Develop model legislation for protection of people living with HIV/AIDS – RRRT will help 

Pacific Island Countries and Territories develop legislation that protects people infected 

or affected by HIV from discrimination through the development of model legislation 

that could be adapted. Initial work with Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Palau and Vanuatu will 

review existing legislation and look at improved legislative options. 

• The Universal Periodic Review “Road Map” publication was launched in September 2010 

to be followed by the Pacific Human Rights Law Digest III in December 2011. 

• Development of a regional human rights mechanism for the Pacific – In partnership with 

PIFS, RRRT developed the concept of a regional human rights mechanism for the Pacific 

for consideration by Pacific Island Forum leaders, as well a draft proposal submitted to 

EU for a three-year project to increase the rate of Pacific Island Countries and Territories 

ratification and implementation of international human rights treaties. 

• Provision of training and technical assistance to Kiribati, Fiji and Solomon Islands in 

CEDAW reporting. 

• Provision of technical support to regional non-governmental organisations and 

government organisations dialogue on CEDAW Implementation and monitoring. 



• The New Zealand Aid Programme will continue to support initiatives to address 

corruption and strengthen the rule of law in the Pacific through core funding the work of 

the POA and TI to develop and advocate for strengthened systems and zero-tolerance of 

corruption. 


• A gap analysis needed to complete the UN Self-Assessment Checklist on UNCAC started 

16 May 2010 by Dr Henry Ivarature and finalized in November 2010. The next step is to 

await review by Palau in order to see what policies and laws are compliant and/or need 

revision to align with that of UNCAC. Palau’s peer review is set for 2014, giving Palau a 

chance to review the legal framework for anti-corruption, and the opportunity to involve 

the entire government in completing the reporting exercise. 


• Tendering out of the procurement system development. 

206



• Regional consultation on regional human rights mechanisms to be held in November 

2011. 

• Finalization of a policy paper to be adopted through PIFS of a path towards a regional 

human rights mechanism. 

• Further scoping and liaison with key actors in the region and in the Asia Pacific region 

through regional and national dialogues with lawyers, senior civil servants and civil 

society actors. 

• Further training and national consultations on CEDAW and CEDAW reporting to be held 

in Fiji and Kiribati. 

• Assistance provided to Vanuatu on reporting on International Covenant on Civil and 

Political Rights, Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities and ratification of the 

Rome Statute. 

• Under a new initiative with PIFS, RRRT will provide training and technical assistance to all 

14 Forum Island Countries in reporting and ratification of all human rights treaty reports, 

plus encouraging countries to develop a “common core” human rights treaty document 

which will reduce the burden of reporting to human rights treaty bodies through 

consolidation of reporting information. Countries will be encouraged to ratify the core 

human rights treaties, as well as the Rome Statute. 




• Cooperation and coordination amongst partners needed in completing the Human Rights 

reporting exercise. 


• The availability of local business capacity to provide the service (technical and capital 

resources) for the procurement system. 

• The length of time it takes for the completion and availability of public accounts for the 

audited year – for reconciliation purposes with the Auditor-General’s Report. 


• Political will to advance a regional mechanism that is independent and provides for 

human rights protection. 

• Capacity to report on human rights treaties. 

207

| E | 

Ensuring improved 

social, political and legal 

conditions for stability, 

safety and security 

208


(i) 

Improving human security outcomes for Members, through advancing effective conflict 

prevention, conflict resolution mechanisms and peace building. 


months 


• The Kiribati Police Service has visited about 30-40 communities from Eita to Bikenibeu 

(east end) to conduct training. Outcome of these visit/trainings included: 

- Development of Community Policing Groups (CPG) consisting of male elders (60+ yrs) 

from communities around South Tarawa. The Police Service have provided trainings to 

these CPGs in their roles as peace makers and conflict preventers and negotiators; and 

- addressing the common community 6:00 pm policy, requires any offender (community 

member) who is excommunicated (dismissed and evacuated) to leave the village before 

6:00pm. 

• The Police Service has also developed a Mobilization Plan to address issues such as civil 

unrest. Drills have been conducted to assess the feasibility of the Plan. 


• NZ Police have provided a range of assistance in the Pacific, including operational 

engagement in peace support operations and technical assistance under a coaching model. 

• The New Zealand Aid Programme commenced funding a new initiative from January 

2011 called the Partnership for Pacific Policing. Under the initiative NZ Police will provide 

a range of policing assistance to Kiribati and Tuvalu (for example for youth offending 

strategies, prosecution training). The programme will also include Pacific-regional 

supervision courses and targeted specialist police training for Pacific police forces. 

Although the programme has a community policing focus, it will also cover training/ 

mentoring/advising in other core components of policing such as investigations, police 

prosecutions and youth offending. 


• The Pacific Judicial Council held a conference in Koror, Palau from 3-7 April 2010. The 

agenda comprised of sessions and presentations about juvenile prosecution, writing and 

editing, and ethics of which were all presented by lawyers and judges both from the Pacific 

(United States Affiliated Pacific Islands) and the United States. 

• The Attorney General and the Minister of Justice travelled to Almaty City, Kazakhstan 

to attend an international conference entitled, “Joining forces to asset recovery and 

counteraction international corruption” held from 9-11 March 2010. Following this, they 

also travelled to Bali for the Bali Process on Human Trafficking and People Smuggling 

held at the end of March. Related to this, in May 2005 the Palau National Congress passed 

a law entitled “Anti-People Smuggling and Trafficking Act” to provide stiff criminal 

penalties for smuggling and trafficking people in accordance to the Nasonini Declaration, 

the Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air, and the Protocol 

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to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, 

supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Organized Crime. As the 

Bali Process is the only grouping in our region that addresses the challenges of people 

smuggling, trafficking in persons and irregular migration generally, Palau is committed 

to the Bali Process as through its workshops, conferences, and seminars, it has helped us 

develop our laws to comply with international standards of the elimination of trafficking. 


• Bill 83 was passed on March 2011, which amended the proceeds of crime act establishing 

provisions for dealing with international money laundering and combating the financing 

of terrorism. 

• Bill 92 was also passed on March 2011, amending the Ministry of Justice Special Revenue 

Fund Act splitting collections 50-50 between the Republic of the Marshall Islands 

General Fund and the Special Revenue Fund to support police, immigration and Attorney 

General’s office activities. 


• Two Good Will tours have been undertaken by the Vanuatu Mobile Force to two of the 

Provinces of Malampa and Penama to promote remote service delivery and security. The 

awareness conducted included peoples lawful rights to live, freedom and rights of others 

and other important aspects of the Family Protection Act. 

• The Crime Prevention Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs has undertaken 

crime prevention and community safety, resulting in 30 percent of its target being met 

towards down scaling of use of illegal drugs and crime in the provinces. 

• To improve the operations of the Vanuatu Police Force in enhancing community safety, 

crime prevention and victim support, 53 percent of Force members underwent various 

forms of training in the mentioned areas with 262 trainings held over the year. 

• In line with promoting and improving community perception of the Vanuatu Police 

Force, 35 schools undertook awareness programs on proactive community policing. 

• To advance arrangements in the development of a customized Community Policing 

Concept in Vanuatu, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Vanuatu Police Force 

deployed a scoping team to Suva, Fiji in September – October 2011 to study the 

Community Policing Concept currently practiced in Fiji. 



• The Kiribati Police Service plans to expand the CPG to rural areas (outer islands) and 

visit Maiana Island in the next few months to conduct this Community Policing Group 

training. 


• Scoping work under the Partnership for Pacific Policing programme will also be carried 

out in Vanuatu and Tokelau this year to assess what type of assistance would be 

appropriate in those countries. 

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• Compilation of input and feedback from the Human Trafficking Task Force’s assessment 

of current laws and practices that need to be improved and amended. 


• Work on improving administrative systems, procedures and training to enhance service 

delivery through the update of the draft Force Orders. 

• Working with stakeholders in Vanuatu including civil society and private investors to 

jointly develop a Community Policing Policy Document and present to the Council of 

Ministers for approval and implementation. 




• Limited funding has always been experienced in undertaking this new initiative because 

although it has been budgeted for in the Kiribati Police Service recurrent budget, the 

budget has not been realistic because of the ceiling limitations set by the Ministry of 

Finance and Economic Development. 


• Lack of resources and staff to enforce laws. 


• Any reduction in budget and recruitments. 


• Political will, commitment and human resources at the national level to integrate human 

rights into national plans and policies. 


(ii) 

Strengthening cooperation in the law enforcement and border security sectors to address 

terrorism and transnational crime. 


months 


• Financial support (AUD50,000) for the continuing United Nations Office on Drugs and 

Crime (UNODC)/PIFS technical assistance project in the Pacific in the counter-terrorism 

field. 

• Endorsement by the PIFS Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in May 2011 of the 

commencement of an Australian-led work programme, including assistance with meeting 

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reporting requirements and a review of the region’s compliance with UNSCR 1267, to 

complement the continuing UNODC/PIFS technical assistance project in the Pacific in the 

counter-terrorism field. 

• Financial support for the proposed UNODC Transnational Organized Crime Assessment 

(TOCTA) for East Asia and the Pacific. 


• The establishment of the Combined Law Agency Group (CLAG) has been effective 

in strengthening the cooperation in the law enforcement and border security to 

address transnational crime. The CLAG consists of the Kiribati Police Service; Customs 

Department (Ministry of Finance & Economic Development); Immigration Department 

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration); the Ministry of Health & Medical Services. 

The main objective of CLAG is to share resources and information to combat national and 

transnational crimes; and it meets regularly to achieve its main objective. 


• New Zealand supports a range of activities to assist Pacific Island Countries address 

terrorism and transnational crime. Examples include: 

- Funding the annual Forum Working Group on Counter-terrorism and Exercise Ready 

Pasifika II held in NZ in May 2011 (which tested members national counter-terrorism 

response capacity); 

- Financial assistance to the joint Forum/UNODC counter-terrorism project to assist 

Forum members finalise CT legislation and ratify remaining CT instruments; 

- Funding to Police Dog programmes in Tonga, Cook Islands and Samoa for drug detection; 

- Methamphetamine Awareness Training; 

- Supply and installation of safes and training in armoury management in Niue, Kiribati 

and Tuvalu; 

- Aviation Security Development Training Programmes and provision of equipment; 

- Pacific Regional Immigration Identity Project to develop capacity to detect investigate 

and prevent the use of identify fraud and improve collaboration and information sharing 

among law agencies. 

• Support provided to the Cook Islands and New Zealand Customs Services to develop 

an integrated Border Management System (BMS) as improving border management, an 

important priority for both Cook Islands and New Zealand. 


• A MoU signed in March 2011 between the Government of Palau and the international 

anti-poaching organisation, known as the Sea Shepherd, has been terminated by President 

Toribiong. The US Embassy and the Government of Japan had expressed concerns 

about the organization’s presence in the Pacific. Under the Compact agreement with 

Palau, the US has the exclusive right to regulate the presence of anyone within the 

islands’ jurisdiction, therefore terminating Palau’s contract with the organisation. The 

Sea Shepherd conveyed their support for protecting the waters of Palau and offered 

future assistance should Japan fail to follow through with assistance in marine security. 

Currently, Palau’s waters go unpatrolled on a consistent basis. 

212




The following activities are planned: 

• Annual Defence Cooperation talks with the Australian Defence Force. 

• Annual Pacific Islands Commissioners of Police Conference (PICP). 

• Annual Pacific Immigration Directors Conference (PIDC). 

• Annual Oceania Customs Conference. 

• Exclusive Economic Zone Surveillance patrol for people, drug, weapon trafficking. 

• Participate in the Kurukuru EEZ Surveillance Exercise. 

• Police participation in counter-terrorism training. 


• Joint Border Document Training Program for Law Enforcement Agencies in Collaboration 

with PIFS was held in 2010. The training programs seek to strengthen the capacity of law 

enforcement officers working at the border and enhance inter-agency cooperation. The 

training included Officers from Customs, Immigration, Police, and Quarantine. 

• A workshop to help stop fraudulent acts related to immigration was held in 2011 with 

related government agencies, and Republic of Marshall Islands Police Force and officials 

from the Federated States of Micronesia. The meeting was also followed up by a workshop 

on Interagency Border Management. 


• The Vanuatu government has continued to strengthen its boarder security sectors through 

the execution of boarder control checks in six of its port of entries. It has also approved its 

legislation processes to accommodate its passport computerized system to enable it to be 

on par with other international standards. 

• Over the year the government, through its national and boarder surveillance programs, 

has undertaken 12 inspections and ten remote area patrols with the cooperation of other 

law enforcement and security agencies. 

• The Government of Vanuatu through the Vanuatu Police Force has conducted workshops 

on National Framework on Information Sharing and Monitoring and Surveillance. The 

workshops were attended by all law enforcement agencies in the country including civil 

societies. 


• Remained engaged with the PIFS Regional Forum Security Committee (FRSC) in areas of 

overlapping interest between fisheries and transnational crime. 


• SPC SOPAC Division is working with 14 Pacific Island Countries to improve their 

understanding of regional maritime boundary status and monitoring and effective 

management of fishing vessel, and other trans-boundary vessel movements. This can 

only be achieved if clear, UNCLOS compliant information and data exists which correctly 

defines Pacific Island Countries maritime boundary limits. Specific work over the last 12 

months relates to continued work on extended continental shelf claim development for10 

Pacific Island Countries, and work with Niue, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Solomon 

Islands and Tuvalu on their marine spaces legislation, baseline and delimitation solutions, 

towards declaration of their respective maritime zones and limits. 

213



• Completion of the Australian-led work programme endorsed by the PIF Working Group 

on Counter-Terrorism in May 2011. 


• Continuing meetings and sharing of information and resources. 


• New Zealand will continue to fund a range of activities that enhance security in the Pacific 

including continuing progress in Customs reform in the region. 


• The Bureau of Immigration continues to play a significant role in Palau’s security through 

management of its borders and the heavy task of overseeing the county’s arrivals and 

departures (in people and goods) in coordination with many other government agencies. 

However, lack of resources limits the Bureau from advancing in terms of computerised 

systems for screening people coming in and going out of Palau; and getting training for 

immigration and customs officers. 

• Through Executive Order 293, President Toribiong created a taskforce to investigate 

allegations of human trafficking and abuse of non-resident workers. It is not only 

imperative that all people in Palau are safe, but also required by the Anti-People 

Smuggling and Trafficking Act that non-residents who are brought to Palau are done so 

legally and do not breach Human Rights violations. Non-residents play an important role 

to Palau’s economy and every-day life, and their safety needs to be ensured. The taskforce 

has a time frame of reporting back to the President no later than 30 April 2010. 


• Set up network of stakeholders. 

• Discussions for a Policy under the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 to identify and specify 

department roles in such a situation. 


• Closer coordination with Quad members in areas of law enforcement, border security, 

terrorism and transnational crime to leverage the use of their resources to support 

members in addressing these issues. 


• SPC SOPAC Division in collaboration with Geoscience Australia, Commonwealth 

Secretariat and UNEP Global Resource Information Database Shelf Programme and 

14 Pacific Island Countries maritime boundaries technical teams will continue to 

develop enduring and UNCLOS compliant solutions for Pacific Island Countries 

maritime boundaries, as well as continued support to ten Pacific Island Countries in the 

development and defence of their extended continental shelf claims. 

214




• Lack of resources, staff, law enforcement officers, boats, and sustainable funding. 


• Commitment by stakeholders. 

• Government commitment to have a policy on counter –terrorism actions. 

• Technical and financial assistance when government approves the formulation of a policy 

on counter-terrorism. 


• Lack of maintenance and budgeting for the patrol boats may hinder the surveillance being 

undertaken in Vanuatu boarders. 

• Climate of political instability may cause delay in decision from the Council of Ministers 

on some of the policies which needed their official endorsements. 


• The reduction in New Zealand programmatic funds for 2011 has impacted the SPC SOPAC 

Division’s ability to deliver on the above important task areas and alternative funding is 

urgently required. 


(iii) 

Promoting and consolidating regional stability through adherence to Forum values and 

the principles of the Biketawa Declaration. 


months 


• Government of Kiribati (through the Kiribati Police Service) has provided more than 

20 police officers to participate in the Regional Assistance Mission (RAMSI) to Solomon 

Islands program, and continues to offer assistance and support to RAMSI. 

• The Police Service found that its involvement and participation in the RAMSI program has 

provided an exceptional platform of learning for its officers in leadership and people skills; 

these officers have contributed positively to the Police Service’s Community Policing 

programme. 


• New Zealand continues to have an active involvement in RAMSI. 

• New Zealand has provided funding to the Regional Security Fund (RSF), held by PIFS to 

assist in implementation of the Biketawa Declaration. 

215




• The Bureau of Public Safety is consistent in their support for RAMSI and have been 

deploying officers since November 2006. Two police officers are currently in the 

Solomon Islands and are expected to return shortly, while two other officers have already 

undergone training and await their turn to participate in RAMSI. 

• The Bureau of Public Safety deployed two Police Peacekeepers to Darfur, Sudan under the 

United Nations Africa Mission in Darfur (UNMID). 


• A participating contingent to RAMSI. 



• Depending on RAMSI programme, continued assistance will be provided. 


• Two other officers have already been selected for the new Peacekeeping rotation in Darfur, 

but this will depend on an agreement by the UN. The current situation of visas not being 

issued in Sedan has been the sole reason for the delay. 


• Continue to form part of RAMSI 




• Same risks as in the past, such as: an over-crowded jail, lack of officers to enforcement laws, 

and lack of boats/ships to patrol the EEZ. 


• The selection of right people who could pass through the physical and health tests during 

the pre-engagement training in Australia. One or two officers had not passed the test in the 

past and were declined participation in RAMSI. 

216

Other On-going 

Pacific Plan Priorities 

This section provides an update on priorities set by 

Leaders at previous meetings of the Pacific Islands Forum. 

217

Priority 

Development of a regional cultural strategy to maintain and strengthen Pacific cultural identity. 


months 


• Drafting of A Pacific Culture and Education strategy progressing in consultation with 

countries and partners with progression of a number of goals already underway. 

• Technical assistance has been provided to Solomon Islands for preparations for the 11th 

Festival of Pacific Arts. 

• A review of Solomon Islands copyright legislation and development of new legislation on 

the protection of traditional knowledge is underway in close collaboration with the World 

Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). 



• Completion of the strategy and implementation plan and actions underway. 




• Lack of human resources regionally and nationally. 

• Resource constraints at national level to implement cultural mapping policies. 

Priority 

Sustainably increase the coverage of safe drinking water and basic sanitation service. 


months 

218 


Water Resources Management 

• The EU funded Pacific Hydrological Cycle Observing System (HYCOS) project being 

implemented in collaboration with World Meteorological Organisation, UNESCO and



the Fiji Meteorological Service. A Project Regional Centre was established including 

hydro(geo)logical advisers, database and technical support. The project was extended until 

December 2010 and is currently in a transition stage prior to ending. 

• Individual Country Implementation plans have been implemented over the last four years 

including mobilisation of hydrological monitoring equipment and on the ground capacity 

building in all Pacific ACP Countries. 

• All Pacific Island Countries now have the equipment, technologies and capacity to 

monitor the status and trends of their water resources within their pilot basins and 

aquifers. 

• Resource assessments and monitoring status reports are finalised and sustainability plans 

are being drafted for each participating country. 

• Regional outcomes of the project include the establishment of a Regional Hydrological 

Database and a Pacific Catalogue of Rivers. 

• Support was provided to the Fiji Global Environment Facility (GEF) Integrated Water 

Resources Management Demonstration Project on river/water ecosystem health through 

enhancing the capacity in river water quality and biological surveillance and monitoring 

in collaboration with International Union for Conservation of Nature. 

• Ongoing liaison with National Meteorological Services and climate information 

stakeholders under Pacific Hydrological Cycle Observing System Pacific Regional Centre 

through various programmes including Pacific Islands Climate Predictions Project, 

SCOPIC, Pacific Island Climate Update and Climate Change Adaptation Initiatives such as 

undertaken under GIZ, Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change, and International Climate 

Change Adaptation Initiative (Tuvalu, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Tonga) 

as well as contributions to general climate change discussions in the region. 

• Demonstration project designs finalised and being implemented through National 

Coordinators inclusive of the following progress in countries: 

- Technical works underpinning flood early warning systems and floodplain mapping in 

Vanuatu and Fiji. 

- Scoping work in Samoa and Palau for the establishment of riparian protection areas 

and buffer zones. 

- Septic waste management upgraded for Neiafu, Tonga. 

- Study identifying sanitation options completed in Nauru and initiated in the Federated 

States of Micronesia and Cook Islands. 

- Installation of composting toilets commenced in Tuvalu. 

- Planning of wastewater management strategies ongoing for Laura Lens in Majuro 

Atoll, Niue and Samoa. 

- Integrated Water Resources Management principles incorporated into national strategic 

frameworks of three countries (Vanuatu, Kiribati and Solomon Islands), under 

development in six countries (Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue and Tuvalu) 

and being followed through other paths in four countries (Tonga, Federated States of 

Micronesia, Palau and Republic of Marshall Islands). 

- Ten countries (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Republic of the Marshall Islands, 

Tonga, Samoa, Solomon, Vanuatu and Tuvalu) have established Apex bodies, and three 

countries (Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Republic of the Marshall Islands) 

are planning national water summits to launch water policy and legal reform process 

through national committees and Presidential decrees. 

219



220 

- Local capacity for water quality monitoring established in Vanuatu, Niue, Cook Islands 

and Republic of the Marshall Islands through training and equipment. 

- Republic of the Marshall Islands Environmental Protection Agency lab certification by 

United States Environmental Protection Agency. 

- Development of electronic water quality database and training provided to Vanuatu, 

Niue, Cook Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Fiji and Samoa. 

- Regional training for the South Pacific to be held in Fiji and for North Pacific in Guam. 

- Development of national drinking water quality standards for Fiji and Samoa. 

- Local capacity in-country built to develop and implement drinking water safety plans 

in Tonga, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Palau, Fiji, Niue, Samoa and Republic of the Marshall 


- Drinking water safety plans for selected water supplies (urban and rural) in the above 

eight participating countries. 

- Technical review of drinking water safety plans for Palau, Niue, Cook Islands and 

Tonga. 

- Costed improvement schedules for Palau, Nauru, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji and 

Vanuatu. 

- Regional lessons learned workshop held in Vavau, Tonga. 

- Promotion and Monitoring of implementation of Pacific Wastewater Policy and Framework 

for Action. 

- Increased capacity in wastewater management through trained pool of mid-high level 

Pacific wastewater technicians and managers. 

- Sub-regional trainings in Fiji, Guam and Papua New Guinea. 

- National training in Tonga, Kiribati, Fiji and Cook Islands. 

- Evaluation and review of regional wastewater framework for action and recommended 

way forward/next steps. 

- All member countries provided with World Water Day 2010 campaign material on the 

theme “Clean Water for a Healthy World” through national World Water Day focal 

points. 

- Gender mainstreaming workshop being planned for Tuvalu in collaboration with 

Global Environment Facility Integrated Water Resources Management. 

- Ongoing campaigns regarding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene through school and 

community WASH campaigns in Tonga and Tuvalu, school hand-washing campaign 

in Fiji and trials to demonstrate health outcomes of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 

interventions in Tuvalu. 

- Reference produced on mainstreaming gender into WASH activities. 

- Rainwater harvesting asset condition surveys of domestic infrastructure are supported 

in Nauru, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu with translation of community participation 

documents in local languages. 

- Formation in December 2010 of a Water and Sanitation Sub-Committee under the Micronesian 

Chief Executives Summit to coordinate sub-regionally water and sanitation 

issues and to monitor progress. 

- Agreement by the Melanesian Spearhead Group in June 2011 to the formation of 

a Water, Sanitation and Climate Sub-Committee to promote the development of 

national water policy and coordinate sub-regionally water and sanitation issues and to 

monitor progress.



• Planning arrangements supported on water management through national Integrated 

Water Resources Management coordinators, in-country consultations, support for water 

and sanitation apex bodies, and advice on policy, planning and legislation. 

• SPC’s SOPAC Division as Sub-Regional Coordinator for Oceania for the Asia Pacific Water 

Forum contributed to Steering Committees and preparations for the 2nd Asia Pacific 

Water Summit in Bangkok, Thailand in 2012 and the 6th World Water Forum to be held 

March 2012 in Marseille, France. 

• The Coordination Unit has been established and is fully functional with newsletters being 

produced and focal groups established as well as a water action matrix database. 

• An MOU has been signed with Caribbean Environmental Health Institute, and the Global 

Water Partnership, to allow the exchange of information and experiences on small island 

country water issues, actions and lessons learned on Hydrological Cycle Observing 

System, Integrated Water Resources Management and Water and Sanitation Programme. 

• A new Strategy for the Water and Sanitation Programme has been drafted. 

• Conduct three-monthly Pacific WASH Coalition meeting. Coordinate technical support 

to Pacific WASH Cluster during periods of emergencies and disasters. Conduct gender 

mainstreaming and community participation workshops. Support World Water Day 

2011 celebrations regionally. Link resource materials to World Water Day 2011 theme; 

implement hand washing campaign in selected Fiji schools. Strategy for effective hand 

washing campaign developed through lessons learned and disseminated across the region 

through Pacific WASH Coalition and Partners. 

• Pacific Integrated Water Resources Management Resource Centre updated and 

maintained. Fourth Regional Steering Committee meeting and IWC Training 

Workshop carried out. Regional Indicator Framework signed off by Countries and 

formal baselines established. Continuous review activities carried out. International 

and Regional Partnership Position paper drafted. Pacific Leaders on Water Material 

developed. Continuous media engagement and products developed and inputs provided 

to a civil society and youth forums on water and sanitation. Country programmes 

being implemented in Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, 

Nauru, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu with continuous support being provided to ongoing 

efforts of Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tonga. 

Capturing Integrated Water Resources Management best practices in a technical report. 

Development of water use efficiency guidelines. Integrated Water Management Post 

Graduate Certificate Course implemented and Community Capacity Building for 

Integrated Water Resources Management technical assistance carried out. 

• Quarterly newsletter produced, Website established and maintained, E-mail focal groups, 

Interactive Water Action Database maintained. 



• In the area of water resources management assisting with establishing surface water 

stations in Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia under GEF Integrated Water 

Resources Management project. 

• Carrying out investigations to assess groundwater resource potential in Tonga. 

• Assess major landuse threats and risks associated with current groundwater abstractions 

in Republic of the Marshall Islands, development of landuse planning. 

221


• Respond to member country requests through technical missions and/or advice provided 

in a timely and effective manner. 

• Conduct annual reporting on status of water resources in Tonga and the Republic of the 

Marshall Islands. 

• Populating and managing the regional HYCOS database improving confidence in the 

quality of hydrological data. 

• Carrying out water quality and biological monitoring and evaluation program for 

Nadi (Fiji) coastal water and river discharges, developing a capacity building strategy 

for participatory water quality monitoring in the Nadi basin, involving stakeholder 

monitoring. Compiling water quality data for the Nadi coastal waters and Nadi River 

discharges. Assessing temporal and spatial variability of water quality in the coastal 

waters and discharging river water, and carrying out a preliminary design study to value 

mangrove goods and services in and adjacent to the Nadi basin and assessment of impacts 

of flood discharge scenarios. 

• The Resource Centre will continue to provide a platform for water resources managers and 

increase its involvement in providing the necessary information and guidance for climate 

adaptation initiatives regarding water management through agreed coping and adaptation 

strategies. Planned outputs include: strengthened capacity for water resources assessment 

and monitoring; enhanced application of climate information to cope with climate 

variability and change; and mainstreaming risk management approaches in Integrated 

Water Resources Management. 

• Implementing the Pacific Integrated Water Resources and Wastewater Management 

Demonstration Project. 

• Improvements noted in the laboratory monitoring and evaluation template. Recertification 

of the Republic of the Marshall Islands EPA laboratory by United States 

Environmental Protection Agency. Training to be conducted for Kiribati and Papua New 

Guinea counterparts. Improvements noted and follow up through proficiency testing, 

databases populated and being used for information sharing, training conducted in Fiji, 

Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. Follow up visits to communities 

to note change in behaviour through improvements in the sanitary surveys, water quality 

training and/or technical advice provided in partnership for effectiveness and efficiency. 

• In the area of water demand management equipment to be delivered and installed for use, 

water balance figures for the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Palau developed, System 

Loss Management Plans (SLMP) finalised for Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Republic of the 

Marshall Islands and a regional benchmarking report being made available. 

• Training using Global Programme of Action methodology to be delivered. Report on 

demonstrating health benefits from WASH interventions in Tuvalu produced and shared 

regionally through Pacific WASH Coalition and partners. 

• Revising and publishing rainwater harvesting guidelines and manual and delivering 

training in Cook Islands. Producing a bibliography for dissemination through Pacific 

WASH Coalition, drafting a position paper through research and lessons learned on 

compost toilet trials in Pacific Island Countries. 

• Organising the review and consultation process for the regional water, sanitation and 

climate outlooks and strategies with a view to finalising consultations and outlooks in 

2012 and development, adoption and presentation of a new regional strategy before the 

Asia-Pacific Water Summit in 2012 and Forum leaders meeting in 2012. 

222


• Strategic planning for the improvement of regional support programmes in the areas of 

water resources assessment and management; water supply and wastewater management; 

and water governance and awareness for Pacific Island Countries in line with SPC SOPAC 

division Strategy 2011-2015. 




• Poor high level appreciation of National Water and Sanitation issues. Water is often seen 

as a limitless renewable resource provided and therefore not an issue of concern. However 

health statistics, infant morbidity rates and occasional cholera and typhoid outbreaks 

indicate otherwise. There is an urgent and paramount need for Pacific Island Countries to 

address at the highest strategic level national actions that address and remedy current and 

projected water and sanitation issues. This level of national engagement would greatly 

improve the efficiency and effectiveness of regional programmes. 

• Lack of adequate levels of core funding: Water resource management is information poor 

In the Pacific. The capacity for national and regional level modelling of climate variability 

and climate change is grossly constrained by the inadequacy of hydrological monitoring 

and analysis. The responsiveness at a national level to water related disasters and stressors 

is compromised by this deficiency. Water resource assessments are required to ensure 

ongoing availability for the people of the Pacific, development and environmental 

services. 

• Project based funding: the reliance on project funding means the water and sanitation 

related work is driven by donor priorities rather than national and regional water and 

sanitation strategies. The lack of a core funded programme results in poor ongoing 

monitoring of water and sanitation indicators and results in substandard reporting against 

key human well-being indicators, such as the MDG targets. 

• Establishing and maintaining core expertise and capacity: unpredictable project based 

funding constrains the development of Pacific Small Island Developing States expertise 

and lowers the responsiveness of the program to the needs of Pacific Island Countries and 

their capacity to deal with climate variability and change on a growing population. 

• Better national level integration: lack of integration at a national level for a key cross 

cutting element impacts on access by Pacific Island Countries to improved water 

availability and sanitation. 

Priority 

Developing effectively managed and sustainable national tuna industries. 


months 


• Information on FFA support for this priority is at pages 16 - 18. 

• Under the newly-established FFA Regional Economic Integration Project (REI) Unit, 

collaborative arrangements to advance and accelerate tangible fisheries-related 

development projects have been concluded with the Governments of Tonga, Vanuatu, 

223



Niue, Nauru, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Samoa and the Federated States of 

Micronesia. This will facilitate the establishment of national tuna industries in the nine 

Pacific Island Countries. 

• Arrangements for financial and technical support to Pacific Islands Tuna Industry 

Association provided under EU funded DevFish2 project. 

• Developed a programme to improve the capacity of countries to export seafood, noting 

work already underway in several countries including Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Cook 

Islands, Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall 




• Information on FFA support for this priority is at pages 23 and 24. 

• Continued support for the establishment of national tuna industries under the REI 

programme and initiate new projects on an “as-requested” basis in other eligible countries. 

• Liaise and monitor the progress of national and regional industry associations. 

• Continue existing work and expand to include other countries. 




• Information on risks to this priority is at pages 28 and 29. 

• Currently the FFA REI Unit is funded from project funding external to the FFA core budget 

and is hence vulnerable to funding discontinuance or curtailment. 

• Donor funding for continued implementation ceases or is reduced. 

• Projects not effectively implemented at the national level due to political interference and 

lack of government support. 

• Industry associations not effective due to financial constraints and lack of capacity. 

• Delays encountered in approving regulatory processes and in developing technical 

capacity. 

• Political will for the full implementation of the current projects. 

224

Priority 

Implementing (with the assistance of the FFA) comprehensive conservation measures to 

protect stock levels in coastal, exclusive economic zones and on the high seas. (Forum Leaders 

Communiqué – Pacific Plan Annex A) - Strengthen national management frameworks. 


months 


• Information on FFA support for this priority is at pages 16 - 18. 

• Country workshops and visits to assist in addressing respective national priority and 

policy needs. 

• Collaboration with SPC’s Oceanic Fisheries Program on the analysis of tuna management 

options for FFA member countries. 

• Preparation of fisheries management papers to be considered by the Officials and 

Ministerial Forum Fisheries Committee meetings. 



• Information on FFA support for this priority is at pages 23 and 24. 

• Workshops planned for numerous member countries. 

• Preparation of fisheries management papers to be considered by the Officials and 

Ministerial Forum Fisheries Committee meetings. 




• Information on risks to this priority is at pages 28 and 29. 

• Insufficient country workshops and visits by the FFA Secretariat to assist members. 

• Fisheries management recommendations not endorsed by the Officials and Ministerial 

Forum Fisheries Committee meetings. 

225

Priority 

Implementing (with the assistance of the FFA) comprehensive conservation measures to protect 

stock levels in coastal, exclusive economic zones and on the high seas. 

Participate in the establishment of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management 

Organisation. 


months 


• Prepared information paper on general South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management 

Organisation issues for Forum Fisheries Committee. Forum Fisheries Committee 

established small working group to lead participation in the Preparatory Conference. 

• Supported members participating in the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management 

Organisation (SPRFMO) 2nd Preparatory Conference in January 2011. 



• Preparation of SPRFMO brief for FFA members for the remaining Preparatory Conference 

(January 2012) and inaugural meeting of the SPRFMO. 




• Lack of effective participation due, among others, to lack of funding and lack of clear 

understanding of issues. 

Priority 

Implementing (with the assistance of the FFA) comprehensive conservation measures to protect 

stock levels in coastal, exclusive economic zones and on the high seas. 


months 

226 


• Key aspect of implementing conservation measures includes giving domestic legislative 

effect by incorporating such measures into national laws. Continued assistance to Pacific 

Island Countries on their legislative reviews as detailed below.



• Continued legislative reviews of Acts for a number of countries - Samoa, Fiji, Nauru, 

Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Palau, and Niue. 

• Joint legislative review with SPC completed for Tuvalu and Samoa. Work on the coastal 

and offshore components is consolidated in one legislation. 

• Comments provided to draft fisheries legislation developed for Kiribati, and the Solomon 


• Continued drafting of approaches to reflect WCPFC obligations in a more efficient manner 

to assist countries with their national legislative updates. 



• Complete/continue drafting and consolidation of fisheries legislation. 

• Use of national consultants promoted where available. 

• Ongoing support individually and collectively. 




• Legislation to give effect to conservation measures not enacted or not enforced. 

• Members do not actively use the approaches to draft WCPFC legislation to adapt their 

national laws, due to factors such as limited resources, or other national priorities. 

• Members do not update national laws, or national consultants or counterparts do not 

follow up on legislative work/collaboration with the FFA Secretariat at national level, due 

to factors such as limited resources, or other national priorities 

Priority 

Adopting full implementation, as called for by PNA Leaders without delay, of the 3rd 

Implementing Arrangement including the Additional Terms and Conditions of Access to the 

EEZs of the Parties. 


months 


• Assistance provided to PNA on the development of regulations to implement the 3rd 

Implementing Arrangement. 

• Assistance provided to PNA to amend the 3rd Implementing Arrangement to extend 

fishing prohibitions to high seas areas and to prohibit setting on whale sharks. 

227



• Provision of ongoing assistance to PNA members to ensure that standardised regulations 

and licence conditions adopted and implemented by all PNA members. 




• Inability to implement new terms and conditions due to legislative reforms needed. 

Priority 

Action to expedite improved monitoring, control and surveillance as required by regional 

agreement. 


months 


• Endorsement by Forum Fisheries Committee of FFA Observer Implementation Plan, 

including schedule of activities to meet observer requirements of United States Treaty, 

Federated States of Micronesia Arrangement, PNA 3rd Implementing Arrangement and 

WCPFC Conservation Measure 2008-01. 

• FFA conducted three national observer training courses and one regional observer course. 

Financial support was also provided to a Federated States of Micronesia National Observer 

course. 

• Improved processing of observer collected Monitoring, Control Surveillance data. 

• Operation of FFA Observer Implementation Plan, noting that the Plan sets out the 

priorities and that supplementary resources will be required. 


228 


• Expansion of observer training, to include debriefer and train the trainer training directed 

at PNA 3rd Implementing Arrangement and WCPFC CMM 2008-01. 

• Train the trainer courses to enhance national training capacity. 

• On-going development of regional observer database. 

• Provision of urgent assistance to Members to develop national and sub-regional capacity 

to meet the observer requirements of CMM 2008-01.


• Improved coordination of national observer programmes. 

• Similar numbers of placements for the coming six months 




• Projected numbers of national observers cannot be achieved because of capacity and 

resource limitations. 

• Lack of development of infrastructure and finance to support observer expansion. 

• Failure to achieve observer numbers. 

• Non-adoption by countries. 

• Database not implemented or utilised by members. 

• National and sub-regional observers’ capacity targets not achieved due to resource and 

capacity constraints. 

• Fleet fluctuations and movements reducing effective placements 

Priority 

Continuing to press distant water fishing nations to comply with all relevant national and 

international laws and conventions to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks. 


months 


• To support compliance, the FFA continued to provide vessel monitoring tracking system 

services to WCPFC under a Service Level Agreement that was concluded in December 

2008. The Commission Vessel Monitoring System services commenced on 1 April 2009. 

• FFA Observers Programme (FFA-OP) Strategy endorsed and action taken to commence 


• To support monitoring and compliance on the High Seas, FFA supports the 

implementation of WCPFC High Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) Procedures (CMM 

2006-08). The FFA provided HSBI training in 2008 and plans to conduct another course in 

2011 and continues to provide technical and legal advice on the implementation of these 

procedures. 

• All FFA positions and interventions at WCPFC meetings promote compliance and data 

submissions. 

229



• Ensure the continued provision of vessel monitoring system services to WCPFC taking 

into account outcomes of the audit. The Commission vessel monitoring system allows 

for the monitoring of vessels fishing on High Seas in the Convention Area in order to 

determine those who are fishing legally/illegally which impacts on sustainability of 

stocks. 

• Continued provision by FFA of technical and legal advice on implementation of HSBI. 

• Support the sharing of HSBI platforms. 




• Confidentially provisions of WCPFC deny FFA member state access to data of vessels 

fishing in High Seas coming into FFA member Exclusive Economic Zone, unless a member 

country enters into a bilateral agreement with WCPFC. 

• Non-adoption of strategy by countries for various reasons, including resource and capacity 

constraints to establish national observer programmes. 

• Insufficient infrastructure to meet observer obligations and opportunities. 

• FFA members unable to implement HSBI procedures because of capacity and resource 

constraints. 

Priority 

Progressing urgent efforts to delineate extended Continental Shelves and prepare submissions to 

the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf by May 2009 and efforts to delimit 

maritime boundaries for improved governance and management of ocean resources. 


months 


• FFA consulted with SPC SOPAC Division on cooperation in assisting Pacific Island 

Countries towards maritime boundary solutions to support the enhancement of FFA 

vessel monitoring and operations systems. 

• Assistance provided on request to ensure that legislation supports maritime boundary 

technical solutions. 

230



• Close cooperation between FFA and SPC in any maritime boundary work. 

• Close cooperation with Pacific Island Countries that request assistance to settle and 

declare their maritime boundaries. 




• FFA vessel monitoring and operations systems not updated due to lack of updated 

boundary information. 

Priority 

Progressing collectively, while also seeking to engage the USA and France, strengthened 

mechanisms to protect regional fisheries via new multilateral Pacific regional arrangements 

patterned on the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement model for exchange of fisheries law 

enforcement data, cross vesting of enforcement powers and the use of fisheries data for other law 

enforcement activities. 


months 


• Fourth meeting of the Parties to the Niue Treaty in May 2010 agreed to progress a 

multilateral Niue Treaty subsidiary agreement (NTSA) to promote enhanced Monitoring, 

Control and Surveillance cooperation. 

• Approach recommended by the Parties to the Niue Treaty endorsed by Forum Leaders in 

August 2010 and Fisheries and Law Enforcement Ministers in July 2010. 

• Noting this might not formalise engagement with the United States and France, Parties 

agreed that the multilateral Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement would only be one tool and 

that others would need to be identified, specifically for wider engagement of non-Parties. 

• Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement Drafting Group, as mandated by the Leaders, was 

established. Their terms of reference and work plan have been adopted. Development of 

Drafting Instructions underway. The Drafting Group has met three times since May 2010. 



• Ongoing support to the development of the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement. 

231




• FFA Members do not all sign up to the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement. 

• United States and France not interested in more formal arrangements. 

Priority 

Sustainable Development through Improved Education and Training, Enhanced Involvement of 

Youth, and Recognized and protected cultural values, identities, and traditional knowledge. 


months 


• In July 2010 “A Love for Life – Silence and HIV”, performance was staged. Other activities 

included creative livelihoods workshops, and a teachers’ curriculum skills workshop on 

the “teaching of sexual and reproductive health in Tonga, using a culture and faith-based 

approach”. USP’s partners included UNAIDS, UNFPA, Palau Community College, SPC, and 

other stakeholders. 

• Facilitated the National University of Samoa’s Awareness Workshop on Education for 

Sustainable Development in September 2010 (an EDULINK activity). 

• USP held a conference in September 2010 on Oceans, Islands and Skies – Creativity and 

Climate Change. 

• The USP conference on Social Policy, Social Welfare Systems and Human Security in the 

Pacific held in October 2010 brought together major stakeholders in the Pacific to review 

current systems, needs and to map future directions. 

• In 2011, USP facilitated the development of a draft Higher Education for Sustainable 

Development Policy. The Faculty of Arts and Law Seminar Series is creating wider public 

awareness about Education and Sustainable Pacific Societies. 

232

Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji. Ratu Sukuna Road, Muanikau, Suva, Fiji. Telephone (679) 331 2600 Email info@forumsec.org.fj Website www.forumsec.org

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