United Nations in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth's environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in the Pacific.

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Press Release

03 May 2022

Vanuatu Government and UN host Steering Committee

The meeting was hosted by Dr. Gregoire Nimbtik, Director General, Prime Minister’s Office, and UN Resident Coordinator to Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga and Tuvalu, Sanaka Samarasinha. Dr Nimbtik and Mr Samarasinha were joined by colleagues in government and the UN, based in Vanuatu and in Fiji. Dr Nimbtik acknowledged the many years of joint work between Vanuatu and the UN, and welcomed the incoming blueprint for further collaboration, stating that, “The development and implementation of the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-27 will be an opportunity to build on this foundation, so the Government is committed to be part of this process. We look forward to engaging with the United Nations through the Joint Steering Committee mechanism to ensure our efforts continue to align with Vanuatu’s priorities as outlined in the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) 2016-30 and other national policy objectives.” Mr Samarasinha said the UN will continue to support Vanuatu in its response to and recovery from COVID-19, strengthening governance and rule of law, promoting sustainable economy, and the full inclusion of all, especially women and youth in development processes. “The priority areas highlighted in our new Cooperation Framework are directly derived from our analysis of your country’s priorities and needs, and they are aligned with your national planning and budgetary frameworks. Through this new Framework, your government can expect more coordinated, responsive support, with greater transparency and more accountability for results than under our current Framework,” Mr Samarasinha said. UN’s contribution to Vanuatu in 2022 is projected to be US$19million. These contributions will support Vanuatu in equitable basic services, climate change, disaster resilience and environmental protection, governance and community engagement, gender equality, and Economic empowerment and Human rights. ENDS

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Story

17 May 2022

Empowering the Vulnerable: Experts Call for Equitable Access to Climate and Disaster Risk Insurance

The financial impacts of extreme weather events in the region are driving the development of new innovative products and the formulation of national CDRFI strategies. At this early stage, there is a call for ‘fit-for-purpose’ DRF instruments that are tailored to the Pacific’s unique set of risks, challenges and opportunities. Not accounting for the needs of women and other vulnerable groups in these activities would represent a lost opportunity to make a meaningful impact. The work of Programmes – such as the UN Capital Development Fund’s (UNCDF) Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme (PICAP), which is a joint programme with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) -- need to be gender equitable and inclusive of the most vulnerable and marginalized. This was the call from a panel of gender experts during a virtual learning event on ‘Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) for Equal Access to Climate and Disaster Risk Finance in the Pacific’ on Thursday, 5 May 2022. PICAP has developed the region’s first parametric micro-insurance product, with over 1,300 households, with predominantly small holder farmers, fishers, market vendors and social welfare recipients covered so far. The Programme is supported by the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Luxembourg’s Climate and Energy Fund. Additionally, the ‘Developing Climate Disaster Risk Financing Framework and Parametric Insurance in Fiji’ project is funded by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund administered by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation. Organized by UNCDF and the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, the learning event was held on the eve of the launch of PICAP’s GESI strategy. The panelists included: Merewalesi Laveti – UNDP Pacific Office’s Gender Focal Point, Monitoring and Evaluation and Country Coordination Analyst Michelle Reddy – PICAP Technical Advisory Committee member Neiua Bulou – shop owner, farmer and holder of Fiji’s first parametric microinsurance cover Losana Kumar – PICAP Project Officer, Cane Farmers’ Cooperative Savings and Loans Association Limited (CCSLA) Amit Kumar Garg – Digital Payments Expert at UNCDF Angeline Fatiaki – Senior Programme Manager, Gender Quality Programmes at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Fiji The session was moderated by UNCDF Communications Assistant, Veima Bower Mainstreaming GESI Merewalesi Laveti opened the discussion with a strong call for development programmes to ensure gender equality and social inclusion were vital parts of their work, not simply an afterthought. She stressed that vulnerable communities need to be empowered if the world is to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. She commended PICAP for tackling structural challenges that hamper women’s access to CDRFI instruments and financial services more broadly through the GESI strategy. “It’s important to build an institutional mechanism for gender mainstreaming, such as the UNDP Pacific’s Gender Equality Seal,” Ms. Laveti added. Inclusive Market Development Approach It is crucial for the design and eligibility criteria of CDRFI products to be viewed through a gender equality and social inclusion lens. If not, products that are designed to uplift communities would leave behind a crucial segment and further exacerbate their disadvantaged position, said Michelle Reddy. “I’m so glad that PICAP adopts an inclusive market development approach, which means they make sure those vulnerable communities are included and have a say in the development of climate and disaster risk financial products,” she added. Ms. Reddy, the former Fund Manager of the Fiji Women’s Fund, advises PICAP on funding and the design and implementation of proposals to ensure they are gender equitable and socially inclusive. While providing an overview, she said the high rates of gender-based violence in the region and low participation of women in the formal workforce made accessing financial instruments difficult. People living with disabilities and gender non-conforming communities are also disproportionately affected by extreme weather events because of the existing inequalities they face, Ms. Reddy added. “The GESI strategy provides partners, funders and the PICAP team the opportunity to monitor, evaluate and hold ourselves accountable as well as learn along the process about how we can be more inclusive and gender equitable.” Support for Small Businesses Neiua Bulou, a shop owner, farmer and holder of a parametric micro-insurance cover, lives in a flood prone area in Vitogo in Fiji’s second largest city, Lautoka. She shared what her family experiences when water inundates their settlement and damages their property during heavy rain, and the difficulties they face trying to re-build. “During that time [flash flooding], we face a lot of problems. Everything is in a mess, and we don’t know where to start [again from]. In terms of assistance, government officials do come around, but it takes time,” she said. Ms. Bulou signed up to the parametric micro-insurance scheme through UNCDF aggregator partner, the Cane Farmers’ Cooperative Savings and Loans Association Limited (CCSLA). The product is designed to help micro-enterprise owners like Ms. Bulou build back better and faster with a quick injection of funds to cater for their immediate financial needs following an extreme weather event. “We are so happy that we are secure. We are confident that if something happens the help is there, and it takes two or three days to reach us,” she said. Cultural Barriers PICAP has brought together a range of aggregator and agri-agency partners to strengthen its reach and impact, especially in difficult to access places. One partner is CCSLA, a cane farmer cooperative in the country’s Western Division providing a range of savings and investment products for its members. Losana Kumar, CCSLA Project Officer for PICAP, has been leading efforts to raise awareness about the parametric micro-insurance product in the cane farming regions of Lautoka and Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island. Ms. Kumar says the development of CDRFI instruments and strategies must consider the cultural barriers that hold Pacific women back from accessing them. Although women are seen as the backbone of the rural communities CCSLA visited, they tend to be the most affected during extreme weather events due to the sheer increase in workloads. “A lot of women were interested, however they had to take permission from their husbands before signing up for the Programme,” Ms. Kumar said. The GESI Strategy Participants got a first look at PICAP’s GESI Strategy, which includes the following key objectives: To achieve at least 50 percent gender coverage in all outreach efforts Reduce accessibility barriers so that CDRFI products meet the needs of women, marginalized and the most vulnerable A six step GESI assessment tool that is applied to review all partner projects A robust monitoring mechanism to track the progress and report on GESI indicators Amit Kumar Garg led the discussion on the strategy, for which he is the co-author with Rayane Chbeir, former Junior Professional Consultant with PICAP. He cited a UNCDF demand study conducted in Fiji and Vanuatu, in which 94 percent of woman respondents had experienced economic losses during extreme weather events, to stress the importance of a GESI Strategy. “Majority of the losses were immediate and near-term income loss. Similarly, the measures taken for recovery also exacerbated income loss because women were found to be selling assets, using up savings, or taking loans,” Mr. Garg said. Gender equality, a driver of growth, development and prosperity The final speaker, Angeline Fatiaki, stressed that gender inequality undermined global prosperity, stability, and security. She welcomed PICAP’s GESI Strategy as an important gender-responsive lens. Ms. Fatiaki said it was crucial to address barriers and identify opportunities to enhance women’s health, economic empowerment, and safety. “Australia continues to work with partners in the Pacific to address climate change and strengthen socio-inclusive gender responsive sustainable development in our region,” she concluded. The panelists addressed the following questions posed by the audience (60-70 people attended the webinar): What are two to three key areas that Programmes working on the financial empowerment and inclusion of women need to be mindful of? What has been some key challenges in engaging women to be involved in the Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme? You can watch the full event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAfignqadQU

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The financial impacts of extreme weather events in the Pacific region are driving the development of new innovative products and the formulation of national climate and disaster risk finance and insurance (CDRFI) strategies.

Press Release

03 May 2022

Solomon Islands Government and UN host first Joint Steering Committee

The meeting was hosted by Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Collin Beck, and UN Resident Coordinator to Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, Sanaka Samarasinha. PS Collin Beck was joined by PS Susan Sulu and PS Dr Melchior Mataki and other senior Government officials. PS Beck welcomed Solomon Islands’ engagement with the UN and acknowledge the work of the UN in the last four years. The two Parties discussed Solomon Islands’ 2022 priorities against the 2022 UN Joint Country Programme and further agreed to begin discussion on the next cycle of UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027 on the third week of April. Mr Samarasinha said the UN will support Solomon Islands in its response to and recovery from COVID-19, strengthening Governance and rule of law, promoting sustainable economy, and the full inclusion of all including women and youth in development processes. “The establishment of the Joint UN/Government Steering Committee was discussed of which both parties recognized its importance allowing both the Government and UN to provide strategic direction and oversight to the implementation of the joint UN programmes in Solomon Islands. New levels of collaboration across the system, and streamlining of processes will result in greater efficiencies and decreased transaction costs,” he added. UN’s contribution to Solomon Islands in 2022 is projected to be US$23.1m – a 5% increase from the 2021 provisions. These contributions will support the Solomon Islands in equitable basic services, climate change, disaster resilience and environmental protection, governance and community engagement, gender equality, and Economic empowerment and Human rights. ENDS

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Story

31 May 2022

Where Every Voice Matters

Feelings that over 70 percent of young people worldwide say they can relate to - being misunderstood and misrepresented. Always drivers of change, today young people are taking on even more responsibility - participating in global movements, taking actions to make this world a better place. With this responsibility, they also want authority to make decisions for their future. What does this mean for counties in the South Pacific, where half of the population is under 23, and specifically for Solomon Islands? In Solomon Islands, where village elders lead decision-making processes, Julian Asu, Bartholomew Wanega and many other young people wonder how they can contribute to these processes? Jobs, education, and other opportunities are all stretched thin in Solomon Islands, with so many younger people competing for what is available. Some leave school to support their families or meet their own needs. Others, in search of self-realization, are enduring demotivation and frustration. Yet, young people aren't just waiting to be given a helping hand. Many are active at community, provincial and national decision-making levels. For Julian and Bartholomew, being young and living in a rural community always meant setting an example for others to impact decisions at provincial and national levels. That is why when they saw that their provinces were among four provinces where youth caucuses were being created, they wanted to become active. Julian, now Vice-Chair for Purepure Youth Caucus, Weather Coast, will admit that youth activism looks different in Solomon Islands than elsewhere. Rather than using technology and internet-based social media, the limited connectivity means social networking is done on foot. In another province, there was no network coverage, so facilitators and participants passed messages around. Living in a rural community, like 80 percent of Solomon Islanders, Julian sees the support and recognition from adult leaders as a step in the right direction. In communities like hers, young people have few options with high unemployment. The four selected provinces were good places to re-start the youth caucuses. Honiara and Weather Coast in Guadalcanal, North Malaita, and Shortlands in Western Province have some of the most vulnerable young people as they come from isolated remote communities and are often left out in decisions and processes that directly impact their lives. For young people in Solomon Islands to reach their full potential, they need to know how to navigate socially, economically, and politically. The network developed by the youth caucuses is already bringing opportunities to young people in hard-to-reach places. Just this year, over 500 young people from around Solomon Islands learned about self-sufficiency and how to mobilize their community members in trainings. Bartholomew Michael Wanega from the Burns Creek Youth Caucus (BCYC) is one of the young leaders who participated in establishing the BCYC from the start. Like in all communities with youth, he was profiled and given a chance to vote for a leadership team democratically. Bartholomew himself was elected chairperson in Burns Creek. He also took part in the leadership workshop within the revitalization of the Guadalcanal Provincial Youth Council, which brings youth councils’ ideas to the national level. He already sees the benefits of the youth caucuses and youth councils. He says the project has helped young people become more self-reliant and stand alongside elders rather than be dependent on them. Bartholomew says not only the elected leaders, but all youths have seen the benefits of working with each other. The youth caucus revitalization and youth councils are just the first steps in encouraging their participation into community life. As a participant of a workshop in North Malaita points out, "If you've never been included in, or seen other people take part in the decision-making processes, how do you know it's even an option to you?" While young people in Solomon Islands like Julian and Bartholomew may face more challenges, having a framework for engagement and participation processes will lessen the feelings of misunderstanding and misrepresentation. Provincial Youth Councils and caucuses have initiated a change: they became a platform where young people could make their voices heard. Not only did young people play a significant role in keeping their communities informed and healthy since the COVID-19 outbreak through awareness-raising but they also were a substantial part of reconciliation initiatives. As such, young people in North Malaita united with local landholding groups to lead up the land dispute between the two communities. Mr Brian Williams, Chief, Financing for Peacebuilding, Peacebuilding Support Office in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs said, “Young people in Solomon Islands are creating their own political space with youth caucuses, provincial youth councils, and above all, the National Youth Congress. Their ideas have a clear pathway to be transformed into policy at the national level through youth caucuses, councils, and Congress.” By establishing 20 youth caucuses and revitalizing four provincial youth councils, the UN Development Programme is helping create a framework that supports social cohesion and peacebuilding – because young people play a crucial role in the nation-building of Solomon Island. Enhancing youth participation in peacebuilding through the establishment of youth caucuses and revitalization of provincial youth councils were part of the Empowering Youth as Agents for Peace and Social Cohesion in the Solomon Islands Project implemented by the UN Development Programme in Solomon Islands and the International Labor Organization (ILO) with the financial support of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.

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Story

30 May 2022

Empowering Landholding Groups and Building Peaceful Societies

Although original stories differ between the country's customary landholding groups and islands, a common theme is that Solomon Islanders came from within the islands themselves, not from another place. In Solomon Islands, land relates to culture, language, law, family, and identity. For many, the land is their story, as much a part of them as their DNA. As a fundamental part of their identity and way of life, the Constitution of the Solomon Islands acknowledges the culture of customary land and allows it to be regulated by the connected customary law. It means that following island, tribal, or local custom, the land's usage is regulated by rules which can differ from group to group. Records of whom the land belongs to have been passed through oral stories from one generation to another. Much like traditional stories have been written down for safekeeping, stories of land rights also need to be recorded. By formalizing and documenting who can use land, fairer and more sustainable development can be achieved. In the past, property rights were allocated to a limited number of trustees - often men - who could keep the profits from development projects from the wider landholding group. The situation made it difficult to distribute development benefits equitably, and often, women and young people were left at a disadvantage. With subsistence farming feeding 75 percent of the population in Solomon Islands, many people's connection to the land is also their livelihood. This gives land stewardship an undeniable significance in the nation's traditions and its future. Mr Brian Williams, Chief, Financing for Peacebuilding, Peacebuilding Support Office in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs says: “In many countries with indigenous populations, the land is closely tied to people's identity, culture, and traditions and is the primary source of livelihood for most women and men. To help resolve conflicts and grievances related to land distribution issues and ownership in the Solomon Islands, the UN Peacebuilding Fund piloted the land recording in selected locations, enabling the customary landholding groups to record their land rights. We are proud to be part of the first initiative of its kind in the country that is helping promote and ensure the inclusion of young people and women in their rightful and equitable access and use of land.” Land recording has proven to be a pivotal tool for conflict resolution and peacebuilding. In 2020, the Solomon Islands Government, through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS), partnered with the UN Development Programme in Solomon Islands to launch the customary land recording process with an initial focus on three target provinces – Malaita, Western and Guadalcanal. Supported by the UN Peacebuilding Fund, MLHS completed the customary land recording process within the Inclusive Governance of Natural Resources (IGNR) Project framework, implemented by UNDP Solomon Islands and UN Women. Customary land makes up about 85 percent of the Solomon Islands and policymakers knew that it would not be a simple process of changing existing laws or introducing new land laws. New ideas about how ownership and usage were defined within the customary land recording system also needed to be accepted by those living on the land. An inclusive approach was created together with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey’s Land Unit. National Land Recorders, together with the UNDP team, travelled to rural communities and registered the distribution of land and resources, defined boundaries, and clarified usage agreements. As the final step, reconciliation between customary landholding groups was facilitated. Once informed of their rights, many landholders agreed that the recording was beneficial. With subsistence farming in rural areas on customary land, land security is a step toward prosperity for many. In urban areas, individuals and businesses can also benefit financially from formalized property rights to encourage investment and the buying and selling of land. Mr Berdi Berdiyev, UNDP Country Manager in the Solomon Islands notes that “Having land rights recorded allows the landowners to utilize the land for development benefits not just for one person or family or a group of individuals, but everyone in the communities for years to come.” As part of the process, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey, UNDP, and UN Women hosted the Land Forum where stakeholders focused on business potential for customary lands once usage was recorded through bridging and initiating the dialogue between the customary landholding groups and a private small and medium enterprises in the country. The land sustains and provides for the people in Solomon Islands. At the same time, people have sustained and managed the land through culture and ceremony. With the success of initiating the land recording process, the Government of Solomon Islands has committed to continuing this important endeavor, providing opportunities for Solomon islanders to maintain their oral tradition of telling the stories, while enjoying the benefits of clearly documented land usage rights.

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Young representatives of the Sahalu customary landholding group, Guadalcanal Province before chupu [celebration of the handover]; Photo credit: UNDP Solomon Islands.

Story

16 March 2022

Tonga's devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami leaves fishing communities additionally vulnerable.

The natural disasters were a major blow to 74-year-old Fangupō Lātū, from the village of Pātangata. His fishing boat was sunk and destroyed during the tsunami, leaving him unable to make a living. However, he is also worried about how the crisis is affecting his community. “My village’s main source of income and livelihood come from the ocean, but the waves damaged the majority of our boats” he says. “We sold seafood daily, but now there’s none. Anyone whose boat was not destroyed no long goes fishing, due to toxicity warnings”, he adds, referring to fears associated with the ash fall that blanketed Tonga’s islands following the volcanic eruption. Food supply concerns Recovery and food security are the main medium and long-term challenges facing Tonga. As clean-up efforts continue, schools will reopen in Tonga but, when they do, many families will not be able to afford to pay required fees. Given these specific needs, the United Nations teams on the ground in Tonga and Fiji are working with the Tongan Government, Ministry of Fisheries, and National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) to ensure the needs of people like Mr. Lātū are met. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) and Tonga’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests, are identifying how and where they can assist, to accurately address Tonga’s additional food requirements, and ensure a coordinated response. A total of around $354,000 in funding from the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities (SFERA) has been allocated to Tonga, through the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Additionally, and in the immediate aftermath, Tonga’s National Emergency Management Committee approved funding to support a decrease in the cost of deep sea fishing permits to five Tongan pa’anga (the local currency) per kilogram (USD$2.20 per kg), for a month. Rehabilitating aquaculture The rehabilitation of farming aquaculture is also underway in Tonga, especially for Mokohonu (sea cucumber) and Kanahe (fish), and the Ministry of Fisheries has implemented their Immediate Response Plan until the end of this month. This includes ensuring sufficient fish from safe sources (longline tuna and deep-water snapper fisheries) are available to the public, for consumption. The Fisheries Ministry is working closely with FAO to target priority areas for immediate support. "We are gradually getting a clearer picture of the effects which this disaster has had on the vital fisheries and agricultural sectors on which so many Tongans depend - whether it’s in terms of damage to coral reefs or from the ash cover in parts of the islands,” notes FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Pacific, Ms. Xiangjun Yao. “Under the One-UN approach, we are gearing up to provide support so that people can get back on their feet as quickly and safely as possible." - Article by: Dawn Gibson / dawn.gibson@un.org

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13 December 2021

Smart Islands Initiative: An affordable, accessible digital future for Pacific communities

The Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and countries within Micronesia pay the highest prices globally per gigabyte of internet. Often, the great cost is not met with its equal in access or speed – internet remains slow and capped at low monthly averages. On the surface, this might translate as interrupted access to Facebook and Twitter and perhaps an Instagram story that never uploads, but the impacts caused by sky-high internet costs in developing Pacific countries prone to natural hazards go much deeper. It can result in serious developmental challenges, especially exacerbated during disasters or, as we’ve now witnessed, a pandemic. In the Pacific’s case, it has been both, with disasters prefacing the second wave of COVID-19 in many Pacific countries and with the November-April cyclone season on the way. Socioeconomic challenges posed by COVID-19 have aggravated existing costs of connecting remote islands, lack of human and financial resources, inadequate digital skills and high costs to access these services. Affordable broadband access can help Pacific countries recover faster from COVID-19 and accelerate their achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This challenge presents an opportunity to bridge the communication divide through targeted support, cooperation, and partnership – a partnership which is spearheaded by thoughtful change and centered around people. In April 2020, category-5 Tropical Cyclone Harold hit several Pacific countries, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Harold claimed lives, crushed homes, and destroyed sources of income for thousands of Pacific peoples, particularly in Vanuatu and Fiji. In anticipation of one such disaster back in 2014, the United Nations, with the leadership of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), undertook a satellite connectivity project in nine Pacific countries, including Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu with over 90 satellite ground terminals were provided including C-Band, Ku Band, and Ka band terminals.[1] This project installed satellite ground stations to provide connectivity to communities within these Pacific countries and made disaster response operations possible in the aftermath of Harold. With affected countries having instituted COVID-induced national lockdowns, physical response to Harold was near impossible. However, the satellite capabilities established in some of the affected communities were able to connect communities to the outside world and aid disaster response efforts as they were the only means of communication. This also allowed communities to capitalize on the connectivity for non-emergency communication and socioeconomic activities, such as connecting schools, health clinics, and government offices. Our investment in infrastructure and the partnership we share with the Pacific people has changed the pace at which island communities can now recover from disasters and reduces the cost of building back better. Fast forward to now - people in these communities are learning how to access and use digital services and applications, such as mobile banking, e-commerce, e-agriculture, e-health, among others. This cost-cutting concept, which supports access to affordable connectivity in Pacific communities most in need of it, is known as the Smart Islands initiative – and it is designed to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in the Pacific, with under a decade left to go. The Smart Islands initiative enhances broadband availability and affordability across communities, providing opportunities for digital skills development and access to digital services, which are essential to SDG targets. By digitally empowering Pacific communities through the Smart Islands initiative, the development trajectory of Pacific Island Countries will no longer be defined by geographical barriers and isolation, but rather, by the plethora of opportunities for education, healthcare, business, livelihood, and employment, among others. This initiative, now starting in Vanuatu, has gained increasing traction among Pacific Island Countries and the UN is developing Smart Islands initiatives that will capitalize on various UN agencies’ expertise and support governments to fully roll out Smart Islands initiatives in the years to come. In order to make Smart Islands a reality throughout the Pacific, an evidence-based, whole-of-government, multi-stakeholder approach is essential. By collaborating and harmonizing the development and provision of digital services, Pacific ministries and government agencies can create economies of scale, and the private sector may expand its connectivity and upgrade network capacity. Civil society and community organizations are key interlocutors in articulating community needs. This has the potential to pave the way to accelerate the introduction of emerging technology, such as big data and artificial intelligence, once communities are connected and the multitudes of data are collected to enable data analysis. Investing in a digital future for our sisters and brothers in the Pacific is a no-brainer – but it will only happen if we continue to form these crucial partnerships, placing people and sustainable change at the centre and ensuring no one is left behind. - A joint op-ed by Sanaka Samarasinha & Atsuko Okuda [1] https://www.satelliteevolutiongroup.com/magazines/Americas-August2020/index-h5.html?page=20#page=21 https://news.itu.int/itu-and-kacific-join-forces-to-boost-emergency-telecoms-and-ict-development-in-vanuatu_/

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Our investment in infrastructure and the partnership we share with the Pacific people has changed the pace at which island communities can now recover from disasters and reduces the cost of building back better.

Story

13 December 2021

No one is Safe unless Everyone is Safe: Making Emergency Response Safe for Women and Girls

During natural disasters and emergencies, women and girls are more at risk of experiencing violence, exploitation and abuse. Simultaneously, emergencies weaken national systems, including health and legal systems, and community and social support networks. This breakdown of systems can reduce access to health services, including sexual and reproductive health services, and legal services, leading to an environment of impunity in which perpetrators are not held to account. Research shows that in Fiji, in the aftermath of the 2012 floods, some women and girls who lacked access to food, were offering sex in exchange for food as a coping mechanism. After the repatriation following the eruption in 2017 in South Ambae, reports indicated an increase in domestic violence and child abuse. Increased rates of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, were also reported in the Solomon Islands after the Gizo tsunami in 2007. The Pacific region is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, including cyclones, tsunamis, and earthquakes. Tropical Cyclone Winston left 44 dead and 40,000 people requiring immediate assistance in Fiji alone. More recently, in Vanuatu, TC Harold affected over half the population, while the total damage in Tonga was estimated to be in excess of US$111 million. The Pacific region also holds some of the highest records of gender-based violence in the world. Unless we take adequate measures now, our region can easily become the epicentre of a systematic human catastrophe. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a reminder that we can never lower our guard. Gender-based violence is present in all human activity, including emergency response. At COP 26, all Pacific leaders raised a red flag to press for action against the climate crisis, which disproportionately affects small island developing states, their communities, and their women and girls. Gender-responsive disaster risk reduction is no longer an option - it is a quintessential approach to dealing with our everyday realities. GBV has significant and long-lasting impacts on health, and the psychosocial and economic well-being of women and girls, their families and communities. States hold the primary responsibility, and must take action, to protect their citizens. In emergencies, mandated UN agencies act to support national authorities to meet their responsibilities to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to affected populations. Strengthening national systems through engaging national partners and local organizations is an integral part of UN work to sustain an effective GBV response, particularly during emergencies. As recognised in international response protocols, GBV programming, especially during emergencies, is not a “nice-to-have” , it is life-saving. It can make the difference between life and death for survivors of sexual violence and physical assaults. We are at a crossroads - with natural disasters on the rise, we simply cannot afford to have violence against women rise at the same pace. The Pacific community has the means, knowledge, commitment and international support to reverse this trend. The onus is on us, now is the time to unite and act to end GBV. Remarkable progress has been made in recent years. For example, the Pacific Humanitarian GBV Sub Cluster Working Group is building a community of practice convening NGOs, UN agencies, donors, and experts, to share experience in GBV in emergencies and to strengthen governance and coordination to support disaster preparedness and response. Disaster preparedness made headway at the national level with the development and update of national service delivery protocols in Samoa, Tonga, and The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, or the development and update of clinical management of GBV protocols during emergencies in Fiji, Solomons Island, of RMI, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Federated States of Micronesia, with Pohnpei State and Yap State currently being finalised. Any meaningful national and international effort aiming to address climate change and emergency response must recognise the critical role of integrating gender considerations and analysis, and advocate for equitable participation of men and women in planning and implementation of resilience-building activities. The time to act is now. To respond to emergencies and address the climate crisis, we need strong and healthy women and men, girls and boys in all their diversities to unite and work together to find solutions. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind. -

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The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a reminder that we can never lower our guard. Gender-based violence is present in all human activity, including emergency response.

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Press Release

28 June 2022

Fijian MSMEs celebrated on International Day

To mark the occasion, the United Nations (UN) joined colleagues from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and partners from the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) to host a mini ‘market day’ in front of Kadavu House in Suva. The market provided a free space for Fijian MSMEs to sell food and products, including jewellery, crafts, fabric, sulus, and many more items, to members of the public and staff who work inside the Kadavu House building. Globally, MSMEs account for 90% of businesses, 60 to 70% of employment, and 50% of GDP worldwide. Acting UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, Levan Bouadze, said the importance of MSMEs cannot be understated. “MSMEs form a crucial contribution to national economies, and they help to sustain livelihoods, especially among women, vulnerable groups, young people, and the poor. Many of them are emerging from extremely difficult situations following COVID-19 and we hope events like this one give them an opportunity to grow their businesses,” Mr Bouadze said. Matin Karimli, Director ILO Office for Pacific Island Countries, said “Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are responsible for 70% of all jobs worldwide. In the Pacific, ILO continues to work with social partners on support programmes for MSMEs to drive inclusive economic recovery, environmental sustainability, and decent job creation.” FCEF CEO, Kameli Batiweti, added: “Do not despise humble beginnings. When we remember where we started from, it becomes a strong motivation for MSMEs to strive for greatness. The FCEF since 2013 has been committed towards empowering MSMEs in both the formal and informal sector through training and capacity building training. Opportunities like the market day initiated by our UN partners are welcome by the Federation as these help our members showcase their products to potential markets.” The UN encourages policymakers to move past recovery and consider ways to lower and eliminate barriers faced by MSMEs, improve the business environment, and access to finance, markets, and technology. Today is an important reminder to support and empower local MSMEs and unlock their full potential through inspiring innovation, creativity, and decent work for all so no one is left behind. - ENDS

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Press Release

01 June 2022

UN Multi-Country Offices in Fiji, FSM & Samoa conclude Development Partner consultations on incoming Cooperation Framework

Participants from the three offices in Fiji, Micronesia, and Samoa were joined by partners and colleagues from the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The incoming Cooperation Framework forms a blueprint for the work of the UN across 14 Pacific Island countries over the next five years (2023-2027), and consultations with partners, donors, CROP agencies, CSOs and other key partners, is crucial to ensuring inclusivity, meaningfulness and relevance in the work of the UN for the next five years. It also guides the process of supporting Pacific Island nations to achieve their sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030. These consultations with development partners gave both parties the opportunity to discuss progress, areas requiring improvement, and opportunities for greater collaboration between the UN system and their donors and partners. Sanaka Samarasinha, UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, said “this is the first time our Cooperation Framework is being drafted in the Pacific following the very significant reforms the UN Secretary General and Member States embarked on a few years back. “Two weeks ago, the UN Secretary General … reported that 95% of governments in countries where we have programmes, said UN Country Teams (UNCTs) are more integrated and collaborative. That’s up from 80% in 2019, and much higher than years prior to that.” Echoing his remarks, UN Resident Coordinator to Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, and Tokelau, Simona Marinescu, added that: “The UN reform greatly benefitted from the significant voluntary contributions that development partners made through the Special Purpose Trust Fund, the Joint SDG Fund, the COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Fund and other vertical instruments that were established to support more integrated programming. Aligning development financing with the principles of the Funding Compact is a prerequisite for better use of resources in the Pacific, particularly at this time when reliance on ODA is the highest among the Pacific SIDS.” Jaap van Hierden, UN Resident Coordinator, UN Multi-Country Office Micronesia to Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, and Palau (Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru and Kiribati) or Resident Coordinator to) added that, in order to achieve the SDGs in the Pacific, transformative change through strong partnerships is a necessity. “We are confident that these consultations are the beginning of an ongoing and regular dialogue with and between all development partners and stakeholders, throughout the implementation of the Cooperation Framework, both at the regional and local levels.” In total, for 2022, UN support to the three UN offices across the Pacific hovers around US$241m in the following areas: climate change disaster resilience and environmental protection basic services (health, education and water and sanitation hygiene (WASH) governance and community engagement gender equality economic empowerment, and human rights. ENDS

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Press Release

03 May 2022

Tongan Government officials meet with UN lead to discuss next steps

Mr Samarasinha joined Tonga’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fekita Útoikamanu to reaffirm the UN’s commitment to the people of Tonga as they recover from the crisis, which was heightened last night by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake about 219 km West-Northwest of Pangai in Tonga. Mr Samarasinha confirmed that the UN are preparing a team to be deployed to Tonga, if given the green light from the Tongan Government. “While we’re aware of the risk posed by COVID-19, we are preparing a team to be deployed to Tonga at the earliest if your government agrees to this proposition. Our team will be required to quarantine before departing for Tonga and once on the ground,” Mr Samarasinha said. He added that the 26 UN staff based in Tonga will continue to support the Tongan Government and their line ministries to ensure all key areas recover quickly. These UN staff have also hired additional staff locally to specifically support response efforts. “I’d also like to congratulate your government for the swift action taken by your ICT teams to address internet connectivity and communication lines locally and, now, internationally. “This meeting signifies the strong partnership between the Government of Tonga and the UN, and we look forward to supporting your recovery from this great tragedy.” Significant deliveries of non-food items arrived this week on board the HMAS Adelaide, including immediate assistance from the UN through 1,000 WASH and dignity kits for 1,000 families – including soap, sanitary pads, and other hygiene supplies. A Mobile Storage Unit donated by the UN will be used to immediately increase wharf storage space after a quarantine period of 72 hours. In addition to material assistance to affected households, the UN is also providing psycho-social support to groups of people, especially women, children, and people with disabilities. The UN will be re-focusing part of the current US$7million in development assistance to Tonga, and mobilizing more resources to Tonga to ensure a smooth transition from relief to recovery. ENDS

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Press Release

03 May 2022

UN wraps up virtual mission to FSM

Due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, UNRC Samarasinha and the UN Pacific Country Team (UNCT) opted to conduct the mission virtually, instead of a physical mission to the country. Together with UN staff on the ground in Pohnpei, FSM, the UNCT’s meetings proved to be insightful, crucial and constructive to the ongoing enhanced UN presence in the North Pacific and wider Micronesian region. This mission was particularly significant and timely, as the UN’s Fiji-based Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) supports FSM to open its doors to a new UN coordination office to cater to the specific needs, challenges and goals of countries in Micronesia. This newest Multi-Country Office in the RC System will cover FSM, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Kiribati and will be based in Pohnpei under a new Resident Coordinator. Speaking virtually to President Panuelo, Mr Samarasinha commended FSM on effectively keeping COVID-19 out of the country thus far, adding that the UN stands ready to continue providing support to the Government of FSM on inclusive recovery from COVID-19. In 2020, UN Pacific reprogrammed 42% of FSM Joint Country Action Plan (JCAP) funds towards emergency COVID-19 response, amounting to over USD9 million. President Panuelo expressed appreciation to the UN for their part in helping to keep FSM COVID-free. “This mission has provided an opportunity to review and finalize the 2021 JCAP for FSM and has been an important step towards aligning UN work on the ground with the priorities of your government and UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) to ensure our support actually meets the needs of the people of FSM,” Mr Samarasinha said. “Discussions with government officials have revealed challenges regarding limited local capacity due to out-migration and other staffing issues, which the UN understands and appreciates. We will continue to work together to support these specific concerns.” Throughout the week-long mission, UN staff virtually met with FSM government officials, civil society and development partners to discuss specific ways to continue working together meaningfully and supporting each other to understand and address key challenges. It was also an opportunity to discuss FSM’s development and progress towards achieveing Agenda 2030, as well as plans towards a new National Development Plan to upgrade the current FSM Strategic Development Plan (2004-2023). Convened and facilitated by the UN RCO Fiji multi-country Office, virtual missions are being carried out in other Pacific countries where UN agencies work. As the current UN Pacific Strategy comes to an end in 2022, UN Pacific is working with Pacific partners to develop the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2023-2027 – this framework will outline the UN’s collective response to the development priorities of the 14 countries covered in the Pacific. ENDS

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