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

30 March 2023

Pacific Resilience Partnership spearheads anticipatory action in the region

“The United Nations is committed to supporting Pacific Island countries in strengthening these combined efforts accordingly and accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” said the acting UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, Alpha Bah, in his opening remarks. The workshop will enable shared understanding on anticipatory action and its key building blocks. It will also identify key players regionally and at country-level and establish a coordination mechanism for anticipatory action in the Pacific. “Governments play a critical role in setting policies, allocating resources, and creating legal frameworks that enable effective disaster risk reduction,” added Mr Bah. Effective coordination and partnerships will therefore be crucial to identify gaps and opportunities in existing early warning and disaster risk management mechanisms and to integrate anticipatory action approaches into policy frameworks. “To manage the growing impacts of disasters more effectively, we need to increase collective understanding of the entire system of actors and activities that make up anticipatory action. By connecting with the experiences of communities and ensuring these are hard-wired into our policies and processes, we can enhance risk-informed action, and ensure communities build longer-term, more sustainable, stable and secure resilience. As a result, we can minimize the human and economic losses that can set back development progress, " said Katie Greenwood, Head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Pacific Delegation. "The best way to prepare for disasters is to work and deliver strategically and smartly, working with our resilient communities to strengthen solutions and deliver innovation - events like this provide the opportunities for a cohesive Pacific response to disaster risk management, and the Forum is pleased to be part of these forward-facing, life-saving initiatives,” said Dr. Filimon Manoni, Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). The workshop provides a critical opportunity for regional and national partners to share their experiences, best practices and challenges related to anticipatory action with a view to enhance preparedness among communities, improve response times and strengthen resilience to multi-hazard shocks and stressors. Note: The Pacific Resilience Partnership (PRP) is the umbrella implementation mechanism for the Framework for Resilience Development in the Pacific (FRDP) and was established in 2017. The FDRP provides high-level strategic guidance to different stakeholder groups on how to enhance resilience to climate change and disaster in ways that contribute to and are embedded in sustainable development. The 3 strategic goals of the PRP are, strengthened integration adaptation and risk reduction, low carbon development, and strengthened disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. # # # The United Nations brings governments, partners, and communities together to reduce disaster risk and losses to ensure a safer, more sustainable future. The Pacific Community supports sustainable development by applying a people-centred approach to science, research, and technology across all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by interweaving and harnessing the nexus of climate, ocean, land, culture, rights, and good governance; through trusted partnerships; investing in Pacific people; and understanding Pacific contexts. The Pacific Islands Forum (PIFS) is the region’s premier political and economic policy organisation. Founded in 1971, it comprises 18 members: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is the regional organisation established by the Governments and Administrations of the Pacific charged with protecting and managing the environment and natural resources of the Pacific. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network. The IFRC secretariat supports local Red Cross and Red Crescent action in more than 192 countries, bringing together almost 15 million volunteers for the good of humanity. For more information please contact: Jorge Diaz, WFP/ Suva, jorge.diaz@wfp.org Lisa Williams-Lahari, PIFS/ Suva, lisaw@forumsec.org Soneel Ram, IFRCS/ Suva, Soneel.Ram@ifrc.org Evlyn Mani, SPC/ Suva, evlynm@spc.int Sione Fulivai, SPREP/ Samoa, sionef@sprep.org

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Story

07 March 2023

IWD 2023: Working Together as a Region to Bridge the Digital Divide

Happy International Women’s Day (IWD) from the United Nations teams across the Pacific! IWD puts a spotlight on the achievements of women and girls everywhere. It is the day of recognition and celebration of the strides which have been made to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. It also provides an opportunity for self-reflection on our actions (or lack thereof) as leaders, institutions, and governments, to enhance the lives of women through opportunity, inclusion and equality. - In the Pacific, 2 in 3 women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, mostly by an intimate partner, more than the global average of 1 in 3 - Globally less than 40% of survivors of gender-based violence seek any help and it is likely that the number is greater in the Pacific due to stigma, difficulty accessing services and fear of retaliation - We can't achieve all the sustainable development goals (SDGs) if we don't end violence against women and girls - The Pacific region retains the world’s lowest levels of women in parliament - In most Pacific Island countries and territories, women usually perform a greater share of unpaid care and domestic work, and are overrepresented in the informal economy The digital revolution brings immense potential to improve social and economic outcomes in and for our societies. The power of the digital transformation at all levels can be harnessed for good to create social change, but not unless all are engaged and empowered to participate, and there are laws and regulations put in place to prevent and respond to online and technology facilitated violence against women and girls. Digital technologies provide new means to advocate for, defend, and exercise human rights and affect all women’s rights - civil and political, as well as cultural, economic and social rights. Recently, the UN launched a first-of-its-kind “Digital Economy Report: Pacific Edition 2022”. The findings revealed that “Digital technologies can reduce gender gaps in labour force participation by making work arrangements more flexible, connecting women to work, and generating new opportunities in online work, e-commerce and the sharing economy.” The call to action born of this is clear - we must act quickly to ensure the digital divide does not deepen, and we must work together to close it entirely. SDG 5 – Gender Equality is regressing, but there is hope Ensuring the inclusion of women and others at risk of discrimination into the technology fold results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality. And what we know, through monitoring the implementation of SDG5 is that gender equality has not only stalled in our region, but it has regressed. While we see hope, there is a need for all stakeholders, including the UN, governments, and development partners to expedite joint efforts. Excluding women incurs massive costs: the UN’s Gender Snapshot 2022 Report shows women’s exclusion from the digital world has shaved US$1 trillion from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade—a loss that will grow to US$1.5 trillion by 2025 without action. In Papua New Guinea, inclusive, equal participation of women in the political and economic arena is a major challenge. Gender-based violence remains at endemic levels and sorcery accusation-related violence killings continue. Women in PNG are 10% less likely than men to own a mobile phone and 23% less likely to use mobile internet, limiting their participation in the digital economy, access to information and services, and exercising of human rights. More proactive policies are needed to ensure laws, regulations and employment mechanisms are in place and being practiced. Awareness programmes are also needed to combat deep-seated attitudes which discriminate against women of all ages. In Micronesia, leaders of Palau, FSM, RMI, Nauru, and Kiribati, during the 25th Micronesian Islands Forum, agreed to develop the first Micronesian Gender Equality Framework by 2025. The Framework will ensure equal and cross-sectoral representation of diverse needs and priorities to address inequalities and barriers to empowering women and girls in Micronesia and with impacts across the Pacific. The UN has been supporting governments in Micronesia with gender-mainstreaming policies and actions to address gender-based violence, and discrimination through initiatives such as safe spaces, support for menstrual health management, reproductive health, and policy reforms. In Fiji, the Pacific Conference of Churches endorsed the Gender Status Card for Churches in the Pacific: Building safe, dignified, and empowered communities in the Pacific. A first of its kind globally, it was presented to the World Council of Churches Summit in September 2022 as a model for increasing advocacy and accountability for churches to prevent and respond to violence. Five churches from Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu have begun their assessments. We have the solutions - it is now a matter of better implementation which is supported by regular monitoring and where needed, recalibration. Ending violence against women and girls To quote Samoa’s first female Prime Minister, Hon. Fiame Mata’afa, “A world without violence is possible, and this moment demands unparalleled courage and joint action to make this vision a reality”. Ending all forms of violence against women and girls is fundamental to the empowerment of women. In Samoa, our campaigns to end violence against women and girls - either jointly with governments or through existing projects - have taken national ownership. Traditional leaders and women in church and village communities are leading dialogues and actions to create violence-free homes and villages. Policies for improved responsive services to domestic violence cases are integrated into the Law and Justice Sector 2023 – 2027, the Education Sector is developing policies to manage triggers of violence in schools and homes, and the Health Sector has received better facilities and medical services for victims of violence. A first of its kind Talanoa Toolkit for village-based advocates against family violence was launched in Samoa in August 2022 by the Office of the Ombudsman/National Human Rights Institutions. Written in both Samoan and English, the Talanoa Toolkit is an essential resource for advocates against family violence in communities and is being adapted and used in community awareness on family violence prevention in districts, villages, churches, schools and families. Samoan civil society and government ministries are strategising on how to utilise digital mobile and web applications in order to collect and analyze gender-based violence (GBV) administrative data to monitor effective and quality referrals for survivors. Our collective responsibility to current and future generations is to limit the harms that digital technologies can bring, and to harness their enormous potential for good – with dignity, safety and the firm protection of human rights. When it comes bridging the digital gender divide, we must also consider online and technology facilitated violence experienced by women and girls. Online violence against women and girls occurs as part of a continuum that is connected to offline violence and can take many forms. These include sexual harassment, stalking, zoom bombing, intimate image abuse, and misogynistic hate speech, among many others. The impact of this type of violence to women and girls is wide, including health, wellbeing, safety, political, societal, and economic. Key global promising practices to prevent and respond to online and technology facilitated violence against women and girls include development and implementation of national laws and regulations, prevention strategies and response services, and data collection. Capitalizing on the digitalization wave It is not enough to ensure that standards are technologically sound and economically viable - that lens is not effective enough to deliver a normative framework that fully respects and enhances fundamental human rights. The involvement of women and girls, in particular, is critical. First and foremost, they must have access to digital skills and to advanced education to master technology and use it for public good. They must also be designed with an end goal of improving lives, communities, and societies, through the rights and freedoms binding them together. For many groups of women and girls who live in isolated nations or islands, digital platforms create the opportunity to access local, regional, and international markets and knowledge networks. We congratulate Pacific governments on the revitalization of the ‘Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration 2012’ and stand with Pacific leaders to support its implementation and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality commitments. This digital revolution can vastly change the lives of the Pacific peoples, especially its women and girls, and we must get ahead of the wave before it’s too late. ENDS

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Press Release

02 March 2023

UN ramps up support to Solomon Islands development efforts, announces US$4m towards Peacebuilding

This was discussed last week between Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare MP, and UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, Sanaka Samarasinha, in Honiara. As part of this increased support, Mr Samarasinha announced that through the UN Peacebuilding Fund, Solomon Islands will receive US$4m over the next four years aimed at supporting the country’s national capacity to address peacebuilding challenges. Additionally, the UN has offered support to the country’s democratic elections process, which will be scheduled after the Pacific Games. “The UN will also lead the first high-level development coordination mission to Solomon Islands in May, with the theme of Building Resilience for the Solomon Islands, by bringing together key actors in the region. We will ramp up our coordination efforts in Solomon Islands and support it to graduate from status of ‘LDC’ following the country’s request to extend LDC graduation to 2027,” said Mr Samarasinha. There is currently a UN team on the ground in Honiara finalising Country Implementation Plans (CIPs) with national representatives – these CIPs will be the basis for UN assistance in the country for the next two years, incorporating government priorities and aligning with the national development plan. This CIP will be presented to Cabinet by Prime Minister Sogavare, who will urge support and alignment through the four key pillars - peace, people, planet and prosperity. A special request has been made by Solomon Islands Government to the UN to have a dedicated UN Resident Coordinator working solely on Solomon Islands to ensure an effective UN presence. Additionally, it was announced that Solomon Islands is exploring a venue for the UN House - the first ever UN House to be established in the country to house all UN agencies on the ground. Mr Samarasinha reaffirmed the UN’s support to Solomon Islands and will continue to return regularly to the country and engage closely with Government, national stakeholders, and civil society. ENDS

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Press Release

01 February 2023

Kingdom of Tonga and UN sign Five-Year Sustainable Development Framework

This Framework was formally signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Hon. Fekitamoeloa Katoa Útoikamanu of Tonga, and Sanaka Samarasinha,he UN Resident Coordinator to Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. This Framework lays the blueprint of the work of the UN in Tonga over the next five years, representing the first ever implementation planning that articulates the UN actions and deliverables to support realization of the key national development priorities of the Country. It ensures that all interventions are aligned with Tonga’s national development priorities, including UN and Tonga’s shared priorities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an integrated manner, with a commitment to leave no one behind. “This framework is important because it has been developed to ensure that UN development activities in Tonga are aligned to our national priorities. It provides a clear guideline for implementing and planning the UN’s work at national level in support of our implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” said Minister Útoikamanu. In the Pacific, the UN system, together with 14 PICTs, resolved to develop this overarching Framework in line with regional strategies, particularly the most recent 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. “With multiple crises affecting Tonga and the the region, it is vital we ensure an integrated approach to humanitarian and development support from the UN: one that empowers people and builds resilience to ensure a peaceful, prosperous, and peaceful Pacific,”Mr Samarasinha added. This Framework was developed in close consultation with the key stakeholders including governments, civil society organisations, and development partners across these 14 PICTs. Tonga successfully conducted a participatory technical consultation last week with participation of the Government of Tonga,the UN Country Team and other key stakeholders to begin the process of developing the first ever Country Implementation Plan aiming at enhancing realization and achieving the CF outcomes and sub-outcomes, which is anticipated to be finalized and approved by the Government by February 2023. ENDS

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Story

20 February 2023

Pacific UN Communicators Participate in Disability Inclusive Training

In the Pacific, the UNCTs across the region are supported by the Pacific UNCG, and it is imperative that Pacific UNCG communicators know how to respectfully, and correctly communicate with persons with disabilities when sharing their stories. To this end, yesterday, Pacific UNCG members participated in an engaging half-day workshop on disability inclusive communications and best practices for communicating with persons with disabilities. Hosted by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) in Fiji, the workshop was run by UNRCO partners, Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), and saw about 30 members of the Pacific UNCG participate physically and online. As part of the workshop, physical participants toured the Fiji National Council for Persons with Disabilities to learn what a fully inclusive building and workspace should look like. The tour was also an opportunity to speak with officials who run the Council, many of whom are persons with disabilities themselves, about the work they do, the challenges they face, and what they want people to know about persons with disabilities. One official, Freddie Fatiaki, from the Fiji Paralympic’s Committee, said too much focus is placed on a person's disability and nothing else. “My message to people is that they need to focus on the ability, not on the physical or other disability,” Mr Fatiaki said. Some key outcomes from the workshop included commitments to: Create inclusive and accessible content – ensuring there are captions, alternative text, and enlarged font. Rechecking stories with persons with disabilities before publishing A provision of reasonable accommodation, for example, allowing additional time, the use of portable ramps in infrastructure, etc Ensure the ability of persons with disabilities to participate in workshops Consent for photos. Highlight stories of persons with disabilities regularly e.g. monthly and ensuring this deliverable is added in UN Communications Strategies. Hiring of accessible venues when hosting workshops Ensure that visibility items are accessible, e.g. braille business cards Edit and review all communication UN agencies produce to ensure it does not use discriminatory words (such as 'handicapped' and 'special needs') More training for all office staff on a regular basis. Refresher workshops will be hosted annually for members of the Pacific UNCG and some agencies have already hosted separate workshops on disability inclusion following this one.

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Members of the Pacific UN Communications Group and the Pacific Disability Forum pose for a photo following a field trip to the Fiji Vocational Technical and Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities.

Story

01 February 2023

Op-Ed: Reclaiming a Lost Decade

As we surface from an unexpected global pandemic which left us with immeasurable loss of life and brought the worst recession in 90 years,1 we find ourselves amidst another period of political turmoil and economic unpredictability. For us in the Pacific, the climate emergency adds another layer of increasing urgency. Against this bleak backdrop, however, we now have a more profound knowledge of our vulnerabilities and strengths, a deeper penetration of digital technologies - particularly in rural areas - a renewed appreciation for nature, and an opportunity to take back the last two years as we reorient towards greener, more inclusive economies and societies. This week, we marked UN Day - the 77th anniversary of the UN, and the day we collectively decided that working together was our greatest asset against the world’s most pressing issues. The UN was created in the aftermath of great turmoil – so not only do we represent hope, but we also have the unique ability to convene to create hope and bring about real change. What remains now is a bold decision by each of you, for our action or inaction in the next eight years will decide between a decade lost and a decade reclaimed. The Sustainable Development Goals Now more than ever, we need to harness and capitalize on the spirit of ‘accomplishment through unity’ to get back on track to achieving the SDGs by 2030 – indeed this is a bold agenda, but it requires nothing short of transformative actions and accelerated commitments from everyone. Last year, we began the important journey of creating our UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027 - the blueprint of our work in the Pacific over the next five years. Consulting with governments, civil society, development partners, the private sector, and CROP agencies, we have created a Pacific-wide framework which, for the first time, tangibly connects global goals to national development priorities and is aligned to the new 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent launched by Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) this year. In this five-year window, we have a shot to strengthen our joint work, recalibrate together, and refocus our efforts, so that come 2030, we are well on our way to ticking all 17 SDGs off our collective ‘to-do’ list. The Climate Crisis and Economic Diversification As a forward-looking country with development aspirations firmly rooted in peace and prosperity for all its people, Tuvalu has many transformational opportunities in sight. The atoll nation of Tuvalu is probably the country most at-risk in the world of sea-level rise, to the point that it has envisaged in all seriousness alternatives to living on its own soil, including buying land elsewhere in the region. Tuvalu has experienced solid growth over the two last decades, prior to COVID-19. It has responded to the pandemic with efficacy and promptitude, avoiding any spread on its islands and supporting those hurt by the crisis. It has attained universal literacy, universal access to electricity and to improved water services, good internet and mobile telephony penetration, and declining neonatal and under-five mortality rates. Public expenditure on health and education is high by any measure of comparison. There are many possibilities to accelerate Tuvalu’s development pathways. Turning its structural characteristics into strengths and advantages, the country has the possibility to design a future of wellbeing and sustainable human development for its relatively small number of citizens, simply by investing in some of its assets and continuing the transformation process that it has begun. Moving forward, diversifying the economy is a crucial protection against shocks. Relying on fishing licenses and ODA as sources of income risks the volatility of both revenues if other nations decide to reduce their support, their activity or valued fish species migrate. Developing a quality ‘adventure tourism’ offer, based on attractions that Tuvalu can develop; intensifying small-scale agriculture to reduce overreliance on imported food; and inserting itself in the global economy through digitalisation and fintech bear transformative potential for Tuvalu. Additionally, the design of a new, diversified, Blue Economy could attract foreign direct investment, generate growth by a newly developed private sector, and create the jobs the Tuvaluan youth and women need to participate meaningfully in society. And finally, strengthened social cohesion and human security, and the operation of a strong risk-informed disaster risk recovery plan and the upgrade of existing infrastructure could support national resilience-building. Investing in Gender Equality In the Pacific, as gender inequalities persist, and recent shocks, including the pandemic and economic crises, have aggravated the current scenario for women in Tuvalu, we need to strengthen and expand social protection systems to cover women which can work as insurance, increasing their bargaining power at the household level, promoting financial inclusion, supporting long-term income generation and building agency. Investing in gender-sensitive responses to shocks, especially initiatives that build partnerships between governments and civil society, will help women better cope with uncertainty. Women’s and social movements have an important role to play in advancing better legal rights to participate in economic life, greater representation in politics, better support for paid and unpaid domestic care work, better protection from sexual harassment, better access to land tenure, financial inclusion, overcoming stigma and raising awareness around violence against women and girls. Social movements can advance human rights and change cultural norms and narratives to expand agency and freedoms for all. Our monetary support to Tuvalu is over US$17m for 2022, and as long-standing development partners, the UN will continue to work in the Tuvalu on areas such as climate action, strategic restructuring of economic sectors, health and education, social protection, gender equality, childhood protection, and digital and blue economy development. Other areas the UN will continue to work on include food security, humanitarian aid and recovery, infrastructure, macroeconomic management, and relocation of communities at risk.

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In Tuvalu and other Pacific nations, investing in gender-sensitive responses to shocks, especially initiatives that build partnerships between governments and civil society, will help women better cope with uncertainty.

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31 January 2023

Creating climate financing opportunities for Pacific SIDS through the Joint SDG Fund

It consists of a.) a lack of access to climate financing opportunities, and b.) a non-existent pipeline of good bankable projects, the UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu has highlighted. Through the Secretary General’s Joint SDG Fund, the Resident Coordinator has supported the design and oversight of many catalytic joint programmes, including, in particular, the ‘Coral Reefs Project’. This project is hands-on and cutting edge, featuring strong partnerships with the private sector. The Project is looking at investments and business models on reef-first businesses such as eco-tourism, visitor centers, sustainable fisheries, and blue carbon credits. The Project also includes a Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) for blue economy SMEs to bring additional projects and businesses to an ‘investment-ready’ stage. In total, with the combined investment of US$9.9m from the Joint SDG Fund and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, the Resident Coordinator aims to leverage around US$50m worth of capital into the coral reefs and blue economy in Fiji. This project is working on four key topics: Effective management of 30 Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) in Fiji through private sector investment in a US $10 million blended finance facility. Beqa Adventure Divers, co-manager of the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, one of the 10 LMMAs to have gotten a concessional loan from the UN. A Sanitary Landfill Project in the Western Division (to replace Vanato Dump in Lautoka and municipal dumpsites from Sigatoka to Tavua) through a US$14 million blended finance facility. The aim is for the public-private partnership approach to be replicated across the country. An eco-fertilizer factory received a US $0.75 million investment from the UN and, again, the aim is that such factories can be replicated at other sites in Fiji. A Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) for blue economy SMEs and financial instruments will be established and operationalized. This will pool investments and reduce risk, work with government to improve the regulatory framework and fundraise. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) leads the Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme (PICAP), which has developed the first ever market-based climate disaster risk insurance, unlocking the potential of the private sector to deploy appropriate and affordable solutions. 1388 households in Fiji were covered during 2021 with the parametric microinsurance against cyclonic storms and scaling is underway with the aim of covering 4000 households in Fiji before 2022-2023 cyclone season.

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A market vendor in Vanuatu displays necklaces to tourists in Port Vila.

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21 September 2022

Beneficiaries share experiences with UN Resident Coordinator through talanoa session

This has become a useful tool for the UN, especially when seeking frank feedback from beneficiaries relating to the implementation of, and effectiveness of projects. Recently, UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Pacific facilitated a talanoa session between the UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, Sanaka Samarasinha, and over 30 farmers, social welfare beneficiaries, and persons living with disabilities. Hosted in Suva, the discussions were an important opportunity for Mr Samarasinha to hear their experiences during extreme weather events, as well as their views about climate insurance and the role it has played in helping them get back on their feet in the immediate aftermath. One of the beneficiaries, Salaseini Koroi, said natural disasters often left them with nothing, including a lack of cash. “Our crops have been destroyed and we have to run around [to find cash]; there’s financial problems in the family,” she shared. “We just thought this parametric insurance should have been started a long time ago because we really need financial assistance.” It is in direct response to the testimonies of people like Mrs Koroi and others, that the UN, through UNCDF Pacific, introduced two new parametric micro-insurance products to the Fiji market last month through its Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme (PICAP). These new products cover heavy wind and rainfall risks and require an affordable premium of F$100 a year for a return payout of F$1,000 in the case of an extreme weather event, to be processed within two weeks of the event. This ensures those who are most vulnerable among beneficiaries can access cash almost immediately after a disaster – something they have never been able to fall back on before. Speaking at the talanoa session, Mr Samarasinha said inclusion is central to the work of the UN, and the honest feedback of beneficiaries results in the creation of better, more tailored products and programs which meet their needs. “As we scale this and we think about those who are most vulnerable, most disadvantaged and most likely to be left behind because of the frequent disasters that we face in Fiji and the rest of the Pacific; disasters that you did not help to create, we need to ensure that when we say we will leave no one behind, we truly don't leave anyone behind,” he said. “We are aware of the potential for natural disasters to push people into poverty, especially those that must wait weeks or even months for financial assistance to arrive. So, this is the message we’re sharing with farmers, fishers and other target groups: You never know when the next big disaster will strike. These products offer you a solution that gives you a sense of financial security and peace of mind knowing funds will be available should disaster hit,” he concluded.

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22 August 2022

UN to Expand Support and Assistance to the Government and People of Solomon Islands

This week, the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UN RC), Sanaka Samarasinha, led a team of UN agencies to the Solomon Islands for the first time since COVID-19 forced its borders closed in 2020. The team engaged with key Government counterparts, the Parliament and development partners. During discussions with Government, the UN Team discussed key priorities of the Solomon Islands and highlighted potential support by the UN, including in the areas of sustaining peace in Solomon Islands, achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), governance reform, better coordination, a scale-up of the UN presence and assistance in the Solomon Islands. Other issues discussed were Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation, job creation, service delivery, especially in the provinces, as well as disaster preparedness and COVID-19 response. During the discussion with Hon. Prime Minister, the UN reiterated its commitment to support key national priorities and discussed the strategic position of the UN as the multilateral entity supporting Solomon Islands in the short, medium, and long term. The UN recognizes the importance of ensuring peace and stability as a prerequisite for development and SDG progress, and the UN will continue to work with national and provincial stakeholders on this important agenda. The RC met with High Commissioners from Australia, New Zealand and UK, and Ambassadors from China and Japan, and a representative from the US and thanked them for their robust partnership with the UN. Discussions also highlighted the need to focus on young people, ensuring development assistance supports and provides them with opportunities, including sustainable and decent jobs. The UN will continue to ensure its work is aligned to and supports the Solomon Islands national development plan and the UN has committed to facilitating a UN Country Implementation Plan that will fully align with the national priorities. The UN continues its support to the Solomon Islands to strengthen its vaccination rollout campaigns, given the Solomon Islands is currently lagging on vaccination rates globally. The Solomon Islands currently sits at 52% vaccination – almost 20% under its target of 70% vaccination rate by July 2022. There is concern that slow vaccination uptake will result in child vaccination rates also falling behind. The UN offered to support the Solomon Islands to accurately measure and report on its Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). There was unanimous call from the government and partners to expand the UN’s presence and role in the country. The UN is one of Solomon Islands’ long- standing development partners, supporting in areas such as climate action, strategic restructuring of economic sectors, health and education, social protection, gender equality, childhood protection, digital and blue economy development, food security, humanitarian aid and recovery, democratic governance, agriculture and fisheries, infrastructure, macroeconomic management, relocation of communities at risk. UN’s contribution to Solomon Islands in 2022 is projected to be US$30m. 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. The UN stands ready to accompany Solomon Islands in the next phase of its development journey. ENDS

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UN Resident Coordinator, Sanaka Samarasinha and Staff meeting with the Journalists from Solomon Islands

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Press Release

16 March 2023

New Joint Project to Promote Access to Employment, Social Protection, and Digital Services in five Pacific SIDS

The project – ‘Advancing the SDGs by Improving Livelihoods and Resilience via Economic Diversification and Digital Transformation’ – is one of a handful of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Fund projects in the Pacific region aimed at accelerating progress towards achieving the SDGs by 2030. There are four main outcomes of the project: 1) design employment policies and skills strategies for a job-rich recovery; 2) promote demand-driven business development services and entrepreneurship in strategic sectors; 3) support transition to formality for a resilient labour market; and 4) strengthen access to digital services, information and digital skills for community resilience. Mr Samarasinha said this project, which will be implemented in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, is crucial given Pacific SIDS will not achieve 75% of SDGs by 2030 if current trends continue. “This will advance integrated responses to complex development challenges and a key point is that this work is aligned with what Pacific leaders have envisioned for their countries,” he said. Ambassador Young-kyu added that time is running out to achieve the SDGs and catalytic action are critical to support Pacific SIDS to get back on track to achieving their SDG targets. “SIDS, and especially Pacific Island nations, bear the brunt of the climate crisis. Whilst Pacific Island Countries only contribute a negligible share to global green-house gas emissions, they experience the intense impacts of the climate crisis, including rising sea levels and more frequent and powerful natural disasters,” he said. Director of Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), Mafua Maka, spoke about the importance of working closely with the local community, particularly with local businesses in Tonga to achieve the SDGs. Fiji’s Director Corporate Services at the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Samuela Moce, called on PICs to work together to be a unified voice and role model for green and blue economy diversification. The project has a duration of two years, and a budget of over US5m, with US4.258m provided by the Joint SDG Fund, and its donors, and US877,239 from UN co-funding. It will be implemented by six UN agencies – ILO, UNOPS, UNODC, UNOHCHR, ITU, and UNESCO. ENDS

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Press Release

02 March 2023

UN wraps up Tonga Mission; fruitful discussions with Civil Society & Development Partners

Led by the Head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Alpha Bah, the delegation met with civil society and development partners to discuss the creation of Country Implementation Plans (CIPs). CIPs are a key part of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027 (UNSDCF) which the Government of Tonga and the UN jointly signed last year, renewing the long-standing partnership, and signaling increased collaboration over the next five years. Through CIPs, UN actions and deliverables on the ground in Tonga are clearly outlined, ensuring that the UNSDCF is not only relevant, but directly addresses Tonga’s key national development priorities, which the UNSDCF is directly aligned to. UN Resident Coordinator to Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, Sanaka Samarasinha, said these consultations were part of the UN’s ongoing dialogue with government and partners to ensure no one is left behind. “It was wonderful to hear from CSOs and development partners in Tonga – CSOs play a crucial role in contextualizing the UN’s expertise to the local situation, and our development partners were able to share information about their ongoing work, speaking about the importance of empowering communities through their initiatives. The outcomes of the UNSDCF are strengthened through these discussions,” Mr Samarasinha said. Tonga’s CIPs are anticipated to be finalized and approved by the Government by the end of this month. The 2022 UN contribution to Tonga was around US7.6m - a 25% increase from 2021, supporting health systems, education, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, biodiversity, food systems, disaster reduction and response, renewable energy, economic empowerment and livelihoods, gender equality, and human rights. There are 10 UN agencies based in Nuku’alofa and 21 staff. Mr Samarasinha reaffirmed the UN’s support to Tonga and will continue to return regularly to engage closely with government, national stakeholders, civil society, and development partners. ENDS

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Press Release

31 January 2023

Pacific leaders gather in New York to discuss Climate Security Challenges and Opportunities

Moderated by UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, Sanaka Samarasinha, this dialogue will guide the development of the next phase of the Climate Security Initiative for the Pacific region. Joined by the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Henry Puna, and the UN’s Assistant Secretary General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Mohamed Khaled Khiari, it was an important opportunity to discuss the expansion of interventions on climate security in the Pacific, and to share country-specific insight on climate security challenges and opportunities. Dr Prasad said: “The security dimension of climate security is obvious, but it’s frustrating to find the adequate language to describe the daily realities of Pacific peoples and these different dimensions - food, sovereignty, health, economic growth, migration and much more. The implications are substantial for Pacific small island states.” Vanuatu’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Odo Tevi, said further action on greenhouse gases, greater ambition, and stronger partnerships remain urgent. “For a country like Vanuatu who has just graduated from ‘least developed country’, our future is uncertain, Cat 5 cyclones have become normal for us – we need solutions. This is only possible if we work together. It’s important to see that the UN is putting greater focus on climate change,” he said. Marshall Islands’ Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Elizabeth Kabua stressed that the economic security of Northern Pacific nations including the Marshall Islands remain under great strain and “there is still so much work to do and stronger links to be built together. Offering some insight into traditional knowledge was Palau’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ilana Sein who added: “In Palau, we emphasise traditional knowledge and we’re exploring sustainable aquaculture because we’re seeing lots of typhoons and storms”. Tuvalu’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justice and Communications, Hon. Simon Kofe, expressed an urgent need for development partners to back steps being made by Pacific nations. “We are taking our own bold steps in the Pacific, but our development partners can also assist us by supporting our legal positions, signing our joint communiques, and contributing to strategic efforts toward coastal adaptation and land reclamation,” he said. In 2020, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund approved its first Pacific regional project, with a focus on climate security in Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, and at the regional level. The project is led by UNDP and IOM, in partnership with key government departments and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. In addition to this project, the UN has also been supporting the human migration project, adaptation and resilience project across the Pacific. The Climate Security in the Pacific project aims to enable greater and more inclusive understanding around climate inducted security risks as well as to strengthen ad hoc responses and support advocacy efforts in relevant regional and global fora. ENDS

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Press Release

14 September 2022

Launch of "Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2022 for ESCAP Subregions - Pathways for Adaptation and Resilience in the Pacific"

A subregional edition of the Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2022: Pathways for Adaptation and Resilience in the Pacific has revealed that every increment of a degree between 1.5°C and 2°C translates into increased risks of tropical cyclones in the Pacific small island developing States (SIDS) with expanded geographical coverage and increasing intensity, followed by floods and droughts. These increased climate risks will have multidimensional impacts on people, their livelihoods, and the Pacific economies. The report, which builds on the latest scientific evidence by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was launched yesterday at an event hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Pacific Subregional Office and the UN Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO).
This report is among the first to present resilience-based analytics and recommendations to operationalize the strategic pathways on climate change and disasters outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent adopted in July 2022.
The launch event also served as a platform to better understand the needs of integrating climate change adaptation and resilience into development plans, share experiences on promoting climate change adaptation strategies, and discuss ways to strengthen regional and subregional cooperation to address climate change challenges.
At the opening, UNRC ai and UNDP Pacific Representative Levan Bouadze, remarked, “Tailored resilience-based, sub-regional analysis, like our Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2022: Pathways for Adaptation and Resilience in the Pacific that is being launched today, is exactly what the UN should be developing for Pacific Island countries.”
“Innovative tools and technologies are the critical means, from next generation risk analytics to geospatial modeling and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning,” said Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP Kaveh Zahedi. He further highlighted the Asia-Pacific Risk and Resilience Portal, launched by ESCAP last year, as a user-friendly one stop shop for policymakers to access a vast array of scientific data and information and tools to make risk informed policy decisions.
Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Dr. Filimon Manoni highlighted, “Focusing on some key adaptation priorities can help build resilience in the Pacific. These include strengthening early warning systems, making water resources more resilient, making new infrastructure resilient, protecting mangroves and improving dryland agriculture crop production. These five measures will provide the highest cost-benefit ratio in terms of building resilience to tropical cyclones and other hazards.”
The event also raised the importance of an inclusive and multidimensional approach to translate transboundary hazards into risk-informed recommendations for resilience building efforts in the Pacific. The outcome of the event will provide substantive insight and key takeaways to the upcoming high-level meetings, namely the Inaugural Meeting of Pacific Ministerial responsible for Disaster Risk Management on 14-15 September 2022 in Nadi, Fiji, the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction on 19-22 September 2022 in Brisbane, Australia, and COP 27 in November 2022 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
The event was attended by member States, PIFS, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies, as well as UN system and other key stakeholders from the Pacific.
For more information: https://www.unescap.org/Launch-Asia-Pacific-Disaster-Report-2022-for-ESCAP-Sub-regions For media enquiries, please contact: ESCAP Subregional Office for the Pacific E: escap-pacific@un.org

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