2021 Annual Progress Report Spotlight Initiative Pacific-Regional Programme

The regional Spotlight Initiative in the Pacific continued implementation in 2021 in a very complex environment, grappling with compounding impacts of disasters. These include social and political unrests, fractured regionalism through PIFS, rising food insecurity, adverse weather events, natural disasters (earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis), and the effects of COVID-19.

The Spotlight Initiative RUNOs actively participated in the Pacific Humanitarian Protection Cluster (PHPC), which plays a critical role in coordinating protection in humanitarian preparedness, response and recovery across UN agencies including issues on gender-based violence in emergencies, psychosocial support, and gender and social inclusion mainstreaming. The PHPC supported several emergency responses, such as TC Yasa, TC Ana in Fiji as well as political unrest in Solomon Islands in 2021 by providing technical support to national protection coordination mechanisms. Close coordination ensured that systems of essential services continue to be built whilst responding to the emergency protection needs.

To learn more, download the report.