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