The UN in the Pacific

UN multi-country engagement in the Pacific is led by two Resident Coordinators and a Joint UN Country Team linked across two regional hubs, operating regionally out of Fiji and Samoa. There are 10 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) under the leadership of the Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO) including Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu; and four PICTs under the leadership of the Samoa MCO including Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau.

There are 26 UN resident agencies in the Pacific; with 16 agencies based in Fiji and 10 agencies based in Samoa. UN agencies such as UNHCR are based outside the region, but collaborate with in-country agencies and Joint Presence Offices and Country Coordination Specialists to meet their country level obligations. Non-resident agencies include IAEA (Geneva), UNCDF, UN Environment, UN-Habitat (Fukuoka), UNIDO, UNCTAD, and UNODC (Bangkok). These agencies implement projects and programs in the region in partnership with resident agencies

Natawa Primary School is a coeducational school located about three kilometres from Tavua town. There are seven teachers, 150 students as well as 23 kindergarten students.

Photo | © UNICEF/UNI288471/Hing

The United Nations Pacific Strategy 2018-2022 is a multi-country, outcome level, strategic framework that presents a coordinated approach to support the 14 PICTs across the Pacific. The six outcomes address strategic priorities that promote mutual accountability for development results in the Pacific, further Pacific to Pacific cooperation, and enable the targeting of valuable UN resources to areas where they are most needed.

1. Climate Change, Disaster Resilience, and Environmental Protection By 2022, people and ecosystems in the Pacific are more resilient to the impacts of climate change, climate variability and disasters; and environmental protection is strengthened. 
2. Gender Equality By 2022, gender equality is advanced in the Pacific, where more women and girls are empowered and enjoy equal opportunities and rights in social, economic, and political spheres, contribute to and benefit from national development, and live a life free from violence and discrimination.
3. Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Empowerment By 2022, people in the Pacific, in particular youth, women, and vulnerable groups, benefit from inclusive and sustainable economic development that creates decent jobs, reduces multi–dimensional poverty and inequalities, and promotes economic empowerment.
4. Equitable Basic Services By 2022, more people in the Pacific, particularly the most vulnerable, have increased equitable access to and utilization of inclusive, resilient, and quality basic services.
5. Governance and Community Engagement By 2022, people and communities in the Pacific will contribute to and benefit from inclusive, informed, and transparent decision-making processes; accountable and responsive institutions; and improved access to justice.
6. Human Rights By 2022, people in the Pacific effectively enjoy a strengthened legal framework and institutions that deliver human rights protection in accordance with international commitments under relevant treaties, and the Universal Periodic Review.