The Pacific Plan is currently under review.
Visit the Pacific Plan Review website, meet the Review Team, make a submission and more. Click here.
The Pacific Plan is the master strategy for regional integration and coordination in the Pacific. Building on the Leaders’ Vision, it is a high-level framework that guides the work of national governments, regional agencies and development partners in support of the aspirations of Forum island countries and our people. The Plan was endorsed by Leaders at their meeting in Port Moresby in October 2005.
The Pacific Plan is a ‘living document’ so that it can adapt to the changing landscape of Pacific regionalism. Implementation of the Plan is guided by five themes and related priorities linked to the Pacific Plan pillars. These were endorsed by Leaders at their meeting in Cairns in August 2009 and cover a 3-year period from 2009 to 2012. These themes and priorities are available in Annex B of the 2009 Forum Communiqué.
While the Pacific Plan proposes a regional response to the challenges that Forum island Countries face, it does not endeavour to promote a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model of regional cooperation, nor work to limit the ability of countries in the region to pursue their own nationally based policies.
Oversight Arrangements
Oversight of the Pacific Plan is provided by the Pacific Plan Action Committee (PPAC). This Committee comprises representatives from each member and associate member states of the Pacific Islands Forum, as well as Executives of each of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies. The role of PPAC is to review implementation of the Pacific Plan and provide high-level advice to Leaders on strengthening regional cooperation and integration. It meets annually and is normally held three weeks prior to the Leaders meeting and adjacent to the Smaller Island States (SIS) Officials and the Forum Officials Committee (FOC) meetings.
Implementation and Reporting
Implementation of activities under the Pacific Plan are undertaken by Members of the Pacific Islands Forum and regional agencies, supported by development partners and other stakeholders, such as non-state actors. In the case of Vanuatu and the Smaller Island States, this is supplemented by Pacific Plan Desk Officers working in Government to support implementation of the Pacific Plan at the national level. They provide an important link between the regional programmes and national efforts.
This work is tracked by the Forum Secretariat through the Pacific Plan Office which compiles the Pacific Plan Annual Progress Report. Since 2010, this report has been supplemented by an annex detailing the efforts of selected member countries and regional agencies in support of the Pacific Plan priorities. Copies of all Annual Progress Reports and Annexes are available here.
In 2012, the Forum Secretariat is piloting a performance framework for the Pacific Plan. The intention is to use existing regional frameworks and mechanism to report to Leaders on progress implementing the agreed priorities. This performance report will be included in future Annual Progress Reports.
Role of Non-State Actors
Non-State Actors (NSAs), such as church and community groups, non-government organisations and the private sector, have a key role to play in the long-term agenda of regional integration and cooperation. The Forum Secretariat is currently looking at ways to strengthen engagement with NSAs and recently appointed David Hesaie as the Non-State Actor Liaison Officer in the Pacific Plan Office.
Relationship to the Forum Compact
In August 2009, Leaders endorsed the Cairns Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination in the Pacific (Forum Compact). The Forum Compact aims to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the MDGs, by strengthening Forum Island countries’ leadership of their own development agenda, and encouraging development partners to work more effectively together.
The Forum Compact is a key tool for implementing the Pacific Plan priorities. It defines the key principles and approaches, consistent with international best practice, on how to effectively coordinate development assistance, including those regional efforts identified under the Pacific Plan. Further information on the Forum Compact is available here.
Contacts
For further information on the Pacific Plan, including engagement with Non-State Actors, please telephone +679 331 2600 or email pacificplan@forumsec.org.fj
