In-country capacity key to Pacific Plan progress
PRESS STATEMENT
24 Aug 2006 22:39:50
In-country capacity key to Pacific Plan progress
National mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure Forum Members are ‘in the driver’s seat’ of strengthened regionalism under the Pacific Plan.
This was one of the central points of discussion at the Pacific Plan Action Committee (PPAC) meeting currently underway in Nadi, Fiji.
PPAC is made up of representatives from all Pacific Island Forum countries, and is responsible for providing political guidance and oversight to the Forum Secretariat on the direction of the Pacific Plan’s implementation and on-going development.
"Establishment of national policies and mechanisms for regionalism is now acknowledged as the most critical element in implementing the Pacific Plan," says Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Mr Greg Urwin.
"This is to ensure that the best possible connections are made between national priorities and regional decisions, and resource allocation."
Mr Urwin says regional processes and institutions exist for the benefit of countries, and countries are encouraged to integrate them as essential components of the national policy and planning mainstream.
"The Pacific Plan will not work if this does not happen."
A new proposal on the table from the Forum Secretariat is the expansion of in-country Smaller Island States (SIS) officers’ function to all Forum island countries to help make better connections between national mechanisms and regional approaches.
"We recently appointed SIS Desk Officers in Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue and Republic of Marshall Islands to provide the crucial link between the Secretariat and SIS member countries, with principal responsibility of channeling regional initiatives in the Pacific Plan into national processes."
Appointments are soon to be made in Kiribati, Palau and Tuvalu.
"The proposal of expanding this operative function to all Forum Island countries was well received during our discussions yesterday, and we hope to actively pursue this initiative with our regional and national partners."
This approach was endorsed at the recent Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) heads meeting in Apia.
The PPAC meeting concludes today with the tabling of the Regional Institutional Framework Review as one of the main agenda items. The review was undertaken by a team of consultants to further the development of a framework more appropriate for regionalism and the Pacific Plan.
The team comprises Mr Adrian Simcock (New Zealand), Mrs Makurita Baaro (Kiribati), Ms Lourdes Pangelinan (Palau), Ms Lusi Bogari (PNG) and Mr Epa Tuioti (Samoa), with Fiji Foreign Affairs Minister, Kaliopate Tavola, contributing as a Special Adviser.
The Pacific Plan was endorsed by Forum leaders at in October 2005 as the blueprint for regional development to enhance and stimulate economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security.
(Ends)
For further information, please contact Mue Bentley, Media Officer, Pacific Plan,
on 993 2638 or email
Visit the Pacific Plan website
24 Aug 2006 22:39:50
In-country capacity key to Pacific Plan progress
National mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure Forum Members are ‘in the driver’s seat’ of strengthened regionalism under the Pacific Plan.
This was one of the central points of discussion at the Pacific Plan Action Committee (PPAC) meeting currently underway in Nadi, Fiji.
PPAC is made up of representatives from all Pacific Island Forum countries, and is responsible for providing political guidance and oversight to the Forum Secretariat on the direction of the Pacific Plan’s implementation and on-going development.
"Establishment of national policies and mechanisms for regionalism is now acknowledged as the most critical element in implementing the Pacific Plan," says Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Mr Greg Urwin.
"This is to ensure that the best possible connections are made between national priorities and regional decisions, and resource allocation."
Mr Urwin says regional processes and institutions exist for the benefit of countries, and countries are encouraged to integrate them as essential components of the national policy and planning mainstream.
"The Pacific Plan will not work if this does not happen."
A new proposal on the table from the Forum Secretariat is the expansion of in-country Smaller Island States (SIS) officers’ function to all Forum island countries to help make better connections between national mechanisms and regional approaches.
"We recently appointed SIS Desk Officers in Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue and Republic of Marshall Islands to provide the crucial link between the Secretariat and SIS member countries, with principal responsibility of channeling regional initiatives in the Pacific Plan into national processes."
Appointments are soon to be made in Kiribati, Palau and Tuvalu.
"The proposal of expanding this operative function to all Forum Island countries was well received during our discussions yesterday, and we hope to actively pursue this initiative with our regional and national partners."
This approach was endorsed at the recent Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) heads meeting in Apia.
The PPAC meeting concludes today with the tabling of the Regional Institutional Framework Review as one of the main agenda items. The review was undertaken by a team of consultants to further the development of a framework more appropriate for regionalism and the Pacific Plan.
The team comprises Mr Adrian Simcock (New Zealand), Mrs Makurita Baaro (Kiribati), Ms Lourdes Pangelinan (Palau), Ms Lusi Bogari (PNG) and Mr Epa Tuioti (Samoa), with Fiji Foreign Affairs Minister, Kaliopate Tavola, contributing as a Special Adviser.
The Pacific Plan was endorsed by Forum leaders at in October 2005 as the blueprint for regional development to enhance and stimulate economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security.
(Ends)
For further information, please contact Mue Bentley, Media Officer, Pacific Plan,
on 993 2638 or email
Visit the Pacific Plan website
