The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent
At their 2019 meeting in Tuvalu, Forum Leaders endorsed the development of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Leaders highlighted their concerns for the region’s enduring challenges such as climate change related impacts, coupled with the intensification of geostrategic competition, exacerbating the region’s existing vulnerabilities.
Download the 2050 Strategy, endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders at the 51st PIFLM, July 11-14th, 2022
Download the Frequently Asked Questions
Download the 2050 Flyer
Reflecting on this, Leaders noted that securing the future cannot simply be left to chance and requires a long-term vision and a carefully considered regional strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. A strategy that reinforces commitment and working together as a collective for advancing Pacific regionalism based on the Blue Pacific Narrative.
2050 Strategy Development
Leaders tasked the Forum Secretariat to work closely with Member countries to develop the 2050 Strategy through the establishment of a Forum Officials Committee (FOC) Sub-Committee on the 2050 Strategy. The FOC Sub – Committee is co-chaired by Fiji and Vanuatu.
To ensure inclusivity and a thorough consultative process in the development the 2050 Strategy, the FOC Sub-Committee was supported by key stakeholders such as an Informal Working Group of Members, a CROP Taskforce on the 2050 Strategy, Non-State Actors, comprising of Civil Society and the Private Sector, Regional Experts, Youth, and Technical Consultants.
Methodology
The methodology for the development of the 2050 Strategy included elements of strategic foresight and the identification of key thematic areas for the Strategy. It also recognised and built upon existing Leaders’ decisions and regional policy frameworks, and Leaders’ values and aspirations for regionalism, such as those espoused in the Framework for Pacific Regionalism (FPR).
Through this methodology the strategy, underwent extensive national and regional consultations and member-led drafting processes, ensuring the development of the Strategy was thoroughly consulted on, Member led, owned and driven.
The overview of the strategy itself;
The 2050 Strategy sets out the region’s approach to collectively work together to achieve the long-term vision and aspirations of the 2050 Strategy, through seven key thematic areas:
Each thematic area is guided by its own ‘2050 ambition’ which serves as an agreed long-term objective for each thematic area, in support of the vision. At the same time, it encompasses 10 Leaders Commitments and numerous strategic pathways to guide the region’s broad trajectory over the short, medium, and long term.
The leader’s endorsement and the next steps
At the 51st Pacific Islands Forum Meeting in Fiji, Leaders welcomed and endorsed the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, as the overarching blueprint to advance Pacific regionalism for the next three decades, articulating the region’s long-term vision, values, and key thematic areas and strategic pathways.
In taking the Strategy forward, work is currently being progressed to develop an implementation plan for the strategy. The implementation plan will articulate key collective actions under each thematic area, delivery timeframes, implementation arrangements and partners, and resourcing requirements. This is to ensure alignment between the development of this implementation plan and the advancement of existing regional activities, supporting the achievement of national and global objectives and commitments.
Media Links:
- Opening address by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailed Malielegaoi of Samoa to open the 48th Pacific Islands Forum 2017
- Remarks by Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa at the High-Level Pacific Regional Side event by PIFS on Our Values and identity as stewards of the world’s largest oceanic continent, The Blue Pacific
Further Reading on Pacific Regionalism:
