pic: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) thegef.org

inside:

a daily multi-stakeholder

magazine on climate changeand sustainable

development

Sustainable economic development in Samoa

Empowering Pacific women through marketplaces

out reach.Be PaperSmart: Read Outreach online

www.stakeholderforum.org/sf/outreach

1 September 2014

contents.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Diane Abad Pacific Islands Forum SecretariatEllie van Baaren UN WomenCarlos Germano F. Costa UNDP ConsultantMichael Gill Air Transport Action GroupFale Lesa Commonwealth Correspondent from New Zealand and SamoaKarmen Lux Natura PREmanuele Taupau Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations

(SUNGO)UN News Centre

1 Sustainable economic development in Samoa

2 Empowering Pacific women through marketplaces

3 Makareta Rika: In my own words

4 Climate change and the threat of poverty

5 Small Island States: Air transport and a sustainable future

6 Country leadership and ownership: Action in the Pacific

7 The role of tourism in changing island custodian practices

8 Business execs build partnerships with small islands at UN forum

9 Side events calendar

10 Reflections on the Major Groups and other Stakeholders Forum

pic: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) thegef.org

4

OUTREACH IS PUBLISHED BY:Editor Amy Cutter Stakeholder ForumAssistant Editor Ian Fenn Stakeholder ForumPrint Designer Faye Arrowsmith www.flogo-design.co.ukWeb Designer Matthew Reading-Smith Stakeholder Forum

About Stakeholder ForumStakeholder Forum is an international organisation working to advance sustainable development and promote democracy at a global level. Our work aims to enhance open, accountable and participatory international decision-making on sustainable development through enhancing the involvement of stakeholders in intergovernmental processes. For more information, visit: www.stakeholderforum.org

Outreach is a multi-stakeholder publication on climate change and sustainable development. It is the longest continually produced stakeholder magazine in the sustainable development arena, published at various international meetings on the environment; including the UNCSD meetings (since 1997), UNEP Governing Council, UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) and World Water Week. Published as a daily edition, in both print and web form, Outreach provides a vehicle for critical analysis on key thematic topics in the sustainability arena, as well as a voice of regional and local governments, women, indigenous peoples, trade unions, industry, youth and NGOs. To fully ensure a multi-stakeholder perspective, we aim to engage a wide range of stakeholders for article contributions and project funding.If you are interested in contributing to Outreach, please contact the team(acutter@stakeholderforum.org or ifenn@stakeholderforum.org)You can also follow us on Twitter: @stakeholders

OUTREACH TEAM

7

5

1

Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

are a community of low lying island

nations that share common barriers to

development. We are characterised most

by small populations, limited resources,

endangered ecosystems, isolation,

dependence on aid and trade, and the

frequency of natural disasters. Samoa is

on the cusp of change. At the beginning

of 2014, we graduated from the UN Least

Developed Countries status. It marks

the beginning of a transformation that

depends largely on the community.

In 1962, Samoa became the first Polynesian island to declare independence from New Zealand. From 1972, more than 85,000 tourists visited every year, and exports from agriculture were in good shape. Unfortunately, the good times were numbered. In 1990, Samoa was struck by Cyclone Ofa, leaving a quarter of the population homeless overnight. A year later, Cyclone Val caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. In 1994 a taro leaf blight outbreak destroyed our agricultural backbone and single largest export, and a debt-fuelled national carrier required a multi-million dollar bailout from government. With this trail of destruction, Samoa’s GDP fell by more than half.

Hopelessness encouraged an exodus; my parents were among thousands who fled for New Zealand. The vast majority were hired as labourers, my father included. But ties to the homeland were never severed, and most sent money home weekly. Direct remittances from abroad now total more than $12 million a year, and Samoans living abroad account for more than half of all tourist visits. In time, the country bounced back. The taro disaster forced exporters to adjust and the coconut is now the principle product. The European Union has emerged as a key importer, buying more than 20% of the market share. Tourism revenue has doubled in the last decade and current arrival numbers more than twice those pre-1990.

Samoans abroad outnumber those here, but local economy improvements have inspired many to return. Formal education has made tremendous progress and job market competition in Australia and New Zealand has led to fewer graduates moving abroad, sweetened by scholarship deals and salary increases here. However, there is still a long way to go and natural disasters in 2009 and 2012 reminded us that history can and does repeat itself.

If I were prime minister, I would disaster-proof all construction projects, making it mandatory, and ban coastline construction projects with no exception. I would only allow donor countries to build schools and hospitals in

partnership with local tradesmen to avoid calling abroad for subsequent repair jobs or maintenance (we can sometimes wait more than a year). I would ask village councils to back a national disaster evacuation scheme (existing schemes cater only to schools and workplaces; the elderly and disabled are overly-represented in disaster casualties). I would throw my weight behind the tourism industry, encouraging tourists to stay longer while exploring new Asian markets. I would help combat the widespread misconception that ‘farming is for fools’ with campaigns like ‘agriculture is our largest sector’ and ‘global food prices are soaring as more people move from rural to urban centres.’ I believe that public attitudes account for a lot of challenges. Families force children to aspire to law or medicine, ignoring trades or other shortage areas that pay almost as well, and thousands that don’t make law or med school end up in low-skilled jobs. I would diversify the student body from an early stage; aligning personal strengths with pathways and promoting more contact between school and home. I would provide family-friendly prospects for young parents, and make the local job market more attractive for overseas companies, with strict environmental protections.

I often hear the belief that ‘this is as good as it gets’ for an island in the middle of nowhere. I detest the resignation, as did my father and the thousands that left with him. Some might say that they abandoned home, but I beg to differ. They went in search of an income stream that promised even more than what was on offer, and shared it with those in most need. This is the principle behind sustainable economic development, and what worked in New Zealand all those years ago can be replicated in Samoa right now. A man once said that ‘success is 99% attitude’, and I don’t disagree.

MORE INFOCommonwealth Correspondents is a network of youth writers supported by the Commonwealth Youth Programme. See: www.yourcommonwealth.org and www.thecommonwealth.org.

Sustainable economic development in SamoaFale LesaCommonwealth Correspondent from New Zealand and Samoa

pic: Building a hotel, Saleapagaa village, Upolu. By Asian Development Bank

2

For market vendor Rose Starlyn, attending a series of workshops in April and May 2014 turned out to be the beginning of a journey. So far, that journey has seen her address an

audience of more than 100 people, including politicians and diplomats,

and being elected as the first chairperson of the newly formed Honiara

Central Market Vendors Association.

“I think small changes can make a big difference. We can make a market that is a happy place for everyone,” Rose says. “A place that is healthy for everyone, where more people, including tourists, can come, and market vendors can earn more money. We can create a place where people can learn and share skills, and women can ‘come up’.”

Rose is one of around 1,000 vendors working at Honiara Central Market, an estimated 80 per cent of whom are women. She works six days a week as a tailor and clothing vendor and the money she makes covers school fees and bus fares for her five children.

Rose’s story is typical of many women at markets around the Pacific. Between 75 and 90 per cent of vendors are women; hours are long, profits often low, and conditions difficult. Many female vendors come to the market from rural areas and usually sleep at the market for three or four days, exposing them to a higher risk of gender-based and sexual violence as well as theft.

Despite this, they are rarely represented in – and sometimes excluded from – the planning and decision-making processes that determine how the markets are run.

This was the motivation behind UN Women’s Markets for Change (M4C) project. Developed specifically for the Pacific region, where markets are often central to livelihoods especially in poorer households, M4C is a six-year, multi-country initiative that will inject more than US$10 million into ensuring that markets in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory.

Principally funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, M4C was officially launched in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu in April, May and August 2014 respectively. Workshops like Honiara’s are among the project’s initial activities. They are specifically aimed at creating accessible, inclusive and representative governance structures to help the markets grow and strengthen the role and influence of women market vendors. Part of the workshops is a mapping exercise where participants ask their fellow vendors about the issues they face and the changes they would like to see at the market.

Empowering Pacific women through marketplacesEllie van BaarenUN Women

Ethel Sigimanu, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children’s Affairs in Solomon Islands, says the economic contribution that female market vendors make to their local councils, families, churches, communities and their country’s economy often goes unrecognised.

“Markets are male-dominated. The planning and decision-making and market operations are usually done by men but it is the women who are doing the selling,” Ethel says. “The M4C project makes women visible. And when women are visible, we not only see their hardships and successes, but we see tangible benefits through what women do.”

So far the workshops have been instrumental in the formation of vendors associations at Auki and Honiara markets in Solomon Islands, and the re-activation of the Suva market vendors association in Fiji. At Nausori, also in Fiji, the Women’s Club - set up in 2012 to give female vendors a safe space to express their views - and the general vendors’ association have agreed to hold joint executive committee meetings to ensure that the needs and interests of all vendors are represented.

Preeya Ieli, Regional Programme Specialist for Women’s Economic Empowerment at UN Women’s Fiji Multi-Country Office, says that one of the keys to making the M4C project effective is working closely not only with vendors but with market management, local government and other stakeholders.

“Women at each of the markets we work with are facing different challenges. It’s fantastic to see the enthusiasm with which vendors, management and government have embraced the project and how motivated they are to work together to make changes that will benefit everyone.”

For now Rose is looking forward to helping to make a difference for herself and her fellow vendors.

“I can see many things inside the market that need changing – it is not clean, there is no water,” Rose explains. “This association is an opportunity to work together to make the market clean and good for everyone.”.

pic: Market vendor Rose Starlyn from Honiara, Solomon Islands. UN Women/Ellie van Baaren

3

Makareta Rika is 75 years old and

has been working at Lautoka Market

in Fiji’s Western Division for more

than half her life. A seller of

handicrafts, mats and tapa, she has

been instrumental in improving the

market infrastructure, especially for

women, and organising local vendors to

stand up for their rights.

“I come from Naiavu Tailibu near Nausori but I have lived in Lautoka all my life. I used to work at the western regional library but it was hard to do that while looking after my six children and sending them to school, so I decided to run a handicraft business at the market instead.

At that stage, there was no market building; the vendors were selling from a number of little tents all over the place. I asked the city council to build a house for the vendors, but they refused so I found a piece of land on the outskirts of town that was not owned by the council and got the market vendors to sell from there. This meant that the council didn’t get any revenue from the market, and we kept it up for 14 days and 14 nights. Then the council changed their minds! Now we have a big beautiful market in the city.

That was the start of the market vendors association; I’m still running it 45 years later. In the beginning I didn’t really know what to do, so I just sat down and listened and if vendors told me something was wrong, I would work it out. I registered the association and now vendors pay $10 per person to become a member. We get a lot more women joining now, especially young mothers.

In 2012, the representative from UN Women in Fiji at the time (Elizabeth Cox) came to find me at my house because she had seen the articles I had put in the paper and wanted to know more. Basically about 100 women who came from the interior of the island to sell at the market were sleeping out in the open guarding their produce and they had to go a long way to use the toilets. With UN Women’s help, and the support of the Australian Government (through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), a new accommodation facility was built so the women could sleep in a proper bed. The Prime Minister opened it in July this year.

UN Women has been educating the vendors through workshops, encouraging us to stand up and talk so that we are not scared any more. Women are learning that even if they are not well educated, they can go to the market and run their business, save up their money and educate their children. I got all my children educated right up to university level, and now I have five grandchildren at university.

I praise UN Women for what they have done and that is why when they ask me to do something for them, I’m happy to stand up for them.”.

Makareta is part of UN Women’s delegation at the Third International SIDS Conference and will be speaking about UN Women’s Markets for Change project at a networking reception on Monday September 1.

MORE INFOwww.facebook.com/unwomenpacificMarketplaces are central to the livelihoods of households throughout the Pacific and the majority of the vendors who work in them are women, two of the reasons why UN Women is working with market vendors to help strengthen their conditions of work, earning power and leadership abilities, which has positive effects on entire communities.

Makareta Rika: In my own words

pic: Makareta Rika. UN Women/Ellie van Baaren

pic: Market vendors at Honiara Market in Solomon Islands. UN Women/Marni Gilbert

4

The impacts of global warming are

already noticeable worldwide and are

likely to increase in the coming decades

if no action is taken, warns the latest

report from the Intergovernmental Panel

on Climate Change (IPCC).

In a time when discussions about whether human activity is responsible for climate change have become outdated, the world moves towards the discussion of impacts, vulnerability of territories and possibilities of adaptation. However, many factors hamper the progress of these discussions, often due to political issues. Apparently, among the different countries and private interests there is a lack of a broad political consensus on how to act.

However, the effects of global warming are not a future threat, they are a present threat and they can already be observed in many regions. For example, in Brazil, the Southeast region of the country is facing a crisis of water supply as never seen before. This crisis is leaving millions of people without access to basic essential services, affecting diverse economic activities from agriculture to industry, forcing local governments to use the last available water reserves, and causing political conflicts between States of the Federation, which may have harmful consequences on the level of economic and human development in the coming years. If Brazil, a continental country known worldwide for its natural resources, is already facing problems of this magnitude, what could be expected, in the coming years, in the sustainable development pattern of Small Island Developing States, which have limited access to natural resources?

It is clear that the world is not prepared to deal with the impacts of climate change, but emerging and developing countries are probably even less prepared. Climate-related dangers directly affect the lives of the poor because they have an impact on their livelihoods, reducing crop yields, destroying homes and, indirectly, increasing food prices and food insecurity. To illustrate the size of the problem, the costs of adaptation to this reality vary greatly between countries. For some developing nations and Small Island States the impacts and costs of adaptation can assume several per cent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Understanding the impacts of climate change on poverty rates in the developing world and how best to adapt and remain resilient to changes is essential and should include efforts to examine large-scale climate and other global changes (e.g. population growth, economic growth, political conflicts, territorial vulnerability, etc.) to inform decision-makers, accurately and consistently, about the management of socioeconomic and environmental issues.

The intellectual arena is open, and it seems inevitable that the discussion will start to appear soon in the centre of the political debate – to date these discussions have been addressed by academia. However, the big question is the complex balance between giving in to the populist temptation to act alone without thinking about the larger consequences, and the other extreme – the tendency towards inaction which may interest those who benefit from the status quo. The balance is even more delicate in a world that has difficulty in generating sustainable economic growth and where the redistribution of the burden should necessarily be a zero sum game, but is far from it.

ABOUT THE AUTHORCarlos Germano F. Costa has PhD in Development and Environment Studies and is a consultant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Climate change and the threat of povertyCarlos Germano F. Costa UNDP Consultant

pic: Clean water in the village of Banraeaba, in Tarawa, Kiribati. By Lorrie Graham for AusAID

5

Aviation connects the world. Over 58

million jobs and $2.2 trillion in global

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are supported

by modern air transport. We fly nearly

50,000 routes and will carry over 3 billion

passengers this year. But whilst aviation

helps to bridge cultures and support

business, trade and tourism, in some

places it plays a much more fundamental

and important role – connectivity.

The Air Transport Action Group recently launched a report looking at the role aviation plays in the world’s economy. It shows that air transport supports 1.7 million jobs and $37 billion in GDP in Small Island States around the world. Around 151,000 people are employed within the industry itself at airports, airlines and air traffic management organisations and the rest are within the supply chain and in tourism supported by aviation.

Tourism is a vital source of foreign revenue for islands – one that can be more sustainable than other sources of income. In February, for example, Palau’s President Tommy Remengesau announced that all commercial fishing around the islands would be banned in order to create a marine sanctuary, which will enable Palau to promote snorkelling, scuba diving and ecotourism as an alternative way to grow its economy. The president, a former fisherman, explained that a live shark was worth $1.9 million as a tourist attraction while a dead one was worth just a few hundred dollars.

With this growth in sustainable tourism opportunities also comes a growth in passengers and the jobs that they support. Over the next 20 years, air traffic is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.4% across Small Island States. The number of jobs supported by aviation and tourism will grow to 2.9 million by 2032, a 76% increase from 2012. Meanwhile, the contribution to GDP is forecast to grow to $83 billion by 2032, a growth of 123%.

Each connection for tourism purposes also builds social and business connectivity for local residents and traders. It also means local aviation partners can help build quality long-term jobs for residents. One example of this is Nadi International Airport, which handles 98% of all international visitors to Fiji. But the airport operator does more than manage this vital gateway: it provides a base for developing skills of the local population across a wide range of aviation-related activities.

Airports Fiji Limited (AFL) employs 465 personnel across its 15 airports. Its growing workforce has a range of skill

sets from operational and technical support to commercial management and administration. The AFL Aviation Academy offers training programmes to meet local and regional airport market needs in areas such as air traffic management, aviation security, fire-fighting and rescue services.

Domestic airports play a crucial role in the development of Fiji’s regional economies, especially in the transport of tourists between the islands. Tourism by air accounts for around 25% of Fiji’s total GDP, worth $770 million in 2009. Aviation supports a total of 66,000 jobs in the islands, out of a total workforce of around 350,000.

But how can the forecast growth be reconciled with the other aspect of sustainable development – environmental improvements and specifically climate change? Aviation currently emits around 2% of global CO2 emissions and, as an industry, we have been proactive in working together to reduce emissions. In 2008, industry leaders signed an agreement in Geneva to stabilise aviation CO2 emissions from 2020 and halve them by 2050. These are ambitious targets and more information on how we will meet them is available on www.enviro.aero, but it is worth giving an example from a Small Island State on how one part of the industry is working to help reduce emissions and build a long-term economic asset.

Next month, Rarotonga Airport in the Cook Islands is due to turn on its $3.3 million solar-array power station. The 3,800 panels covering just over 10,000 square metres will generate nearly a megawatt of power, which will provide about 6% of Rarotonga’s annual electricity generation needs. Although airports have been using solar power for years around the airfield, this is one of the growing number of projects where airport solar power is being used to help meet energy requirements in the local community. Generating jobs and renewable energy… now that is truly sustainable! .ABOUT THE AUTHORMichael Gill is the Executive Director of the Air Transport Action Group.

Small Island States: Air transport and a sustainable futureMichael GillAir Transport Action Group

pic: flying over the Rock islands of Palau. By Mark Kenworthy

6

There’s much to be learned from

some of the smallest countries in

our global community. The Pacific

Islands are among those receiving

world attention during 2014, the

International Year of Small Island

Developing States (SIDS).

People of SIDS in the Pacific region are at the forefront of efforts to address pressing global issues through ingenuity, innovation and use of traditional knowledge. This is important work, particularly given their limited capacity, and fragile and vulnerable environment.

Pacific countries require strong government leadership, institutions and policies in order to better co-ordinate their development resources. They also need inclusive and accountable national development partnerships, with supportive partners. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals requires more effective use of domestic and external resources. Pacific Forum leaders adopted the Cairns Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination (Forum Compact) in 2009 to reinvigorate efforts to achieve real development progress.

The key lies in peer-to-peer learning and reviews, stronger country systems, donor transparency, political dialogue with the private sector, and a roadmap towards effective public financial management systems.

The Pacific region has come a long way in the last five years. Overall, Pacific countries are exerting stronger leadership and ownership to foster effective development co-operation. They are reforming their country systems based on evidence and regular assessment. They are defining through robust national and sector development plans where resources can be best used and are most needed, providing greater clarity for themselves and development partners.

Peer reviews of country systems have been the cornerstone of the Forum Compact’s success. The Pacific region has embraced this process, with 13 of the Pacific Forum’s 14 SIDS undergoing peer reviews since 2010. This substantial work has produced beneficial and comprehensive results and has been particularly valuable for South-South exchanges of solutions to common and often longstanding development co-ordination issues. The example of the Joint Policy Matrix in Tuvalu to focus agreement between government and its development partners on time bound policy imperatives and action, has strengthened the Tuvalu government’s leadership on defining where resources are most needed, linked to clear monitoring frameworks and

results. Joint Policy Matrices are now a central feature in the partnership arrangements between most Pacific governments and their development partners, as a tool to strengthen country leadership and ownership.

Partner countries drive the process by selecting their peer review teams, defining review parameters, and subsequently adopting and implementing recommendations. This is country leadership and ownership in action.

The groundswell of evidence from these peer reviews has enabled countries to exercise stronger leadership. They are setting their own national priorities with widespread consent from parliamentarians, public servants, civil society and the private sector. They are showing widespread commitment to these priorities – from allocating appropriate resources through to implementing, monitoring and reporting.

As a result, development partners are being encouraged to deliver assistance through Pacific island countries’ preferred means, such as budget support and performance based expenditure. Some development partners are intensifying efforts to co-ordinate and harmonise their support with some notable improvement in efforts to jointly plan, deliver and monitor results at country level, and mutual accountability is also on the rise.

Progress has been evident over the past four years, but significant challenges remain. Smaller island states’ capacity issues in institutional and especially human resources remain the biggest challenge. Limited staff, high turnover, and overwhelming workloads are compounded by high numbers of in-country donor missions, and frequent overseas travel. In some cases, lack of skills and experience can hold back or derail progress in key government initiatives.

From development partners, some efforts are still needed to reduce fragmentation, improve aid predictability and transparency and to use recipient countries’ systems. The complexity, volume and rigidity of some development partners’ procedures overwhelm small island administrations.

There is a growing appetite in the Pacific region to institutionalise evidence-based process. This is strongly supported by political leaders and effective development partners at both country and regional levels.

The next step will be to start peer reviews of development partners this year. In a significant and welcome move, Australia has volunteered to be the first to be peer reviewed.

During the SIDS Conference it is important to reflect on developing island states’ important strides toward more effective development co-operation.

Country leadership and ownership: Action in the Pacific Diane Abad Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

7

Many small island communities have

a history of successful custodian

practices, which have retained

sensitive ecosystems for centuries.

However, due to islands’ small size,

isolation and fragility these have

come under pressure (and some are

being rapidly altered) from socio-

economic and global influences

such as climate change, population

growth/changes in demographics, and

(foreign) development interests.

Nature-based tourism, as one of only a few development options for those small island environments, is often seen as a desirable solution to improve the livelihoods of developing island communities. Economic dependence on the industry, occupational identity, community perceptions, and level of external influence are some of the important factors that guide attitude to tourism.

However, if not properly planned and managed, tourism can significantly degrade the environment on which it is so dependent. Overdevelopment of tourism in particular areas or in whole islands can be environmentally and culturally disruptive and detrimental to other valuable sectors, such as traditonally practiced agriculture and fisheries. For example, during a recent visit to Vanuatu, one of the issues pointed out to us was a lack of legislation and even awareness regarding land tenure. In reality this means a number of cases of previous generations selling land to foreign tourism developers, and considering that most agriculture in Vanuatu is subsistence farming this former ignorance is now potentially translating into nothing less than compromised ability of present and future generations to meet their basic needs of survival. Our field

observations also recorded quite a few examples linked to relatively rapid yet poorly controlled introductions of tourism that indicate noticable shifts in people’s attitudes and values drifting away from custodianship towards percieved benefits of monetary exchange.

The unconsolidated multiple-use of limited resources may lead to short term growth but irreversible damage in the long run, including reduced resilience of resources/community capital, and potentially compromised carrying and adaptive capacity of islands and communities in the face of increased uncertainty raised by global changes. If the goal is sustainable economic development, it is imperative, therefore, that the expansion of tourism be carefully planned, particularly in relation to compatible land uses, existing cultural and environmental constraints and opportunities present within small island developing communities.

Competing demands for the use of natural resources on small islands require solutions that are set on at least three essential components. Firstly, an improved understanding of community attitudes, perceptions and reasons for their change. Secondly, an integrated value-based management, that will allow for the synthesis of traditional ecological knowledge, contemporary natural resource management, vision and principles of sustainable tourism development, which includes the integration of useful and relevant information provided by the community representatives, field-based scientists, managers, and policy makers. And thirdly, the development of genuine and lasting partnerships between community land owners and (foreign) investors, possibly in a form of leasing, where a substantial portion (more than 60 per cent) goes towards further sustainable tourism development investments exclusively on the leased land or inclusive hosting community. Such arrangements also need to cater for the local population’s employment, immediate environmental stewardship and return of values related to natural resource custodianship.

The role of tourism in changing island custodian practicesKarmen LuxNatura PR

pic: Fao Fao Beach, Southeast 'Upolu, Samoa. By Matti, gomasi.net

8

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) offer opportunities for genuine and sustainable business partnerships, said executives and officials participating in a UN co-hosted private sector forum. Held ahead of the opening of the UN Conference on SIDS, the two-day forum aimed to bring companies together to share information and best practices.

The expectations were for “dialogue and collaboration, but also some concrete partnerships,” said UN Under-Secretary General Gyan Chandra Acharya. He is also the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and SIDS. His office (OHRLLS) co-organised the forum with the Government and the Samoa Chamber of Commerce.

“They know what the opportunities are,” in reference to private sector investment in the region.

“Distance is a big challenge, that's true. The smallness of the market is a big challenge, that is also true. But if you look at some of the key resources that these countries have – whether it is tourism, the agricultural sector – whether it is the ocean, or fishing, they are not poor.

“It is trying to find the proper niche, and the area that they want to focus on, and then build on that,” he added.

The Pacific Cooperation Foundation works with island producers to help them grow and reach new markets. 33 companies partnering with its True Pacific Project label benefit from access to markets, and a quality label that certifies products are from the Pacific and were created sustainably.

“For New Zealand, this is our backyard. My mom is from the Cook Islands. Many of us working in this area are passionate to raise standards and employ people from here,” said Frances Hartnell, True Pacific’s project manager.

Jennifer Austin Foulkes, Manager of Google's Oceans Program showed a monitor with a swimming sea turtle. Google took its street view camera underwater to 25 different locations. People can now see the Hourglass Reef in Bermuda, for example.

“It's a great tool to bring the ocean to more people,” Ms. Foulkes said. The company is creating more virtual ocean content to show people “what it looks like under the ocean and why it matters.”

The tool has been used by local communities to divide a marine sanctuary up into regions. It could also help residents pinpoint areas where they should not be fishing, such as the recently created Palau National Marine Sanctuary, according to the President's office press secretary.

Meanwhile, Google has teamed up with National Geographic Society and the Waitt Foundation, both

represented at the forum, and other partners, to inspire care of the oceans under the banner 'Mission Blue'. As part of the forum, the UN is also trying to present the case to the private sector to look at the sustainability and social impact of their work.

“I think that type of trend is slowly coming as well,” Mr. Acharya said. “If you look at the sustainable development goals, many of the things we are looking at – whether it is the oceans, energy, sustainable patterns, biodiversity – the role of the private sector will be critical because they are the ones who are the players and they are the ones who should be looking at the environment and sustainability. And I think if you take the issue of SIDS from the larger global perspective, that fits well,” he continued. “Sensitize them to do something towards the goal.”

The forum held meetings in six key areas: oceans and marine resources, connectivity, sustainable agriculture, sustainable tourism, disaster risk reduction, and renewable energy. Its high-level dialogue included UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other UN officials such as Margareta Wahlstrom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Elizabeth Thompson, Senior Adviser to Mr. Ban's Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.

As well as hundreds of business representatives, it included participants such as the Asian Development Bank, Caribbean Development Bank and the OECD. The partnership commitments formed will be included in the overall partnerships to be announced at the end of the UN conference on Thursday.

“We intend to pursue it further by working on creating a kind of sustainable business network,” Mr. Acharya said, stressing that the network would include cooperation between small islands, international organisations and other development partners. “We intend to make sure that what we agree on is not a one-off event here, but something that can be really taken forward.”.

Business execs build partnerships with small islands at UN forumUN News Centre

pic: Under-Secretary-General Acharya addresses opening of the Private Sector Partnerships Forum in Apia, Samoa. By R. Dunn

9

MOND

AY 1s

t SEP

TEMB

ER

11:00 - 12:30 CR 3 Blue Growth/Blue Economy Initiative: Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture in SIDS

Food & Agriculture Organization, Government of The Netherlands and Government of Indonesia

11:00 - 12:30 CR 2 Building Resilience in Small Island Developing States through Foresight Government of Tonga

11:00 - 12:30 CM 5 Enhancing Competitiveness in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) World Bank Group

11:00 - 12:30 CM 4 Inclusive value chains for livelihoods, trade and food security; case of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture industry in Small Island States UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

13:00 - 14:30 CM 4 Building Pacific Resilience – The Integrated Strategy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Development in the Pacific (SRDP) Government of Tonga

13:00 - 14:30 Partnerships Hall Health and Noncommunicable Diseases based on Healthy Island Vision Ministry of Health, Samoa

13:00 - 14:30 CR 3 Our Sea of Islands, Our Livelihoods, Our Oceania -The Pacific Ocean Alliance Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

13:00 - 14:30 CR 2 Small Islands: high stakes and increased opportunities for promoting sustainable consumption and production (SCP) The Republic of Mauritius (Co-host: UNEP)

13:00 - 14:30 CM 5 Sustainable Anti-Corruption Reform UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

15:00 - 16:30 CR 3 Choiseul Integrated Climate Change Programme (CHICCHAP) Dr Melchior Mataki, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology

15:00 - 16:30 CM 4 Forum on Advancing Statistical Development in SIDS in the Post-2015 Era PARIS21-OECD in collaboration with Samoa Bureau of Statistics, SPC

15:00 - 16:30 CR 2 Prevent, Prepare, and Respond: Displacement in the context of disasters and the effects of climate change Government of the Kingdom of Norway

15:00 - 16:30 CM 5 Promoting Closer Economic Integration for Full Employment and Decent Work in the Caribbean Trinidad and Tobago; International Labour Organization

15:00 - 17:00 CR 1 CEB high-level event CEB Secretariat

17:00 - 18:30 CR 3 Ceremony for the Opening of the SIDS Dock Statute for SignatureCaribbean Community [CARICOM] Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) & Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

17:00 - 18:30 CR 1 Coping with and adapting to ocean threats for resilient SIDS communities Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

17:00 - 18:30 CM 5 Inclusive and Sustainable solutions for youth employment in SIDS UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

17:00 - 18:30 CR 2 Linking SIDS and SE4All: From Barbados to Samoa, and Beyond UN Secretary-General's Special Representative and CEO, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All)

17:00 - 18:30 CM 4 Population dynamics for the sustainable development of small island developing states UN Population Fund (UNFPA)

19:00 - 20:30 CM 5 Building resilience and partnerships: protecting communities and their animals from disasters World Society for the Protection of Animals

19:00 - 20:30 CM 4 Ending Illegal Fishing: How the Right Technology and a Collaborative Approach to Combatting IUU Fishing Makes a Difference on the Water The Pew Charitable Trust

19:00 - 20:30 CR 2 Pacific Europe Network for Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) – PACE-Net Plus PACE-Net Plus Consortium

19:00 - 20:30 CR 3 WIN: Promoting Local knowledge in the SIDS WIN World Network of Indigenous and Local Community Land and Sea Managers

DATE TIME VENUE TITLE ORGANISERS

Side events calendar

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After the success of day one of the Major Groups and other Stakeholders Forum, participants began the final day in collaboration and discussion on the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway, the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The group discussions centred on defining what are durable and genuine partnerships between civil society and other stakeholders, and government and the private sector. “What does ‘partnerships’ mean?” was the challenge for each region to discuss during the break-out session. The Pacific had the biggest group with many diverse issues put forth.

Hosts of the Pre-Conference Forum, the Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations (SUNGO), pointed out in the Pacific caucus discussions that the support of Government in providing a level playing field and an environment that is conducive to partnerships between civil society organisations (CSOs) and the private sector are needed, as well as capacity building to ensure sustainability and continuity. One of its member bodies – Adventists Disaster Relief Assistance (ADRA) identified that, for them, willingness to be transparent and proactively accountable to donors fostered effective donor partnerships, enabling them to strengthen existing relationships and have a stronger view towards potential partnerships.

The regions mutually agreed that addressing climate change and sustainable development through partnerships was a key issue to lobby for at the SIDS Conference in Apia, Samoa. Governments, the private sector and CSOs working collaboratively to bring focus to these two issues is vital to ensuring the continuity of this partnership approach.

Other issues that were tabled included gender equality, indigenous rights and health, in the context of sexual reproductive and health rights (SRHR), to name a few. Some of the topics discussed were not included in the outcome document and the participants had the opportunity to lobby this with the drafting committee of the Forum Statement. However, the general consensus was also the need to increase the time and number of days spent on analysing and reviewing key issues from all the regions and consolidating it into a document in which all participants felt well represented.

Reflections on the Major Groups and other Stakeholders ForumEmanuele TaupauSamoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations (SUNGO)

The drafting committee also proposed that the regions conduct a consultative process to determine a regional focal point to manage ongoing collaboration and partnership on the issues that were highlighted and reviewed. Chairperson Chantal Munro Knight highlighted that the only way forward for civil society, NGOs and the relationship with the private sector was the unity and solidarity that must remain an integral part of the Major Groups.

SUNGO and its members have demonstrated that success through partnerships is possible by having their affiliated NGOs and CSOs working together and alongside their international counterparts towards stronger connectivity and unity on an international platform. The general consensus at the close of the forum was that this was a great template for future collaborations.

SUNGO has been collaboratively working with PIANGO (its regional partner) on effective ways to push through civil society views and contributions at the SIDS conference here in Apia for the sake of the region’s CSO and NGO advancement.

pic: Lefaga Beach,Upolu, Samoa. By Andrew Moore