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MDGs in the Pacific@ (21)

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Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2003 (PDF)

UNESCAP, April 2003. Although the global economy lost momentum in 2002 in the face of weak investment activity in the private sector compounded by mounting geopolitical uncertainties, the UNESCAP region remained largely unaffected. However, in the face of continued global uncertainty such as war and health concerns, the picture is none too optimistic for 2003. "Asia-Pacific Economies: Resilience in Challenging Times" is the theme of this year's Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific. Some of the Survey's highlights: ---Developing economies of the region exceeded 2001 GDP growth by nearly 2 percentage points in 2002. Developed economies of the region also improved upon their 2001 performance in 2002, although Japan remained in recession. ---Over the region as a whole, inflation declined further in 2002 from an already low level in 2001. Higher GDP growth in the region was achieved partly through easier domestic monetary and fiscal policies and partly through higher intraregional trade flows. Along with the economic and social challenges facing the region, Governments also have to deal with environmental problems and the environment-poverty nexus.

http://www.unescap.org/pdd/publications/survey2003/index.asp

(Added: Mon May 26 2003   Modified: Fri Oct 22 2004   Hits: 343)

Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2008

Chronic neglect of the agricultural sector in Asia and the Pacific is condemning 218 million people to continuing extreme poverty, and widening the gap between the region's rich and poor, according to this United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) report. The sharp rises of food prices - which hit the poor the hardest - have simply reinforced the message. (ESCAP, 27 March 2008)

http://www.unescap.org/survey2008/

(Added: Mon Mar 31 2008   Hits: 53)

Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific, 2000

This UN ESCAP report examines economic and social conditions in the Asia-Pacific region. It also provides a discussion of economic and financial monitoring and surveillance mechanisms.

http://www.unescap.org/drpad/publication/survey2000/index.htm

(Added: Tue May 30 2000   Modified: Fri Oct 22 2004   Hits: 275)

Environment and Development in Coastal Regions and in Small Islands (CSI)

(UNESCO) CSI is a global platform for environmentally sound, socially equitable, culturally respectful and economically viable development in coastal regions and small islands. The driving force and goal is the prevention and resolution of conflicts over coastal resources and values. Via the CSI platform, wise coastal practices for sustainable human development are exchanged, the voices of small islands amplified, and related indigenous knowledge revitalized.

http://www.unesco.org/csi/

(Added: Thu Jun 20 2002   Modified: Fri Jul 14 2006   Hits: 249)

European Community - Pacific Region Strategy (pdf)

Regional Strategy paper and National Indicative Programme for the period 2002-2007 (PDF).

http://dev-zone.net/downloads/5772r6_rsp_en.pdf

(Added: Fri Jul 25 2003   Modified: Fri Oct 22 2004   Hits: 186)

FAO Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAPA)

SAPA's tasks are to assist the government and local communities of the Pacific islands, in developing sustainable food sources, preventing environmental degradation and supporting stable, political development in the region. It aims to improve the well being of the people of the Pacific island countries through the application of agriculture, and with the management and sustainable development of their living resources. The Office collects, analyses and disseminates information relating to nutrition, food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries. It provides farmers, scientists, government planners, traders and non-governmental organizations with essential information to make rational decisions on planning, investments, marketing, research, training. It also provides independent advice.

http://www.fao.org/world/SubRegional/SAPA/default_en.htm

(Added: Thu Nov 02 2006   Modified: Fri Jan 12 2007   Hits: 60)

FIJI: Study finds more workers being pushed in poverty

This is a transcript of a short interveiw with Dr Wadan Narsey, the author of a new report 'Just Wages for Fiji: Lifting workers out of poverty', which finds that wages in Fiji are so low that more and more workers are being pushed into poverty. (Radio Australia, 17 July 2006)

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/s1688529.htm

(Added: Thu Jul 20 2006   Hits: 82)

Foreign aid a 'poisoned chalice' for Pacific nations

Pacific countries have been warned not to drink too deeply from the "poisoned chalice" of foreign aid and to instead embrace globalisation. Professor Wolfgang Kasper, who teaches economics at the University of New South Wales, told an Auckland symposium on future Pacific prosperity that resistance to change had resulted in poor economic growth in the region. He said accepting "copious official aid is a poisoned chalice." He warned the biggest danger from official foreign aid was it tended to go to privileged elites, whose hold on power was strengthened by their priority access to aid, reducing incentives for genuine democracy and economic freedom. Professor Kasper said those countries which refused to compete globally would be deserted and left behind, and the South Pacific was already lagging behind. (New Zealand Herald, 31 August 2006)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10398860

(Added: Fri Sep 01 2006   Hits: 62)

France Increasing Aid to Region

SUVA, Fiji (Oceania Flash, July 28) - French President Jacques Chirac announced at the France-Oceania meeting France's intention to double the Pacific Fund as soon as next year. Addressing a gathering of most Pacific islands heads of State, governments and regional organizations, Chirac said France was willing to provide more help to the Pacific in the fields of development, science, health, and culture. Some of this aid is channeled into this Pacific Fund, based in Paris and currently worth about 2.5 million US dollars for this year (Pacific Islands Report).

http://166.122.164.43/archive/2003/July/07-30-06.htm

(Added: Thu Jul 31 2003   Modified: Wed Oct 27 2004   Hits: 267)

Free and Equal: A Review of NZAID Pacific Regional Disability Programme

Pacific Island countries are increasingly recognising the importance of disability issues. This report documents the context for disability issues in the Pacific Islands region. Produced in October 2005, the report provides background to NZAID's strategic direction for assistance in the area of disabilities for the next five years. (Garth Nowland-Foreman & Daniel Stubbs, October 2005)

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:xHlLevT3dD8J:forumsec.org/UserFiles/File/Regional_Doc_Review_of_the_NZaid_Pacific_Helath_Sector_program.pdf+NZAID+Pacific+Regional+Disability&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=au

(Added: Fri Jun 01 2007   Hits: 142)

Gem of the Pacific

Catrina McDiarmid looks at how New Zealand is helping the Cook Islands rebuild its pearl industry

http://www.nzaid.govt.nz/library/currents/currents-6-gem-of-the-pacific-dec07.pdf

(Added: Tue Dec 18 2007   Hits: 99)

Globalisation, governance and the Pacific Islands [pdf]

The State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Project at the Australian National University (ANU) organised a conference on globalisation and governance in the Pacific Islands in October 2005, and this volume brings together the papers delivered by the participants. (ANU Press, 2006)

http://epress.anu.edu.au/ssgm/global_gov/pdf/globalgov-whole.pdf

(Added: Wed Jul 02 2008   Hits: 7)

Implementation of ECP at root of Australia - PNG problems

AID/WATCH, 2005-05-06. Leading aid watchdog AID/WATCH, has hit back at suggestions it is fomenting dissent between PNG and Australia, suggesting that the implementation of the Enhanced Cooperation Program (ECP) was ill-conceived, reactive and a mere band aid for the problems of law and justice in PNG.

http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=1&display=aw00709&display_item=2

(Added: Wed May 18 2005   Modified: Tue Jan 10 2006   Hits: 202)

Internet Infrastructure and e-Governance in Pacific Islands Countries

A report prepared by: Zwimpfer Communications Ltd, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. This Report was commissioned by the UNESCO Office for the Pacific States in Apia, Samoa to provide an up-to-date picture of the development and use of Internet infrastructure in Pacific Member States of UNESCO. This survey covers Internet infrastructure issues as well as the use of Internet for e-Governance. Special attention is paid to barriers preventing access to the Internet as well as to national development plans for the use of the Internet. UNESCO recognises the critically important role that the Internet can play in ensuring citizens of the Pacific States can be active participants in the emerging knowledge society. UNESCO has a special interest in ensuring the Internet is accessible for the advancement of education, science, culture and communications, its areas of competence.

http://www.unesco.org/webworld/publications/2002_internet_survey_report.rtf

(Added: Thu May 23 2002   Modified: Wed Oct 27 2004   Hits: 298)

Island Youth

A website with events, resources and a discussion forum for young people from small islands.

http://www.islandyouth.org

(Added: Mon Jun 14 2004   Modified: Thu Jun 29 2006   Hits: 670)

Juumemmej : Republic of the Marshall Islands social and economic report 2005

General social and economic conditions and the overall quality of life for most Marshallese have steadily deteriorated, and society is one one of the Pacific's most unequal. This 36 page summary of the Juumemmej report covers the major social and economic issues that underlie and affect the aspirations of the Marchellese, paying particular attention to how the nation can alleviate poverty and hardship among the least fortunate. (Asian Development Bank, 2006)

http://www.adb.org/Documents/Reports/juumemmej-summary-report/summary-report.pdf

(Added: Thu Sep 07 2006   Hits: 60)

Key Economic Developments and Prospects in the Asia-Pacific Region 2006

The purpose of the Key Economic Developments and Prospects in the Asia-Pacific Region is to provide a mid-term review of the international and regional economic environment. The report provides a forward-looking analysis focusing on principal policy issues and challenges likely to confront Governments in the region over the near term. (UNESCAP, December 2005)

http://www.unescap.org/publications/detail.asp?id=1119

(Added: Thu Sep 07 2006   Hits: 60)

Native Title Report 2005

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner, Tom Calma, argues in the Native Title Report 2005 that the Australian Government's proposal to encourage private ownership and leases of communal land under Indigenous title will not lead to improved economic outcomes for Indigenous people. Tabled in Australia's federal Parliament in February, this report assesses the issues and the potential impacts of the Indigenous land leasing proposal, as well as providing some alternative economic development strategies and initiatives. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, 2006)

http://www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/ntreport05/index.html

(Added: Mon Apr 03 2006   Modified: Thu Jun 22 2006   Hits: 215)

New Horizons: The Pacific's economic challenge

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters' speech to the New Zealand Pacific Business Council, on the challenges facing the Pacific - poverty and hardship, isolation and distance, small populations and limited employment prospects, natural disasters and disease - as well as what can be done to turn this situation around. (Winston Peters, 18 August 2006)

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=26840

(Added: Mon Aug 21 2006   Hits: 208)

New Zealand's Aid in Samoa - Fact Sheet (PDF)

NZAID produces Fact Sheets on countries and programmes that it funds. This latest Fact Sheet looks at aid to Samoa (PDF 1259 KB).

http://www.nzaid.govt.nz/library/docs/factsheet-samoa.pdf

(Added: Mon Dec 01 2003   Modified: Thu Oct 19 2006   Hits: 311)

NZ opposition probes whaling link to aid

Six Pacific island nations helped Japan win a symbolic vote at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in favour of a resumption of commercial whaling. Whereas New Zealand's oppostion said that the IWC should not be able to buy votes and that New Zealand aid money will be wasted if a higher standard of governance is not achieved, Prime Minister Helen said that while the government was sad that its Pacific neighbours had sided with Japan, she would not link aid to the issue as "tying aid is the worst possible aid practice." (Sydney Morning Herald, 20 June 2006)

http://www.smh.com.au/news/WORLD/NZ-opposition-probes-whaling-link-to-aid/2006/06/20/1150701537769.html

(Added: Wed Jun 21 2006   Hits: 248)

NZ told to be frank at forum over Pacific poverty and corruption

NZ Herald, 21.07.2003. Progressive Coalition MP Matt Robson, a former associate foreign affairs minister, said hosts New Zealand should not let forum leaders shield behind the so-called "Pacific way" to defeat efforts to tackle cronyism, poor democracy and extreme poverty levels in the region. He said the forum, which opens on August 14 in Auckland for 16 Pacific countries, should be used to help the region's people rather than "covering up a multitude of sins" including increasing crime and money-laundering.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3513704

(Added: Mon Jul 28 2003   Modified: Tue Jan 10 2006   Hits: 183)

NZAID Funds Pacific Centre Programmes

The UNDP Pacific Centre has benefited from a grant of USD $900,000 from the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) for use in the implementation of its Democratic Governance; and Crisis Prevention and Recovery programmes. Both programmes will receive USD $450,000 each (UNDP, Pacific Centre, January 2008).

http://regionalcentrepacific.undp.org.fj/Files/pasifika%20focus/Pasifika%20Focus_Jan_2008.pdf

(Added: Fri Feb 22 2008   Hits: 72)

NZAID makes grant to boost Pacific trade

03 July 2003, NZ Government. The government will contribute an additional $750,000 over the next three years to assist Pacific Island countries get access to New Zealand markets, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today. Mr Sutton, in Fiji at the Pacific Forum Trade Ministers meeting, said the funding will come from the government's aid agency, NZAID.

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.cfm?DocumentID=17242

(Added: Tue Jul 08 2003   Modified: Wed Oct 27 2004   Hits: 446)

NZAID: Towards A Strategy For the Pacific Islands Region

The strategy sets out the strategic direction and priorities that will guide NZAID's activities in the Pacific Islands region over the next five to 10 years. July 2002

http://www.nzaid.govt.nz/library/docs/nzaid-pacific-islands-region-strategy.pdf

(Added: Wed Jul 10 2002   Modified: Thu Oct 19 2006   Hits: 441)

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