Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS)

Cook Islands, Federated State of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu,
Vanuatu
PACIFIC SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES
United Nations Member States
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Permanent Mission of the Independent State of
Papua New Guinea to the United Nations
201 East 42nd Street, Suite 2411, New York, N.Y. 10017
Statement by
H.E. Mr Robert G. Aisi
Permanent Representative
of Papua New Guinea to the United Nations and
Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS)
to the United Nations
at the
Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
18 April 2013, New York
Co-chairs,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States
(PSIDS), represented at the United Nations; namely, Fiji, Republic of the Marshall
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands,
Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and my own country Papua New Guinea. I am also speaking
for the Pacific Troika on the Open Working Group on SDGs, namely Nauru, Palau and
Papua New Guinea.
Co-chairs,
Thank you for the opportunity to start our conversation by discussing conceptual issues.
We believe that the conceptual discussions will help us frame our discussion into some
common understanding of not only what we agreed to in the RIO+20 Outcome but also
in light of other important development agendas, such as the MDGs, the SDGs, and the
post 2015 development agenda, and where and how they all fit together.
For Pacific Small Island States, what we agreed to in RIO provide some conceptual
framing in terms of how we see the issues for PSIDS. In RIO we agree that the MDGs
are a useful tool in focusing achievements of specific development gains as part of a
broader development vision and framework but that we remain firmly committed to the
full and timely achievement of the MDGs, and that the SDGs should not divert focus or
efforts from the achievement of the MDGs.
Cook Islands, Federated State of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu,
Vanuatu
2
For PSIDS, the post-2015 development agenda must include Agenda 21, Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation, and the BPoA and the MSI, which contain the blueprints for
sustainable development for many countries, including SIDS. It must also build on the
lessons learned from the MDG and take into account the Outcome Document from the
third International Conference of Small Island States to be held in 2014.
We must also learn from MDGs in terms of not only what it delivered but also where it
failed SIDS. The MSI+5 Review showed that while SIDS were making progress in areas
such as gender, education and health, we are far from meeting our environmental
goals. The Review of the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy also showed that the
major constraints in the implementation of the Strategy have included declining levels of
official development assistance in some island developing states, lack of technical
expertise, and financial, technical and institutional challenges in terms of monitoring and
evaluation. In comparison to other groupings, the review concluded that SIDS have
made less progress than most other groupings, or even regressed, in economic terms,
especially in terms of poverty reduction and debt sustainability.
The MDG architecture, as many have also noted, had gaps that must be addressed in
the post-2015 development framework. But one enduring legacy is clear - they
demonstrated a structure that successfully galvanized international action and created
tangible gains. They deployed targets and indicators that were resonant, strategic, and
quantifiable and could be tracked over time. The SDGs should be structured similarly,
with targets and indicators that can be used to monitor implementation and encourage
progress. It is a proven model and one that will allow us to readily integrate the MDGs
into our emerging framework in whatever capacity they are ultimately included.
As we embark on the SDG process, we must ensure that our international system is
accountable, transparent and capable of delivering on our objectives and goals. We are
looking into the future for the next 15-20 years, and we must set ourselves up for
success, by ensuring our national and international organizations, systems and
governance structures are appropriately equipped to manage the challenges.
It is clear that in relation to addressing the unique and particular vulnerabilities of SIDS,
that current international support is inadequate, and will require systemic change and
improvement to be in a position to assist SIDS meeting SDGs – in whatever form we
agree. As others have said, the work of the OWG must be more than what are the goals
we set for ourselves, but about how we achieve those goals and how we work together
as a global community.
At the core of setting ourselves up for success is transparency and accountability. This
must extend to our own commitments, but also those of our partners, and of the UN
system. Let us ask the hard questions, is the current global governance structure
adequate to respond to the challenges that are embedded in the sustainable
development agenda and our collective will to eradicate poverty and provide all people
with the benefits of development? Our view is that it isn’t and we must take this
opportunity to find solutions.
Cook Islands, Federated State of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu,
Vanuatu
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As one step forward, we must ensure that the voices of all countries, particularly the
most vulnerable and disadvantaged are equitably, by region, represented in the most
important decision-making bodies, such as the World Bank, International Monetary
Fund, Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations.
On universality, it must be inclusive to recognize and wield in the needs of the
disadvantaged including PSIDS. Our statistical data may not be at a scale to influence
the aggregation of global data, but it is vital for implementation and measurement of
success of outcome indicators and targets of the SDGs.
As we move forward into substantive discussions on specific SDGs, we must ensure
that they all contribute to poverty eradication. For the Pacific SIDS, like many
developing countries, oceans, climate change and energy are essential to the
eradication of poverty.
We cannot eradicate poverty without ensuring the health of our ocean ecosystems that
are essential for food security, livelihoods and economic development. This framework
must include a goal, with corresponding targets and indicators, calling for healthy,
productive, and resilient oceans. Small island states have long been recognized for their
unique attributes, but our dependence on the oceans is a shared trait for many coastal
and island States and other members of the international community. Ensuring ocean
sustainability is necessary to uphold the environmental dimension of sustainable
development and to ensure economic opportunity and social advancement not only for
island peoples but everyone
In relation to energy, as we recognized in Rio+20, access to energy is critical to poverty
eradication and helps to provide for basic human needs.
Our energy needs must of course be compatible with our commitment to protect the
global climate and ensure the survival of every nation. It was a fundamental outcome of
Rio plus 20 that we recognized climate change is a cross-cutting and persistent crisis
that undermines the ability of all countries, in particular, developing countries, to achieve
sustainable development and threatens the viability and survival of nations. Our
conceptual understanding of the SDG framework must capture the need to increase our
response to the global climate change crisis, and mainstream this into all development
processes and our global governance structures as a matter of urgency.
In conclusion, too often, capacity building means one-off workshops and short-term
consulting work. The Pacific is the most workshopped region in the world, but it is clear
that workshops alone do not lead to the meaningful and enduring transfer of critical
skills and expertise necessary to achieve our development priorities. For the Pacific, we
must move beyond capacity building to real "institution building." What is needed is
long-term in-country engagement backed by real resources that leaves in place durable
institutions run by capable staff. This will be a crucial determinant of success for the
implementation of strategies leading toward the achievement of set SDGs and Post-
2015 development agenda, and will have far reaching positive impact on the lives of our
people and eco-system.
Cook Islands, Federated State of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu,
Vanuatu
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We stand ready to support you in this work and to provide more concrete proposals as
we focus on more substantive issues.
We thank you.