The Policy Coherence Dialogue held on the 14 th of March 2024 and
jointly organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacific (UN
ESCAP) and the Government of Tonga in Samoa, spotlighted the Pacific region's unwavering
commitment to advancing global development strategies namely the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Global Programme of Action.
Their commitment is founded on the understanding that people are at the heart of all these development
initiatives.
However, practical challenges persist, hindering effective implementation. The Pacific countries have
developed their various policies, frameworks, and approaches. Then, they face challenges such as limited
resources and gaps in institutional systems.
Hence, the Policy Coherence Dialogue is timely and significant towards overcoming these challenges.
Themba Kalua, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, emphasised the importance of this Dialogue
when the world is facing a severe crisis of profound vulnerability.
"Policy coherence is paramount in addressing the ever-growing challenges we face," he stressed,
advocating for harmonised strategies to accelerate progress towards shared goals.
“By harmonizing our strategies and endeavours, we stand poised to optimize the impact of our
development initiatives and expedite progress towards shared aspirations.” Kalua added
The policymakers at the Dialogue resonated with this significance and highlighted the importance of
harmonising policies across the Pacific, focusing on inclusivity and grassroots engagement.
Dr Neelesh Gounder, Chief Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Finance in Fiji, spoke about the necessity of
inclusive consultations to ensure the voices of vulnerable populations are heard. Similarly, Mr. Michael
Pasikeni, Director of the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination in the Solomon
Islands, stressed the importance of community-led policy development.
Valerie Wichman, Director of Central Policy and Planning at the Office of the Prime Minister in the Cook
Islands, emphasised the importance of people-centred and culturally grounded policymaking.
These sentiments align with Dr George Carter's, – Co-Director of RESI and Deputy Head of
Department/Senior Fellow at the Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University,
perspective based on policy research, who highlighted the need to prioritise the human impact in policy
formulation.
The commitment of the Pacific policymakers to harmonise policies and ensure effective implementation
is also enhanced by providing adequate resources, according to Ms Simona Marinescu, UN Office for
Project Services (UNOPS) Advisor to Small Islands Development States.
-ends –
For media enquiries:aterina.samasoni@un.org