STRATEGIC ACTION PROGRAMME (SAP)FOR THE

INTERNATIONAL WATERSOF THE

PACIFIC SMALL ISLANDDEVELOPING STATES

 

A programme of the Governments of: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,

Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu

 

 

SAP to address this through 2 components:

• ICWM (5 years, SPREP/PCU) and

• OFM (3 years, FFA and SPC)

Formulated in 1997 to address:

• Degradation of water quality

• Degradation of associated critical habitats• Unsustainable use of resources

Output 1.

 

Effective co-ordination support for enhanced transboundary management regimes – the institutional framework. 

Outputs:

• Improved waste management (4)

• Effective marine protected areas (4)

• Better water quality (3)

• Sustainable fisheries (3)

Objective:

To promote the integrated sustainable development and management of coastal and watershed resources through demonstration projects that include stakeholder participation.

ICWM Component – Output 2

Output:

Regional level methodologies and best practices for the conservation and sustainable use of ocean fisheries resources. 

Objective:

To enable the conservation and sustainable yield of ocean living resources

OFM Component - Output 3

Start up process - ICZM:

• Re-affirm priority environmental concerns – linkages to WSSD national assessments,

NBSAPs, etc

• Establish regional consultative arrangements– RTF, inter-agency fora

• Select focal issue(s)

• Select pilot site

• Appoint National Coordinator

• Formalized arrangements - MoU

• Establish national consultative arrangements

Strategies and support:

• Administrative procedures

• Social Assessment and Participation Strategy

• Resource Economic Strategy

• Communication Strategy

• Public relations

• Social marketing

• Education and awareness

Start-up - OFM

• Existing institutional framework

• Natural complement to existing processes

• Address an issue of global significance and critical regional economic interest

OFM Achievements

• WCPO Tuna Convention, 1995 UN Fish Stocks, all interests engaged, legally binding, precautionary approach, economic responsibility on those that fish, support for SIDS

• Preparatory Conference – Tuna Commission

• National reform – complementary - national tuna management plans, fisheries law

• Improved science – ecosystem approach, reference points, data quality and coverage

• MCS – observer programmes, VMS, high seas data

Issues and Lessons?

Approval process:

• Programme formulation – 1996-1999.

• Project Document - early 2000.

• Actual implementation – mid-2001.

Design:

• The SAP is effectively two Programmes.

• Opportunities for promoting closer collaboration between regional organisations, but…..

• …..also presents administrative challenges.

Time frame:

• 5-year time frame is insufficient for the ICWM community-based component

Assumptions:

• All countries would implement the Programme simultaneously……..

• …….from Programme commencement.

• Focal areas would match national environmental concerns at implementation

• Prescriptive allocation of focal areas among demonstration projects (4,4,3,3) would be accommodated

Local approval processes:

• Memorandum of Understanding approval process.

Local implementation:

• Recruitment of National Coordinators

National Coordinator capacity:

• Their recruitment.

• Some require considerable capacity building in core competencies.

• Time and resources for this

Multi-sectoral consultation:

• Multi-sectoral dialogue is still in its infancy

• Such consultation is an integral component of the SAP

• Requires time and resources.

Community-based approach:

• Implementation through an inter-governmental agency - community-based approaches present many challenges for most Government

agencies.

[national interest, non-consultative]

Baseline information:

• Inadequate TDA – 6 week time frame, urban-based, non-quantitative/anecdotal, no causal chain, no

standardized strategy and/or format.

• Information, generally of questionable quality and limited availability.

Administrative processes:

• Administrative arrangements - major influence Programme implementation.

• Local administrative arrangements ensure timely disbursement of Programme resources. Inefficient processes lead to considerable delays that

adversely impact on Programme delivery.

• Implementing agency flexibility

Overall assessment:

• Solid foundation……..

• …….that has taken considerable time to put in place

• OFM component is setting globalprecedents, and

• ICZM implementation only just starting!

More information?

ICWM

• www.sprep.org.ws/iwp

OFM

• www.spc.int/oceanic

• www.ffa.int

• www.ocean-affairs.com