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Recent years have witnessed a broadening of development thinking and greater emphasis on integrated work methods and sustainable development planning. Global conventions and agreements have altered the way development is viewed, such as the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs, 2000], the World Summit on Sustainable Development [WSSD, 2002] the 3rd World Water Forum [2003] and the upcoming review of the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States [BPOA+10, 2004].

In preparation and response to this broadening development focus, the Pacific island nations and states have been called to prepare a series of national review reports assessing in a holistic manner, for the first time, a broad perspective of issues, problems and priorities.

Prior to the WSSD, each Pacific Island Country was called upon to create a National Assessment Report, with the aim of summarising in one document all the critical sustainable development issues faced by each country. While these documents remain incomplete for some countries, they represent an important audit of current and emerging issues, and provide an invaluable overview for organisations such as SOPAC in planning work implementation and in consultations with countries.

Fiji’s National Assessment Report is currently unavailable. Fiji’s Strategic Development Plan 2003-2005 is available however, and this document highlights a number of critical sustainable development issues. The Strategic Development Plan drew upon consultations with various interest groups and taskforces representing a wide cross section of the national community. The Strategic Development Plan raises issues in a number of areas of particular relevance to SOPAC’s mandate, such as the environment, disaster mitigation and management, marine resources, mineral and groundwater resources, information and communication technology services, energy, water and sewerage. These issues can be subdivided along the three ‘pillars’ of sustainable development: environmental, social and economic concerns. Those issues particularly related to the technical assistance and capacity that SOPAC offers are summarised below:

Environmental Concerns:

• Sustainable management of marine resources
• Water supply and quality
• Waste management
• Climatic extremes – hurricanes, cyclones, floods and droughts
• Climate change
• Increased risk of flooding and inundation to coastal settlements
• Air and water pollution
• Environmental impact of urbanisation
• Land and soil degradation [these issues are linked to SOPAC Work Programmes through land use, water, and mapping elements]

Social Concerns:

• Inadequate environmental policies, institutional frameworks, legislation, planning, governance and administration
• Lack of inter-departmental coordination
• Poor public awareness about environmental legislation
• Vulnerability of rural population to remoteness of markets, impact of natural disasters, and high cost of transportation and communication
• Informal development in semi-urban areas
• Need to maintain traditional knowledge and practices

Economic Concerns:

• Absence of basic infrastructure and services in rural areas [e.g. electricity, road access, telecommunications, jetties]
• Skill shortage, particularly in use of technology
• Agricultural land-lease issue
• Rural-urban drift
• Rise in poverty