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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 were 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.

Samoa presented a National Assessment Report prior to the WSSD, which highlighted a number of critical Sustainable Development issues. These issues were subdivided along the three ‘pillars’ of Sustainable Development: environmental, social and economic concerns. The National Assessment Report drew upon all national sustainability related reviews and similar reports since the early 1990s. Those issues particularly related to the technical assistance and capacity that SOPAC offers are summarised below:

Environmental Concerns:

• Sustainable development of marine resources
• Vulnerability to natural disasters
• Waste management
• Biodiversity conservation
• Freshwater supply and quality
• Climate change and sea level rise
• Air pollution

Social Concerns:

• Urbanisation
• Emigration
• Human resource development
• Population growth

Economic Concerns:

• Promoting sustainable economic growth
• Vulnerability to external economic and trade developments
• Need for training in productive skills
• Need infrastructural development
• Narrow economic base and geographic isolation from markets
• Customary land tenure system.