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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 asked 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.

Solomon Islands 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, and drew upon all national sustainability related reviews drawn from widespread consultation. Those issues particularly related to the technical assistance and capacity that SOPAC offers are summarised below:

Environmental Concerns:

• Sustainable management of coastal and marine resources
• Water supply and quality
• Protection of biodiversity resources
• Climate change and sea level rise
• Vulnerability to natural and environmental disasters

Social Concerns

• Weak national institutions and administrative capacity
• Need to strengthen regional institutions and technical cooperation
• Need to strengthen implementation, monitoring and review

Economic Concerns

• High population growth rate and population density in urban areas
• Fragmented land tenure system
• Underdeveloped economic infrastructure

The Solomon Islands National Assessment Report was guided by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), acting as the Secretariat of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. It was compiled by the Solomon Islands Coastal Fisheries Consultancy Services (SICFCS) in association with the Rio + 10 National Steering Committee, which was formed to coordinate the Solomon Islands National Submissions as well as input into the Pacific Islands Sub-regional submission to the WSSD.