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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.

Vanuatu’s National Assessment Report is currently unavailable. Vanuatu’s 1993 National Conservation Strategy is available, however, and identifies key concerns and country priorities. 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 and conservation of natural resources
• Intensifying demands on and exploitation of natural resources
• Water supply and quality
• Preservation of biodiversity
• Vulnerability to natural disasters
• Climate change and sea level rise
• Need to promote understanding of environmental processes
• Waste and hazardous material management

Social Concerns:

• Need to improve environmental education and awareness
• Need to strengthen existing environmental institutions, administration, legislation and law enforcement
• Need for inter-departmental coordination between environment departments
• Urban drift
• Consumerism and rising material expectations
• Erosion of traditional authority and customs
• Geographical isolation, and limitations in communication and transport isolate communities

Economic Concerns:

• Localised population pressure
• Land tenure system
• Need for greater use of appropriate technologies
• Need for rural and outer island development