Sustainable Development Strategies
The Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) was adopted by 129 countries and territories in the global conference held in Port Louis 10-14 January 2005.
The Mauritius Strategy, covering the decade 2005-2015, is the only global development strategy that addresses the unique development problems of small island developing States and sets out the basic principles and specific actions required at the national, regional and international levels to support sustainable development. The interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development are economic development, social development, and environmental protection.
There is a need to strengthen the integration of the Mauritius Strategy into national development plans and strategies in the Pacific. National sustainable development strategies (NSDSs) are the appropriate tool for implementing the Mauritius Strategy as well as other international and regional frameworks such as the Millennium Development Goals and the Pacific Plan.
Effective formulation and implementation of national sustainable development strategies requires the involvement of a broad set of stakeholders at all levels, including government ministries, civil society organizations, private sector organizations, regional agencies and international organizations, including ESCAP. Public consultation and participation play a critical role at almost all stages of the formulation and implementation processes.
ESCAP through its Pacific Operation Centre provides technical advice and training to small islands developing States on how to produce, review and implement national sustainable development strategies in line with the Millennium Development Goals, the Mauritius Strategy and the Pacific Plan.
To identify key challenges in implementing the Mauritius Strategy, United Nations ESCAP held an Expert Group Meeting on Mauritius Strategy Implementation in Pacific Small Island Developing States in Suva on 6 to 7 June 2007.
In 2007, the ESCAP Pacific Operations Centre carried out a study of the planning processes in three least developed countries, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, in order to verify compliance with the national sustainable development strategies principles. A better understanding of each country’s unique circumstances, especially its national planning processes could render more effective targeting of assistance as well as improved progress towards achieving sustainable development. A major task for the Centre is to assist SIDS develop Country Assessment Reports for the Mauritius Strategy +5 in 2010.
Key partners of the Centre are the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and SPREP as well as the SIDS Unit of UN-DESA , UN-OHRLLS , UNESCO and the UNDP Pacific Centre.
Publications and Tools
ESCAP Conferences and Meetings
- Expert Group Meeting on Mauritius Strategy Implementation, Suva, Fiji, 6-7 June 2007
- OECD/UNDESA/UNESCAP Workshop on Developing Sustainability Strategies in Asia and Pacific, Bangkok, 8-9 March 2007
- 62nd Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Jakarta, Indonesia, 6 - 12 April 2006
- 9th Session of the Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries, Jakarta, Indonesia, 4-5 April 2006
- Other UN Conferences related to the Mauritius Strategy
Useful Links and Resources
