Regional Service Delivery among Small Island Developing States of the Pacific: An Assessment

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Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies (APPS) Working Paper Series 04/2013 October 2013

This
paper presents the findings from the first comprehensive study of pooling initiatives in the
Pacific. It draws on a review of the literature pertaining to all 20 pooling initiatives identified in
the region, and on interviews of stakeholders involved in many of those initiatives. The study
finds that experience with pooling among Pacific SIDS has not met the optimistic expectations
of advocates, including development partners. This is the result of the challenges inherent in
voluntary regionalism, which are exacerbated by the diversity of Pacific island states, political
economy factors, and issues of accountability and legitimacy. The analysis suggests that
expansion of regional service provision in the Pacific will be slow, although prospects at the
sub-regional level are more positive.