Consultative draft: Pacific Regionl Organisations-Pacific Plan implementation and reporting strategy
At the regional level, coordination of the implementation of the Pacific Plan is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. This is consistent with the 2004 decision by Leaders that the primary functions of the Secretariat are to provide policy advice, coordmation and assistance in implementing their decisions. The Secretariat has therefore been restructured to more effectively undertake these responsibilities.
The nine Pacific Island countries (PICs)1 covered in this regional strategy face similar development challenges today despite notable differences in history, culture, and endowments.
The lack of economic growth in the face of growing populations has contributed to rising unemployment and hardship in the region. Even those countries that have seen positive growth in