UN partners with Government of Nauru

UN Resident Coordinator for the Pacific, Osnat Lubrani and other Senior UN officials are in Nauru this week for consultations with the Government on the development of the next UN Pacific Strategy 2018 -2022.

The UN has directly contributed about USD4.16 million to programmes and projects in Nauru in the current programme period 2013-2017 and also makes significant contributions to regional activities throughout the Pacific.

“The Pacific Strategy will be the high-level guiding document for UN initiatives in the region until 2022 so we want to make sure it responds to the needs of our partners and helps to achieve sustainable development outcomes that really make a difference to communities,” said Lubrani.                     

Consultations in Nauru involved representatives from Government, NGOs, CSOs, the private sector, vulnerable groups and donor partners.

“Collaboration and cooperation are central to the way the UN wants to work in the Pacific, which is in line with the new 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda so it is very important to come to Nauru and to meet face to face with colleagues and citizens to hear about progress as well as remaining challenges where UN support can be helpful” said Lubrani.

Michael Aroi, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, said the Government of Nauru welcomed the consultations as timely: “the Nauru National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) 2005-2025 is due for review and we hope UN agencies may be able to enhance their coordinated efforts in support of the NSDS and the concurrent achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), under the new UN Strategy”. 

UN agencies are currently funding programmes with a focus on climate change, environmental protection, health, gender equality and inclusive economic growth.

“I am happy that in the course of robust discussions we were able to identify areas where the UN can contribute to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nauru, adhering to the global commitment to ‘leave no one behind’ and applying a gender-sensitive and human rights-based approach throughout, said Lubrani.  

The UN Pacific Strategy consultation was held at RONPHOS Training Centre on Monday 22 August 2016.