To mark the beginning of a five-year sustainable development partnership between the Government of Vanuatu and the Pacific Community (SPC), a Memorandum of Understanding was signed today by Foreign Minister, the Hon. Bruno Leingkone Tau, and the Pacific Community Director-General, Dr Colin Tukuitonga.
The development priority areas for Vanuatu outlined in the agreement include the productive sectors, including coastal fisheries, agriculture and forestry, as well as development statistics.
“A key focus for the government is to ensure there is a substantial effort made towards more youth engagement and gender equality, incorporated into the work to promote and improve productive sectors,” Minister Leingkone said.
“We’re pleased the Pacific Community shares our vision in ensuring sustainable development in Vanuatu,” the Minister said.
The agreement will not only focus on achieving priorities outlined in the National Sustainable Development Plan 2016-2030 and by the Port Vila-based Melanesian Spearhead Group, but will also review the relevance of existing programmes.
“We’re delighted to continue to assist Vanuatu through capacity building and technical expertise, and this agreement is similar to one we signed with the Melanesian Spearhead Group,” Dr Tukuitonga said during a two-day visit to Vanuatu.
“SPC’s integrated approach to development programming, combined with ongoing valued support from our development partners, will help address Vanuatu’s specific priority development areas over the next five years,” Dr Tukuitonga said.
The collaboration is based on a genuine spirit of collaboration, whereby both parties agree to complement each other’s efforts and embrace the contributions of other partners to enrich the development outcomes.
It also places an emphasis on improving service delivery, developing new policies consistent with the move to sustainable development, reviewing achievements towards the Millennium Development Goal, and preparing Vanuatu for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals.
The MoU is available online here.
Media contacts: Mr. Yvon Basil Acting Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade +678 33180
Julie Marks SPC Communications Director, [email protected] or +687 80 74 95
Caption: Pacific Community Director-General, Colin Tukuitonga, (left) chats with community members in Siviri Village, Vanuatu, ahead of today’s
MoU signing.
Photo: Jean-Baptiste Calo