| United Nations | A/50/422 |
General Assembly
Distr. GENERAL
21 September 1995
ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH
Fiftieth session
Item 98 (e) of the provisional
agenda*
* A/50/150.
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
OUTCOME OF THE GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES
Action taken by the organs, organizations and bodies of the
United Nations system to implement the Programme of Action
for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States
Report of the Secretary-General
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
INTRODUCTION .............................................. 1 - 4 3
A. Background ....................................... 1 - 2 3
B. Methodology and structure of the report .......... 3 - 4 3
I. PLANS AND PROGRAMMES ................................. 5 - 164 4
A. United Nations ................................... 5 - 66 4
B. Funds and programmes ............................. 67 - 84 17
C. Specialized agencies ............................. 85 - 138 21
D. Regional commissions .............................139 - 164 32
II. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS ..........................165 - 191 38
A. United Nations ...................................165 - 169 38
B. Funds and programmes .............................170 - 173 39
C. Specialized agencies .............................174 - 186 40
D. Regional commissions .............................187 - 191 42
III. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS .............................192 - 198 43
Annex. List of organizations that responded to the request for
inputs to the present report............................... 46
INTRODUCTION
A. Background
1. The Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small
Island Developing States was held in Bridgetown, Barbados from 26
April to 6 May 1994. The General Assembly, at its forty-ninth session
considered the Conference under agenda item 89 (e) and in its
resolution 49/122 endorsed the outcomes of the Conference, including
the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small
Island Developing States. 1/
2. In the same resolution, the Assembly requested the Secretary-
General, among other things, to report to the General Assembly at its
fiftieth session on action taken by the organs, organizations and
bodies of the United Nations system to implement the Programme of
Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States, and in that regard also to invite those organs, organizations
and bodies of the United Nations system that had not already done so
to consider the establishment of focal points and other similar
mechanisms to enable them to respond effectively in the implementation
of the Programme of Action. The present report has been prepared in
response to that request. As requested in paragraph 128 of the
Programme of Action, a similar report (A/49/425 and Add.1) was
submitted to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session; The
present report represents an incremental update and does not repeat
any information that is already contained in the previous report.
B. Methodology and structure of the report
3. In order to gather the information needed to prepare the report,
the Secretariat invited the organizations and bodies of the United
Nations system to provide information on measures taken to implement
the Programme of Action, and requested those that had not already done
so at the time of the preparation of the previous report to also
provide information on any specific institutional arrangements they
had put in place to implement the Programme of Action. A majority of
the organizations that were approached responded to the Secretariat's
request; they are listed in the annex. A number of organizations and
bodies that were not covered in the previous report have since
responded with information and are thus covered in the present report
for the first time.
4. The report is divided into three chapters: chapter I provides
details of the plans and programmes adopted by the organizations and
bodies of the United Nations system to implement the Programme of
Action; chapter II reviews the institutional arrangements either
already in place or envisaged to support such implementation; and
chapter III presents a few concluding observations. Information on
specific projects that seem to have implications for programme
development and refinement, except for pilot and other experimental
projects, is contained in an addendum (A/50/422/Add.1).
I. PLANS AND PROGRAMMES
A. United Nations
1. Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable
Development
5. The Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small
Island Developing States, in paragraph 123, assigns the Department for
Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development of the United Nations
Secretariat with the primary task of providing secretariat support for
facilitating its effective implementation.
6. The Department has focused its attention simultaneously on
establishing the appropriate institutional mechanisms for effecting
coordination, monitoring and review of the implementation process;
monitoring the substantive implementation of the Programme of Action;
preparing statutory reports for the General Assembly and the
Commission on Sustainable Development; and organizing expert group
meetings on specific issues on the sustainable development of small
island developing States, as called for in General Assembly
resolutions 49/122 and 49/100, and/or the Programme of Action.
7. The above-mentioned tasks are carried out by the Small Island
Developing States Unit of the Department's Division for Sustainable
Development. Regarding system-wide coordination, the Department has
drawn the attention of the Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable
Development (IACSD) to the work arising from the Programme of Action.
At its sixth meeting (Geneva, 12-14 July 1995), IACSD gave
consideration to the matter, in keeping with paragraph 122 of the
Programme of Action. Upon the recommendations of the Department,
IACSD decided on mechanisms for such coordination. IACSD endorsed the
recommendations of the Department for the inclusion of substantive
aspects of the Programme of Action in the established inter-agency
mechanisms for reporting to the Commission on Sustainable Development
on the implementation of Agenda 21. 2/ IACSD decided to extend the
existing system of task managers to include the coverage of all
substantive areas of the Programme of Action that coincide with the
specific themes of Agenda 21, and requested task managers to include a
separate section on small island developing States in their respective
reports. In addition, new task managers were designated for areas of
the Programme of Action not covered by Agenda 21, namely, tourism,
maritime transport, air transport, energy resources, natural and
environmental disasters, and telecommunications.
8. The Department will continue in its role of liaison with IACSD
task managers and focal points within organizations and bodies of the
United Nations system in ensuring system-wide implementation and
coordination of the Programme of Action as well as in the preparation
and monitoring of all reports for submission to the General Assembly,
the Commission on Sustainable Development and other relevant
intergovernmental bodies.
9. The institutional modalities for coordination at the regional
level have also been addressed with the involvement of the Department.
Meetings to discuss the critical issues of coordination and the
determination of priorities were convened by the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP): Meeting of the Special
Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries (20-21 April 1995), and by
the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC):
Caribbean Meeting of Experts on the Implementation of the Programme of
Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States (17-19 May 1995). At those meetings, the Department provided
briefings on the issues and work arising from the Programme of Action.
10. The Department convened a meeting of member States of the Alliance
of Small Island States (AOSIS) and representatives of relevant United
Nations and non-United Nations organizations and bodies on 8 May 1995,
at which the issues of implementation, coordination and the setting of
immediate priorities were discussed.
11. The Department has undertaken the preparation of a publication
entitled Selected Sources of Funding for Environmental Projects
Accessible to AOSIS Member States, for use by Governments and other
interested groups or organizations; Selected Sources will be issued
shortly as a United Nations publication, and will be revised and
updated in the future as additional information becomes available.
12. In addition to the present report, the Department, acting on a
mandate contained in paragraph 120 of the Programme of Action, has
initiated the preparation of a report on current donor activities in
support of the sustainable development of small island developing
States, for submission by the Secretary-General to the Commission on
Sustainable Development at its fourth session, when the Commission
will conduct an initial review of progress achieved in the
implementation of the Programme of Action, preparations for which have
been initiated by the Department through IACSD. The Department will
prepare that report in collaboration with the Development Assistance
Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) and other United Nations bodies.
13. As part of the preparation of thematic reports for the above-
mentioned session, the Department has undertaken to prepare, in
collaboration with UNEP, a comprehensive report on the sustainable
development of tourism in small island developing States.
14. An issue of considerable importance to small island developing
States and specifically requested in the Programme of Action is the
development and construction of a vulnerability index. Work is
currently under way in the Department to convene, in collaboration
with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD),
a meeting of experts from within and outside the United Nations system
on approaches to the index. The conclusions and recommendations of
that expert group meeting will also be submitted to the fourth session
of the Commission. Actual construction of the index will begin
thereafter, taking into account the recommendations of the Commission.
15. The Department plans to begin work on the compilation of an
information database on small island developing States for use by task
managers and other interested parties, to be linked with similar
databases held by other organizations.
16. An important facet of the work of the Department in its monitoring
and coordination activities concerns the involvement of a number of
major non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the
Programme of Action. The Department has established a dialogue with
several major non-governmental organizations regarding their specific
activities, which range from the convening of seminars and conferences
on selective aspects of the Programme of Action to actual
implementation of specific provisions of the Programme of Action.
2. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
17. UNCTAD continues to carry out the activities reported previously
(see A/49/425 and Add.1); planned activities reported therein are
also currently under implementation.
18. As indicated previously (see A/49/425), UNCTAD will undertake
further activities - in the areas of science and technology, human
resource development, regional economic cooperation, institutional
capacity-building, and measurement of the vulnerability of small
island developing countries - when its capacity is strengthened, as
recommended in paragraph 127 of the Programme of Action.
19. The General Assembly, in its resolution 49/100, invited the
Commission on Sustainable Development to convene, during its session
in 1996, a high-level panel to discuss the challenges faced by island
developing countries, particularly in the area of external trade, and
to assist the Commission in its review of the implementation of the
Programme of Action. The panel is to be organized by UNCTAD, in
cooperation with the Department for Policy Coordination and
Sustainable Development.
3. United Nations Environment Programme
20. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has incorporated
many of the special needs and vulnerabilities of small island
developing States into its 1996-1997 work programme, which was adopted
at the eighteenth session of the UNEP Governing Council, in May 1995.
21. More specifically, in its decision 18/34 on small island
developing States, the Council welcomed the action already taken by
the Executive Director, including the establishment of a focal point
and task force within UNEP to coordinate UNEP activities relevant to
the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small
Island Developing States; urged the Executive Director to ensure that,
in implementing the work programme agreed by the Council, appropriate
attention be given to the needs and vulnerabilities of small island
developing States; and encouraged an integrated approach within UNEP
to addressing issues of relevance to small island developing States
through the effective use and involvement of the Task Force in both
programme and policy development.
22. The 1996-1997 UNEP work programme gives priority to translating
the Programme of Action into mechanisms that can help small island
developing States put in place policies and strategies to achieve
sustainable economic and human development. While still undergoing
further development and review, the work programme has identified the
following programme elements in which special consideration will be
given to small island developing States: (a) caring for freshwater,
coastal and marine environments, and (b) caring for biological
resources.
23. UNEP recognizes that the development challenges being faced by
small island developing States can only be tackled through an
integrated approach to the management of human activities and their
supporting resource base. UNEP and the United Nations Centre for
Human Settlements (Habitat) will continue to make a joint effort to
promote integrated island management in small island developing
States, while developing closer ties with the programmes of other
United Nations bodies that have similar goals.
24. Current and planned UNEP activities and programmes are set out
below within each of the priority areas of the Programme of Action.
Only information additional to that contained in the previous report
(A/49/425) is listed here. Previously reported UNEP activities will in
general continue but at reduced funding levels, due to an overall
reduction in the Environment Fund.
(a) Climate change and sealevel rise
25. UNEP co-sponsored with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It prepared a special
report for the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention
on Climate Change in 1995, and a second assessment report will become
available later in 1995. The information provided through the Panel
should be of considerable value to small island developing States,
particularly information on the vulnerability of States to sealevel
rise and its impacts. The reports provide essential information to
enable the development of effective adaptive strategies.
26. A special project on climate change impacts and adaptations
assessment will be initiated in Antigua and Barbuda. The following
activities will be undertaken: (a) a country-wide vulnerability
assessment; (b) in-depth studies in areas and sectors identified as
particularly vulnerable; and (c) identification and testing of
adaptation options. This activity will assist other small island
developing States in formulating comprehensive strategies and measures
to facilitate their adaptation to climate change and sealevel rise
through the development of management tools and plans.
27. Current and planned UNEP activities within this priority area also
include: (a) a number of country and site-specific case studies in the
south-west Pacific, Indo-East African and Caribbean subregions on the
vulnerability of selected small island developing States to the
effects of climate change and sealevel rise and their socio-economic
implications; and (b) the development and application of a
decision-support system that will allow policy analysts to anticipate,
explore and counter the risks associated with climate change and
sealevel rise in small island developing States.
(b) Natural and environmental disasters
28. The joint UNEP/Habitat Task Force on the Continuum from Relief to
Development will continue to address a wide range of disaster-related
issues in the natural and man-made environments, including many that
are of particular concern to small island developing States such as
their peculiar vulnerability factors. UNEP is working with
subregional bodies, such as the South Pacific Regional Environment
Programme (SPREP), the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme
and the Caribbean Environment Programme, to promote improved hazard-
risk mapping (landslide, flood prone areas etc.) as a means to plan
and prepare for the effects of disasters.
(c) Management of wastes
29. New activities that are presently being considered within the
context of the 1996-1997 UNEP work programme include: (a) preparation
of a handbook on cleaner production in small island developing States
aimed at raising awareness and providing information and concrete
examples on cleaner production technology solutions, and (b) train the
trainer workshops on environmental management systems for small island
developing States. Activities under this priority area will
complement similar activities under the priority areas "Coastal and
marine resources" and "Freshwater resources".
(d) Coastal and marine resources
30. Building upon earlier activities and based on qualitative and
quantitative assessments of the coastal and marine pollution loads
from land-based sources in the eastern African subregion, including
the Comoros and Seychelles, the planned development of a regional
overview and strategy will lead to the implementation of various
additional activities, such as monitoring programmes. A coastal
profile for Grand Comoros is currently in preparation that will result
in the development of an integrated coastal area strategy by the end
of 1995. Within the context of the 1996-1997 UNEP work programme, it
is anticipated that the Comoros will comprise demonstration or pilot
projects in integrated island management. The demonstration projects
will be closely linked to similar activities under the priority area
entitled "Freshwater resources".
31. The environmental assessment and information management activities
previously reported now include the development of a geographical
analysis laboratory within the University of the South Pacific. This
will support the development of data analysis and applications skills
in the western Pacific. The geographical analysis skills,
environmental information systems and state-of-the-environment
assessment activities identified under this priority area are also
relevant to the following priority areas: "Freshwater resources",
"Land resources", "Tourism resources", "Biodiversity resources",
"National institutions and administrative capacity" and "Regional
institutions and technical cooperation".
(e) Freshwater resources
32. UNEP activities within this priority area will be expanded to
include a greater number of diagnostic studies on small island
developing States and action planning for the environmentally sound
integrated management of freshwater resources within the context of
sustainable development. Recognizing the real linkages between the
fresh and marine waters of small island developing States and the
integrating role of the hydrological cycle, pollution control and
resource management activities associated with freshwater will
complement similar activities under the priority areas "Coastal and
marine resources" and "National institutions and administrative
capacity".
(f) Land resources
33. UNEP, jointly with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO), the South Pacific Institute for Research,
Extension and Training in Agriculture, and SPREP, plans - subject to
the availability of resources - to implement a project for providing
small island developing States of the South Pacific subregion with
improved knowledge for natural resources appraisal and ecosystem
analysis, using the World Soil and Terrain Digital Database/
Geographical Information System. In cooperation with Habitat and the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNEP is coordinating
activities in the Caribbean in the area of environmental information
management, specifically geographic information system development,
for environmentally sustainable land use planning and settlements
development.
(g) Tourism resources
34. New activities that are presently being considered within the
context of the 1996-1997 UNEP work programme include: (a) training
workshops on environmental management of hotels, and (b) training
workshops on environmentally sound forms of tourism development.
These would be based on existing programmes that will be modified to
meet the special needs and vulnerabilities of small island developing
States. Other activities related to tourism are included under
"Coastal and marine resources" and "Freshwater resources".
(h) Regional institutions and technical cooperation
35. Ongoing UNEP activities in this area will include the control of
land-based sources of pollution that degrade their waters in the
programme priorities for 1995 of the International Waters Strategy of
the Global Environment Facility (GEF), of which UNEP, UNDP and the
World Bank are implementing agencies. This could be an important step
in helping UNEP and other agencies address problems in small island
developing States.
36. In the programme areas "Energy resources", "Biodiversity
resources", "Science and technology", "Human resource development" and
"National institutions and administrative capacity", UNEP activities
will continue unchanged (see A/49/425). Additional information on
specific UNEP activities in the area of national institutions and
administrative capacity is included in an addendum (A/50/422/Add.1).
4. United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
37. Habitat gives the highest priority to supporting the efforts of
small island developing States to elaborate strategies for the
integrated management of their economic and social activities, natural
resources and environment. Habitat research and development activities
focus on the formulation and application of planning and management
instruments in key areas of small island developing States'
development, such as land use and settlements planning; infrastructure
provision; waste minimization and pollution control; and natural and
environmental disaster mitigation. A substantial part of Habitat capacity-
building and direct support capability on settlements issues is
directed to technical cooperation activities in small island
developing States. Habitat is particularly active in the execution of
technical support programmes in the countries of the Caribbean and
Pacific subregions.
38. Issues related to sustainable settlements development in small
island developing States are being considered in the preparatory
process for the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat II), scheduled to be held in Istanbul in June 1996. Those
issues will represent an important component of the declaration of
principles and global plan of action to be adopted at Habitat II.
(a) Climate change and sealevel rise
39. Habitat is collaborating with UNEP in the preparation of case
studies and training materials on the impact of climate change on
coastal populations and human settlements. Selected small island
developing States will participate in the initial activities of the
project, which focus on the Indo-East African subregion. It is
expected that the successful completion of the project could lead to
the execution of a wider capacity-building programme in other regions
and small island developing States.
(b) Natural and environmental disasters
40. Habitat is providing support to several Caribbean small island
developing States in the application of building codes and standards
especially designed for seismic and hurricane-prone areas. General
codes and standards developed under an earlier Habitat programme are
now being applied to specific Caribbean countries as part of a
collaborative programme with the Organization of American States and
the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
41. Following the creation of the Habitat UNEP/Task Force on the
Continuum from Relief to Development, Habitat is establishing a
disaster management unit to support its operational activities related
to disaster prevention and rehabilitation in the area of human
settlements. Particular issues related to the vulnerability of small
island developing States to natural and technological disasters will
be addressed by the activities of the unit.
(c) Management of wastes
42. Habitat is executing several field research activities on
municipal solid-waste management in developing countries. Pilot
projects take into account the specific characteristics of small
island developing States in relation to waste generation and disposal,
fragile ecosystems, limited resource base, geographical isolation and
scarce human resources. Strategies for sustainable resource
utilization and recovery, as well as for waste minimization, are
integral components of such activities. In order to develop and
maximize the utilization of indigenous capacities, pilot projects
focus on the promotion of private-sector and community participation
in waste management.
43. The regional offices of the Urban Management Programme (UMP) are
actively promoting the execution of national consultations on
sanitation and environmental infrastructure services in small island
developing States. The UMP office for Latin America and the Caribbean
has made an evaluation of solid-waste management needs in the
Caribbean, and it is programming the execution of follow-up national
consultations. The UMP regional office for Asia and the Pacific is
supporting Pacific island States in the execution of national
consultations on urban management and environmental sanitation.
44. As a result of their review of waste management conditions in
small island developing States, Habitat and UNEP have initiated the
formulation of a proposal for a global project on waste minimization
and pollution prevention in small island developing States. The
proposal emphasises, inter alia, the strengthening of regional and
national capacities and institutions for waste minimization and
pollution control; the introduction of monitoring and auditing
techniques; technology transfer and the production of information
referral instruments; and the development of management tools through
field applications. It is envisaged that the final proposal will be
submitted for GEF funding.
(d) Coastal and marine resources
45. Habitat is collaborating with UNEP on the formulation of
integrated plans for settlements and coastal zone management in Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines. The project is developing guidelines and
management tools for the incorporation of marine and coastal zone
considerations into settlements planning. It is expected that the
management instruments to be developed by the project will be
replicated in other small island developing States.
(e) Land resources
46. Habitat has a broad programme of operational activities in support
of small island developing States for the formulation and application
of land-use and management plans, and land development control
instruments and legislation. Habitat technical cooperation programmes
consider land-use planning as an integral component of overall
environmental and national development management. Habitat is in the
process of expanding its programme on human settlements and related
environmental management issues in the Caribbean in collaboration with
OECS, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and UNDP. The new programme
puts emphasis on strengthening the linkages between natural resources
and environmental management and the planning of land use and
settlements for social and economic activities.
(f) Tourism resources
47. The dramatic increase of tourism in small island developing States
is rapidly changing traditional development patterns and is exerting
additional pressure on their resource base and the environment.
Habitat operational activities support the formulation of land-use and
settlement development plans in Caribbean small island States, giving
special attention to the effect of tourism on land use, settlement
planning and infrastructure requirements.
(g) National institutions and administrative capacity
48. Current and planned Habitat operational activities in small island
developing States aim to build the capacity of national institutions
in formulating land-use and settlements development plans, development
control and the application of management information systems.
Habitat projects are giving increasing attention to strengthening the
capacity of local authorities (municipalities) to perform such
functions.
49. Consultations with local stakeholders in settlement development
are an integral part of Habitat technical assistance programmes.
National consultations aim to increase settlements' efficiency by
promoting the participation of the private sector and communities in
management processes. Efforts are also being made to establish
institutional coordination mechanisms for the integration of land-use
and settlement planning in overall environmental and national
development management.
(h) Regional institutions and technical cooperation
50. Current and planned Habitat activities include collaboration with
regional institutions in the Caribbean region, namely, CARICOM and
OECS, as well as research and academic institutions, through regional
and subregional programmes in human settlements planning and
management. Habitat is also collaborating with other regional bodies,
ESCAP, ECLAC and OAS in the execution of technical cooperation
activities in small island developing States.
(i) Science and technology
51. Habitat has established a significant in-house capacity to support
countries in developing and applying technical instruments for land-
use and settlement planning. Geographical information systems (GIS),
visual information systems for settlement planning and indicators for
human settlement management are some of the technologies developed by
Habitat and currently being disseminated and applied in small island
developing States as part of its operational activities.
(j) Human resources development
52. Habitat operational activities in this priority area cover
advanced training programmes extended through fellowships and
attachments, workshops, seminars and consultations on settlement
planning and integrated island development management. Given the
limited human resource base of small island developing States, Habitat
promotes the strengthening of regional training institutions and
horizontal exchange as key elements of its human resource development
activities.
5. International Research and Training Institute for the
Advancement of Women
53. In 1993, the International Research and Training Institute for the
Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) prepared a training module on the theme
"Women and waste management". This module provides an integrated
approach to water supply, sanitation and waste management, and women's
role in the organization and management of waste management programmes
and projects. The module contains examples of successful experiences
of women's role in waste management schemes in various countries,
including small island developing States.
54. In the area of "Freshwater resources", INSTRAW, in collaboration
with the former Department for Technical Cooperation and Development
of the United Nations Secretariat and the International Labour
Organization (ILO)/Turin Centre in Italy, prepared in 1991 a
multimedia training package on the theme "Women, water supply and
sanitation". This training package provides a new approach to the
organization and management of water supply through participation in
the planning, technical operations, maintenance, assessment and
implementation of water supply and sanitation projects.
55. INSTRAW has also given priority to promoting women's participation
in new and renewable sources of energy, in accordance with the
priority area "Energy resources". In 1990, the Institute, in
cooperation with the ILO/Turin Centre, prepared a training package on
the theme "Women and new and renewable sources of energy". The
training package aims to promote the integration of women's needs and
their participation in energy project planning and implementation,
paying special attention to the development and use of new and
renewable sources of energy. From 1990 to date, seven national,
regional and international training seminars have been held.
56. Following the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED), the Institute's programme has responded more
directly to the guidelines and recommendations of the Conference.
Environmental challenges are considered within the framework of
combating poverty; hunger and disease; ensuring better access to
education and health care; and productive resources, such as water,
energy and environmentally sound technologies. For example, in 1994,
INSTRAW prepared a comprehensive training manual on women,
environmental management and sustainable development". The aim of
this manual is to assist policy makers and development officials in
enabling more participatory roles for women in sustainable development
and environmental management, and to establish multisectoral and
multidisciplinary linkages between women, sustainable development and
environmental matters. The manual contains four modules on (a) women
and environmental health; (b) women as agents of change in the
development sector; (c) women as managers of the environment; and (d)
women, environmental indicators and capacity-building programmes.
57. Although INSTRAW research and training activities under the above-
mentioned areas are of world-wide scope, its main recommendations and
the analyses and strategies that they propose can be applied to the
environmental and developmental problems facing small island
developing States. In its 1996-1998 work programme, INSTRAW will seek
special funds for conducting training in small island developing
States.
6. United Nations University
58. The United Nations University (UNU) has established the Small
Islands Network to strengthen and link research related to small
islands. The Network involves the academic community. As an
autonomous organization, UNU tackles difficult problems in close
cooperation with the universities of the world, and develops research
and training programmes to deal with the latest issues in sustainable
small island development. The functions of the Small Islands Network
are the following:
(a) To network the global academic community and link scholars so
as to strengthen the academic role in the sustainable development
process, by fostering increased interaction among interested scholars
and organizations for the purposes of promoting research, training and
the dissemination of information related to small islands;
(b) To integrate research on small islands and sustainable
development under the auspices of a global network of scholars, reduce
research overlap and promote collaboration in research efforts, where
possible;
(c) To create a small islands information base to act as a point
source directory of scholars, organizations and research findings
pertaining to small islands and sustainable development;
(d) To disseminate and provide information to responsible United
Nations and government bodies, as well as policy makers, official
development assistance (ODA)-related donor and recipient Governments,
corporations, and non-governmental organizations, for effective
environmental management, risk management and government strategies
for sustainable development at the global, regional and local levels;
(e) To run electronic seminars and develop a body of scholars
that can act as a global think tank to test and provide scholarly
input to new ideas, concepts, issues, research proposals and
development projects related to small island development issues.
59. Research and training activities incorporate regional and global
perspectives, with an overall focus on environmental management and
governance. The objective of Network activities is to provide
research methodologies and training for the purposes of developing,
supporting and promoting comprehensive and integrated development
policy planning and management. Impetus for the proposed set of
activities to be implemented by UNU was derived from an examination of
the lines of action recommended in Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the
Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island
Developing States. Network activities will centre on three major
thematic areas:
I
Appropriate technology transfer and training
As a first step, UNU will accumulate data and technology
available in Okinawa, Japan, to see what technology is available
for small islands and how that technology may be transferred,
including through ODA. To that end, UNU will liaise with the UNEP
Environmental Technology Transfer Centre at Osaka, especially in
the area of water technology.
As a second step, UNU will encourage the development and
implementation of the zero emissions concept to technological
transfer and development. This builds on the Zero Emissions
project of UNU, and focuses primarily on beer brewing and sugar
industry restructuring.
II
Sustainable management of ecosystems
UNU maintains major programmes in land management and natural
disaster risk management, which will be extended to small islands.
In particular, its work in responding to the needs of the
International Decade for National Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) has
particular applications for small islands. The approach will
focus on training the trainers and risk preparedness.
III
Environmental law and governance
Environmental governance is a major area in which UNU is
undertaking work within its environmental programme. The project
being developed focuses primarily on the Pacific Islands, and is
concerned with designing new frameworks for regional cooperation
among small islands to promote sustainable development. In
particular, mechanisms for cooperation among the islands in
tourism, fisheries, energy, population/migration and export/import
management are of key concern. UNU will work with key
institutional bodies in the region in this area.
60. The above-mentioned activities are rounded out by the inclusion of
two further related areas for action by UNU:
(a) Academic capacity-building and education, which is concerned
with supporting the development and capacity-building of academic
institutions to effectively educate in environmental issues;
(b) A small island forums series, concerned with promoting
regional economic cooperation and the effective utilization of
resources for sustainable development.
61. While focusing on the academic community, the UNU Small Islands
Network will include a public education function by informing local
non-governmental organizations of research efforts and their results
through electronic and audio-visual and other means.
7. International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction/
Department of Humanitarian Affairs
62. The Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations
Secretariat was entrusted, in General Assembly resolution 46/182, with
the task of strengthening and making more effective the collective
efforts of the international community, particularly those of the
United Nations system, in providing humanitarian assistance. The
Emergency Relief Coordinator, as Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs, directs the Department's efforts to ensure both
a rapid, integrated and effective international response to
humanitarian emergencies, and the implementation of measures for
disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation.
63. In order to give particular attention to the aspects of natural
disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness related to the
Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island
Developing States, the Department will serve as task manager for this
issue and will prepare a report for the Commission on Sustainable
Development through its focal point, the Director of the IDNDR
secretariat, in close collaboration with WMO and in cooperation with
other interested organizations.
64. The IDNDR secretariat within the Department of Humanitarian
Affairs works with countries to reduce their vulnerability to
disasters. Guided by its 25-member Scientific and Technical
Committee, and promoted at the national level by national committees
and focal points, the objective of IDNDR is to increase international
cooperation to reduce the loss of life, economic damage and social
disruption that disasters can cause. The concerted inter-agency
approach of the United Nations system to IDNDR is being ensured by the
Inter-Agency Committee on IDNDR and its working group.
65. The Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action (A/CONF.172/9, chap. I,
resolution 1, annex I) adopted by the World Conference on Natural
Disaster Reduction in May 1994, as well as subsequent resolutions of
the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly including resolution
49/22 A, and the substantive session of 1995 of the Economic and
Social Council, have emphasized the particular challenge that natural
disasters pose for small island developing States. They point to the
specific need for international cooperation in support of the concrete
reduction of vulnerability to natural hazards as an indispensable
component for sustainable development.
66. The South Pacific Programme Office of the Department of
Humanitarian Affairs is implementing the South Pacific Disaster
Reduction Programme. This is a four-year regional programme being
implemented in 15 Pacific island countries. The programme started in
May 1994 and is funded by UNDP and eight bilateral donors. The
programme provides training and technical assistance to Governments
and non-governmental organizations; produces materials, such as
guidelines and manuals; helps to develop and implement national
disaster mitigation and preparedness programmes; and facilitates
regional cooperation and coordination in disaster management. The
Department also carries out missions to assist small island developing
States in improving disaster management organizations and starting up
disaster mitigation projects. Recent missions were undertaken to Cape
Verde and Papua New Guinea.
B. Funds and programmes
1. United Nations Development Programme
(a) A framework for cooperation on implementation of the Programme of
Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States
67. On the basis of UNDP consultations with the small island
developing States, particularly with AOSIS and relevant subregional
and regional United Nations bodies, it was felt that the
implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States could be maximized
through the establishment of a clear framework for cooperation among
all the development partners involved in the process. That framework
will strive to promote coherence and to realign, as appropriate,
relevant ongoing activities at all levels in support of the objectives
of the Programme of Action, while focusing on unmet priority needs in
technical cooperation, with particular emphasis on capacity-building
under the 14 priority areas of the Programme of Action. While the
main responsibility for the creation of such a framework should reside
with small island developing States themselves since they are
primarily responsible for the implementation of the Programme of
Action, UNDP will none the less seek to facilitate that creation.
(b) Development of the Small Island Developing States Technical
Assistance Programme Information Network
68. In paragraphs 9 (a) and 9 (b) of General Assembly resolution
49/122 of 19 December 1994, the Assembly requested the further
development of the small island developing States technical assistance
programme (SIDS/TAP) and the small island developing States
information network (SIDS/NET), on which UNDP had prepared feasibility
studies, on the basis of continuing consultations with small island
developing States and other interested parties - including in regard
to SIDS/NET relevant small island developing States technical experts -
so as to determine the most effective means for their implementation.
In paragraph 8 of the same resolution, the Assembly endorsed the
request of the Global Conference that UNDP continue to carry out its
lead agency mandate under Agenda 21 to organize the United Nations
system in the area of capacity-building for the sustainable
development of small island developing States at all levels, national,
regional and interregional, particularly through its network of
country offices.
Small island developing States technical assistance programme: a
central element of the strategy
69. At the subregional, regional and interregional levels, the small
island developing States technical assistance programme that is being
developed represents an important instrument, particularly in regard
to the use of technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC)
mechanisms for furthering the implementation of the Programme of
Action. SIDS/TAP is designed to facilitate the exchange and transfer
of experiences, knowledge, policies and practices among small island
developing States intraregionally and interregionally, and between
small island developing States and other countries to enhance the
quality and broaden the choice of sustainable development approaches
of small island developing States.
70. In the context of SIDS/TAP, UNDP has initiated activities to carry
out assessment-cum-project formulation exercises in the various small
island developing States subregions. These are designed to identify
unmet priorities in technical cooperation, with particular emphasis on
capacity-building, and to formulate TCDC-based technical cooperation
activities to address those priorities. Such exercises, which should
be completed before the end of the year, involve appropriate experts
from within the regions and from national and regional institutions.
They will follow a careful process of consultation with all
stakeholders to ensure support for the priorities identified. The
objective is to develop an inventory of small island developing States
priorities in the various subregions for the purpose of mobilizing
support and funding for their realization.
71. In keeping with the request of operative paragraph 9 (a) of the
above-mentioned resolution, UNDP has been collecting, over the last
several months, data relevant to the preparation of a directory of
institutions and scholars with expertise on small island developing
States. The collection of this information has involved the concerned
UNDP country offices, which have engaged national expertise to
undertake the gathering of relevant data for the purpose. The
directory will be substantially completed by the end of the current
calendar year. When completed, it will be made available in hard copy
and will also be accessible via the Information Referral System of the
UNDP Special Unit for TCDC.
Small Island Developing States Information Network: the information
support mechanism
72. The Global Conference recognized as a development constraint the
lack of access by small island developing States to information on a
range of subject areas of importance to them; SIDS/NET was conceived
against that background. It is an information system designed to
provide access through the Internet to information, knowledge,
experiences, policies and practices on a range of technical subject
areas of importance to small island developing States, including those
falling under the 14 priority areas of the Programme of Action. The
system aims at providing connectivity and access to existing databases
at the national, regional and global levels, such as the Small Islands
Information Network organized by the Institute of Island Studies. Its
main objective is to provide access rather than to create databases,
many of which already exist in many specialized national and regional
institutions both within and outside of small island developing
States. In recognition of the disparity in the levels of computer
development of the countries concerned, SIDS/NET is being structured
so that individual countries can phase in connectivity to SIDS/NET on
a gradual, modular basis in tandem with their overall national
computer and telecommunications development.
73. In keeping with paragraph 9 (b) of General Assembly resolution
49/122, UNDP is continuing its consultations with small island
developing States and relevant organizations in the further
development of SIDS/NET. UNDP has widely disseminated the SIDS/NET
feasibility study, as well as the related technical papers, to
information specialists in small island developing States. This
distribution included a questionnaire that focuses on key issues
requiring clarification and decision in regard to the development of a
strategy for the implementation of SIDS/NET. Responses are expected
shortly from the countries concerned on the basis of which a decision
will be taken on the steps necessary for the effective implementation
of the system.
(c) Elements of UNDP support
Support at the subregional, regional and interregional levels
74. Within the framework strategy and consistent with General Assembly
resolution 49/122, UNDP substantive support for the implementation of
the Programme of Action will be carried out at two levels. The first
level of support will be at the subregional, regional and
interregional levels, through its role in the operationalization of
already dedicated facilities - SIDS/TAP and SIDS/NET - and also
through significant UNDP-supported ongoing regional and interregional
activities financed from the Indicative Planning Figure (IPF), Special
Programme Resources (SPR), GEF and the Capacity 21 Fund.
Support at the country level
75. The second level of UNDP support will be at the country level in
the context of its standing mandate through the UNDP resident
representative/United Nations resident coordinator systems to assist
Governments in coordinating the operational activities of the United
Nations development system. In that connection, UNDP has mobilized
its country office structure in the various small island developing
States subregions to play an advocacy role for the Programme of Action
at the national level; help mobilize support and funding from country-
based entities, including the non-governmental organizations
community, the private sector and the locally based international
community; and support the formulation of small island developing
States national action plans, through which countries can seek such
support. Furthermore, UNDP support is also provided in the context of
its country programme activities in small island developing States, in
which technical cooperation takes place through national IPF funding,
as well as through funding from SPR, GEF and the Capacity 21 Fund, in
many cases in areas covered by some priority areas of the Programme of
Action.
76. At both the supranational and country levels, UNDP will assist
countries in addressing issues of coherence, coordination, focus and
advocacy in the context of the Programme of Action. At both levels,
it will continue to provide relevant technical assistance and, in the
case of its support to SIDS/TAP and SIDS/NET, it will also act as
facilitator and mobilizer of resources for the countries concerned.
Other plans and programmes
77. Climate change and sealevel rise. Through a GEF small grants
programme managed by UNDP, country activities targeting indigenous
non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, such
as those in the Dominican Republic on education for the protection of
the ozone layer, and awareness programmes for public motorcyclists on
the hazards of carbon monoxide emissions, are particularly relevant to
the priority area.
78. Natural and environmental disasters. In both the Caribbean and
the Pacific Island subregions, UNDP is supporting natural disaster
management and reduction programmes through regional IPF funding.
Those activities are intended to create national and regional
capacities for dealing with natural and technological disasters as
they occur, and also to address the preparation and implementation of
contingency response measures and comprehensive long-term disaster
management plans integrated into the national development planning
process.
79. In the context of the country programmes of some small island
developing States, UNDP has also supported, through the country IPF,
the preparation of national disaster management plans and disaster
management training of public officials, including participants from
the private sector, non-governmental organizations and local community
leaders.
80. Management of wastes. The UNDP Special Unit for TCDC is currently
supporting, through funding from its SPR, an interregional programme
that is developing a monograph on effective urban management
practices, including urban waste disposal approaches, which will serve
as background documentation for a series of regional workshops in
which selected small island developing States will participate. The
monograph as well as the results and findings of the regional meetings
will be presented to (Habitat II).
2. United Nations Population Fund
81. UNFPA has reported a continuation of its activities as previously
reported (see A/49/425 and Add.1). UNFPA has also reported that those
activities will fall within its technical assistance programme,
emphasizing in particular the needs of adolescents.
3. United Nations Children's Fund
82. Activities of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will
continue as previously reported (see A/49/425 and Add.1). In
addition, UNICEF has reported that over the past 18 months it has been
working closely with the Governments of 13 Pacific island countries to
develop a new programme of cooperation for 1997-2000. A draft policy
framework has proposed five broad strategic goals, one of which calls
for strengthening capacities of Governments, non-governmental
organizations, communities and families to promote the optimal
survival, development and protection of their children. Environmental
degradation has been identified as an underlying cause of malnutrition
and health problems among children. Large-scale, high-chemical-input
cash-cropping is decreasing land fertility and availability, while
pollution is affecting the safety of food products, especially marine
resources. Use of indigenous plants and sustainable gardening
patterns with low-input technologies, such as composting, crop
rotation, companion planting, and natural insecticides, will be part
of the UNICEF approach to producing food while protecting the
environment. A working group meeting on the formulation of priorities
and strategies for the UNICEF Solomon Islands Programme of Cooperation
recommended that school curricula should include environment issues
and that non-formal community environmental education should be
promoted.
4. World Food Programme
83. Plans and programmes of the World Food Programme (WFP) continue as
previously reported (see A/49/425 and Add.1).
5. United Nations International Drug Control Programme
84. Activities of the United National International Drug Control
Programme (UNDCP) continue as previously reported (see A/49/425 and
Add.1). In addition, UNDCP has reported that it has been assisting
the Governments of small island developing States, particularly within
the Caribbean subregion, to develop and implement national,
subregional and regional programmes aimed at reducing the illicit
cultivation, trafficking and abuse of drugs, and also at improving the
effectiveness of controls over the legal supply of drugs. In addition
to a number of national projects being supported by earmarked UNDCP
resources - mostly in the area of demand reduction - UNDCP is
financing a number of regional projects in the areas of the
coordination of police activities; customs cooperation; the training
of judicial personnel; the harmonization of legislation; the drug
curriculum; the harmonization of forensic laboratories; and the
training of laboratory technicians.
C. Specialized agencies
1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
85. FAO follow-up to the Programme of Action is largely based on the
conclusions and recommendations of the Inter-Regional Conference of
Small Island Countries on Sustainable Development and Environment in
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, held in Barbados from 7 to 10
April 1992. 3/ Paragraph 34 of the Programme of Action for the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States notes that
those conclusions and recommendations contain the consensus position
of small islands in the agricultural sector. Accordingly, FAO has
incorporated the recommendations into its programme of work, and the
Director-General has created two subregional offices, one for the
South Pacific and one for the Caribbean.
(a) Natural and environmental disasters
86. The objective of the FAO assistance is to rehabilitate the
agricultural sector in case of emergencies and natural disasters.
(b) Coastal and marine resources
87. The FAO Committee on Fisheries endorsed a proposal for a programme
of fisheries assistance to small island developing States in March
1995. Programme formulation has been initiated for action in the six
priority areas identified by member countries: (a) institutional
strengthening and national capacity-building; (b) conservation and
management of exclusive economic zone fisheries; (c) improved post-
harvest management and marketing; (d) safety at sea; (e) strengthening
the economic role of national fisheries industries; and
(f) aquaculture and inland fisheries conservation and management.
(c) Land resources
88. Sustainable agriculture and rural development has three essential
goals: (a) food security through an appropriate and sustainable
balance between self-sufficiency and self-reliance; (b) employment and
income generation in rural areas, particularly to eradicate poverty;
and (c) natural resource conservation and environmental protection.
Achieving those goals implies a long process requiring a comprehensive
approach and heavy investments of labour, capital, technology and
research, all of which are rare in small island developing States. In
order to open up avenues for improving small island developing States
capacity for the sustainable development of their resources, technical
cooperation is being promoted by organizing efforts more
systematically, for instance with programmed subregional support from
the international community (both FAO and other development agencies)
with ongoing assistance in small island developing States. Two
subregional programmes are being formulated for sustainable
development in agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the South
Pacific and Caribbean islands. Those programmes will be reviewed and
endorsed at two subregional workshops, one in Samoa in March 1996,
and - subject to availability of donor funding - one in Barbados,
tentatively in April 1996. The programme frameworks will allow
harmonizing activities in small island developing States, in
particular those related to coastal and marine resources; land
resources, including agriculture, nutrition and forestry;
agro-biodiversity; human and institutional strengthening; and regional
cooperation. Those programmes will be the basis for elaborating
subregional strategies for sustainable agriculture and rural
development, and for the identification of specific project proposals
for subregional technical cooperation and capacity-building. The
implementation of the outputs emerging from the subregional programmes
will be closely followed up by the newly created FAO subregional
offices in the South Pacific and Caribbean.
(d) Tourism resources
89. Within the context of sustainable agriculture and rural
development, the diversification of primary production and income
generation are high on the agenda. The vital link between tourism and
agriculture is being explored for promoting a regional response from
the sector to meet the standards of quality, quantity and regularity
of supplies of agricultural commodities to the tourism sector.
(e) Biodiversity resources
90. Within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity,
agro-biodiversity conservation and use as well as farmer's rights are
promoted.
(f) National institutions and administrative capacity
91. National institutional strengthening is promoted through the
provision of policy advice, assistance in policy formulation and data
collection/processing for managing the conservation and use of natural
resources for sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
(g) Regional institutions and technical cooperation
92. Technical cooperation and capacity-building among island countries
is promoted through regional projects in order to make the most
efficient use of human resources and promote the exchange of
experience and technology in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The
subregional workshops mentioned under "Land resources", planned for
1996, will offer the means to establish collaborative arrangements and
networking in those sectors.
(h) Human resource development
93. National education/training and workshops are organized to build
farmers and fishermen capacities to sustainably use natural resources
and diversify their primary production.
2. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization
94. During the 1994-1995 biennium, the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) have pursued and
carried out a number of initiatives in response to the Programme of
Action, in particular the priority areas dealing with human resource
development, science and technology, coastal and marine resources,
climate change and sealevel rise, biodiversity, freshwater resources,
and natural and environmental disasters. The UNESCO medium-term
strategy for 1996-2001 and programme and budget for 1996-1997 both
provide for the follow-up to the Global Conference.
(a) Climate change and sealevel rise/coastal and marine resources
95. IOC has been extending its programme on sealevel rise, climate
change and marine and coastal pollution. IOCARIBE, an IOC programme
in the Caribbean, manages the Caribbean Marine Pollution Control and
Abatement Programme, which is addressing marine and coastal pollution
problems of regional concern and is the lead agency for the Wider
Caribbean Debris/Waste Management Programme, which is fully
operational in almost every island in the Caribbean.
96. In the framework of the geological correlation studies and in
cooperation with the International Lithosphere Programme of the
International Council of Scientific Unions, sealevel changes and
surface vertical movements are being investigated in order to
characterize the interactions of climate change, sealevel rise and
natural and environmental disasters.
(b) Natural and environmental disasters
97. As a follow-up to the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action adopted
at the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction, assistance is
provided towards the assessment of natural hazards and the mitigation
of their effects on small islands. To mark the mid-term of the
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, planning for risk
evaluation in urban systems, including island cities was discussed at
an international workshop organized by UNESCO in Jakarta. It is
expected that the Pacific island countries will be the focus of
enhanced activities in disaster preparedness. A programme of action
is being pursued in the Caribbean in order to increase the role of the
media in disaster management and preparedness, in liaison with the
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency. The production of an
information kit is foreseen.
(c) Coastal and marine resources
98. Central to the priority area is a new UNESCO specific
interdisciplinary project on environment and development in coastal
regions and small islands, which is intended to respond to both the
Programme of Action and chapter 17 of Agenda 21. The overall
objective of the project is to advance knowledge on the sustainable
development of coastal regions and small islands, to promote the
application of research results towards achieving this development,
and to provide the required advanced training. UNESCO aims to assist
member States in introducing integrated coastal zone planning and
management so as to resolve conflicts in the utilization of natural
resources and to mitigate the physical and social vulnerability of
small islands. In this connection, the project builds on cooperative
activities among international and intergovernmental UNESCO programmes
in the environmental and social sciences, namely, IOC programmes, the
Man and Biosphere Programme, the International Hydrological Programme,
the International Geological Correlation Programme and the Programme
on Management of Social Transformations.
99. In the framework of the Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity
network, research is being carried out on the status of the coastal
ecosystems in the region, for example concerning the relation between
overfishing and the degradation of coral reefs. The Coast and Beach
Stability Project for the Lesser Antilles continued its support for
the establishment and supervision of coastal monitoring programmes for
several small islands.
(d) Freshwater resources
100. Rational use of freshwater resources has been the subject of
a number of activities organized by UNESCO in the various small island
developing States subregions; specific project-related information is
contained in the addendum (A/50/422/Add.1).
(e) Land resources
101. Among the activities of the Man and Biosphere Programme,
studies on integrated forests, agroforestry and cropland management in
small islands are under way. Preservation of biological diversity in
forests and coastal ecosystems is encouraged. Action plans are being
developed to tackle threatened plants.
(f) Energy resources
102. In relation to energy resources, policy frameworks are
promoted and information materials disseminated regarding renewable
and solar energy. These activities are carried out in the context of
the World Solar Summit process.
(g) Science and technology
103. The management of environmental risks is addressed by
undertakings in the fields of marine, oceanographic and earth
sciences. The IOC Global Programme on Global Ocean Observing System,
which was recognized by UNCED as an essential environmental monitoring
component, carries out activities aiming at achieving operational
systems capable of covering more effectively such issues as global
environmental and climate change.
(h) Human resources development
104. Capacity-building to promote sustainable development in small
islands is encouraged through UNESCO educational, cultural, scientific
and communication programmes. Technical cooperation is extended
through international and regional cooperative projects. A new UNESCO
Project on Environment, Population, Education, and Information for
Human Development is expected to utilize existing interdisciplinary
and inter-agency frameworks. Promotion of education is pursued at all
levels, formal and non-formal. The establishment of communication
structures, including for distance education aimed at producing
trained communicators and building island production capacities,
continues. The UNESCO-led World Decade for Cultural Development helps
to address the cultural dimensions of development in small island
States.
3. World Health Organization
105. Activities undertaken by the World Health Organization (WHO)
in support of the Programme of Action are summarized below; they are
additional to those previously reported (A/49/425 and Add.1), which
continue.
(a) Natural and environmental disasters
106. The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) has
been conducting a series of workshops on health support for disaster
management to strengthen national capabilities to prepare for and cope
with natural and environmental disasters. As a result, national
action and activities were initiated in a number of countries in 1995,
including Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
(b) Management of wastes
107. WPRO has initiated a project on solid waste disposal in
Pacific island countries and areas to demonstrate appropriate solid-
waste disposal methods; the project will culminate in the preparation
of guidelines on the subject for use by island countries and areas.
The countries selected for this purpose are Papua New Guinea, Solomon
Islands and Tonga.
(c) Freshwater resources
108. The new WHO guidelines for drinking water quality for the
Pacific island countries/areas and their adoption were promoted with a
view to setting national standards. As a result, Fiji, Tonga and Cook
Islands adopted national standards of their own.
(d) Regional institutions and technical cooperation
109. WHO and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) supported
the Pan American Conference on Health and Environment in Sustainable
Human Development (Washington, D.C., 1-3 October 1994), which
addressed various questions concerning small island States. The
subject of small island States was on the agenda of the Third Meeting
of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (Barbados,
October 1994) to which WHO contributed, with particular reference to
the health implications, inter alia, of climate change and sealevel
rise, and natural and environmental disasters.
(e) Human resource development
110. WPRO conducted a workshop on training approaches in the
promotion of health through environmental health (Sydney, 17-25 July
1995). Twelve of the participants were from six Pacific island
countries and areas. WPRO is also collaborating with the Samoa and
Solomon Islands Governments to review the curriculum and training of
assistant health inspectors. WPRO, in collaboration with the
UNDP/World Bank Regional Water and Sanitation Project Team based in
Jakarta, conducted an assessment of human resource development needs
as well as training opportunities in the following Pacific island
countries and areas: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New
Guinea, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Samoa.
Efforts are also under way to develop a Fiji school of medicine as a
potential regional human resource to assist in tackling such
challenges as health promotion, disease prevention and care of the
environment, including water, sanitation and waste disposal.
4. World Bank
111. World Bank activities in the areas of human resource
development, sustainable infrastructure, waste management,
environmental management, natural resources management and policy
reform continue as reported previously (A/49/425 and Add.1).
112. Since the adoption of the Programme of Action in 1994, the
World Bank has provided financing in the amount of $186.3 million to
21 small island developing States through both World Bank and GEF
projects. The focus of these projects is consonant with provisions in
the Programme of Action related to climate change, energy efficiency,
including renewable energy sources and related technologies, waste and
watershed management, biodiversity protection, regional institutional
cooperation, human resource development, technical assistance and
monitoring. In addition, the Bank is actively involved in major
international initiatives for coral reef protection and management and
the adoption of a strategic approach to marine biodiversity
conservation within the framework of protected area management.
Information provided by the World Bank on project-related activities
is contained in an addendum (A/50/422/Add.1).
5. International Monetary Fund
113. The substantive areas of the Programme of Action lie outside
the immediate mandate of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
However, in the context of its discussions with island member
countries during consultations and/or use of IMF resources
discussions, IMF will continue to pay close attention to their
environmental and other concerns as reflected in the Programme of
Action.
6. International Civil Aviation Organization
114. ICAO activities continue as reported previously (A/49/425 and
Add.1). In addition, ICAO has reported that at its eleventh session
(Montreal, May 1995), the ICAO Facilitation Division, after
considering the question of disinfection of aircraft, recommended
limitations on aerosol spraying in aircraft cabins while passengers
and crew are on board, and called for a comprehensive review of
pertinent WHO regulations. The Division also sought joint ICAO/WHO
guidance to minimize disruption of international air service during
epidemics.
7. International Telecommunication Union
115. The activities of ITU continue as reported previously
(A/49/425 and Add.1).
8. International Trade Centre
116. As the United Nations body mandated to provide assistance to
developing countries in export development and import management, the
International Trade Centre (ITC) of UNCTAD/the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade (GATT), while not having a specific programme for
small island developing States, can offer cooperation assistance,
within its six core services, in the following technical areas:
export product and market development; development of trade support
services; trade information; human resource development; international
purchasing and supply management; needs assessment and programme
design. At present, ITC is implementing several projects of technical
cooperation with a number of small island developing countries in
Africa and the South Pacific, in the following areas:
(a) National institutions and administrative capacity
117. Ongoing and planned capacity-building activities for the
management of export development and international purchasing and
supply management in Cape Verde, Mauritius and a number of islands in
the Caribbean and South Pacific, including improving knowledge and
strengthening capacities of government trade strategy decision makers;
upgrading knowledge and skills of both private and public sector
enterprise personnel in techniques of exporting and importing;
improving structures and trade support facilities and services;
building permanent capacity in national institutions for trade-related
human resource development.
(b) Regional institutions and technical cooperation
118. Ongoing and planned activities in small island developing
States are focused on strengthening the capacity of regional and
subregional institutions in the areas of trade expansion and
diversification, including providing institutional support for export
development and import management. These activities are carried out
in collaboration with the regional commissions and regional and
subregional intergovernmental bodies.
(c) Human resource development
119. Small island developing countries have benefited in the past
and will continue to benefit, from ITC human resource development
programmes and training materials which are focused on:
(a) Activities to strengthen the capacity of national,
subregional and regional training institutions in building up a
permanent capacity to design and present training courses in all
aspects of export development and import management, through the
training of trainers and the design of training materials, manuals,
case studies and visual aids;
(b) Activities on direct training in trade-related subjects for
government personnel involved in national trade promotion, and in the
techniques and operations of export and import trade for the business
community;
(c) Organizing short-term in-service training for trainees from
developing countries in technical institutions in other
countries/regions;
(d) Publication of specialized training materials, manuals,
guides, case studies, training packages, videos and business games.
9. International Maritime Organization
120. Although IMO measures with respect to maritime safety and the
protection of the marine environment are not generally aimed
specifically at small island developing States, by virtue of their
relatively long coastlines and proximity to the marine environment
they stand to gain from most IMO measures such as those aimed at the
prevention of pollution from ships, routing measures, collision
prevention regulations and improved radio communications.
121. As the only international body for establishing and adopting
measures on an international level concerning the routing and
establishment of areas to be avoided by ships, IMO is looking into the
possibility of instituting measures for avoiding pollution from
specialized ships through the establishment of areas to be avoided by
oil, chemical or liquified gas tankers in the vicinity of certain
environmentally sensitive sea areas in small island developing States.
122. Other measures of direct relevance to small island developing
States are the establishment of regional pollution combating centres,
direct assistance in the event of serious spills involving polluting
substances, and the conduct of seminars, workshops and courses on
various subjects relating to maritime safety and the protection of the
marine environment. Work is under way to develop a liability
insurance scheme in cases where damage is suffered through hazardous
and noxious substances carried by ships. Efforts are continuing to
establish regional maritime coordination networks in eastern and
southern Africa and the South Pacific. Such networks, if established,
would benefit a number of small island developing countries.
10. World Meteorological Organization
123. WMO has plans and programmes in nine of the priority areas of
the Programme of Action: "Climate change and sealevel rise", "Natural
and environmental disasters", "Freshwater resources", "Energy
resources", "Tourism resources", "National institutions and
administrative capacity", "Regional institutions and technical
cooperation", "Science and technology", and "Human resource
development". The activities of WMO continue as reported previously
(A/49/425 and Add.1). New information supplied by the organization is
described below and in an addendum (A/50/422/Add.1).
(a) Natural and environmental disasters
124. Under the World Weather Watch Programme (WWW), all WMO member
countries and territories cooperate and share responsibilities in the
generation and world wide exchange of meteorological observations,
forecast products and information based on agreed upon standards,
procedures and practices as well as shared infrastructure. This
programme provides basic information and services for other WMO and
international programmes, such as those related to tropical cyclones
and other natural and environmental disasters. WWW also includes
transfer of technology and other support activities to assist
developing countries in acquiring at least the minimum equipment and
capabilities for operating their own national meteorological services.
125. Through its Public Weather Services Programme, WMO provides
guidance and assistance to its members, especially those vulnerable to
natural disasters, such as the small island developing States, thus
fulfilling one of its primary roles: the provision of public weather
services, in particular forecasts and warnings of adverse phenomenon
in support of safety of life and property and for the welfare and
convenience of the people.
(b) Land resources
126. WMO implements the Agricultural Meteorology Programme which
supports food and agricultural production and services by providing
assistance in establishing meteorological and related services to the
agricultural community. The main theme of the WMO Commission for
agricultural meteorology is "operational agrometeorology for
sustainable, environmentally friendly and economically viable
agricultural production".
11. World Intellectual Property Organization
127. WIPO plans to assist in the implementation of the Programme
of Action, as reported previously (A/49/425 and Add.1), remain
unchanged.
12. United Nations Industrial Development Organization
128. UNIDO activities continue as reported previously (A/49/425
and Add.1). In addition, UNIDO has supplied the information provided
below.
(a) Management of wastes
129. UNIDO has extensive experience in waste management, focusing
on industrial waste reduction/prevention, treatment and control.
Technical assistance is provided at the policy, institutional and
enterprise levels within the frameworks of cleaner production and
industrial environmental management.
(b) Coastal and marine resources
130. In promoting industrial development in small island
developing States, UNIDO recognizes the importance of marine and
coastal resources as a base for industrialization. Assistance is
provided in the field of industrial and technology policy formulation
and awareness-building, small- and medium-scale enterprise
development, investment promotion, and technical assistance at a
sectoral level.
(c) Freshwater resources
131. UNIDO provides technical assistance in the field of
industrial water management, focusing on efficient industrial water
usage, waste-water treatment and recycling. Other areas include
seawater desalination technology.
(d) Energy resources
132. UNIDO work on energy-related industrial issues seek to assist
developing countries in developing cost-effective energy systems and
infrastructure to support industrial development, reducing the
environmental impacts of energy development and meeting their
commitments under the Framework Convention on Climate Change. As part
of this programme, UNIDO is promoting the utilization of new and
renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, biomass and ocean
wave energy and the development of related energy technologies.
Specific programmes address the needs of small island developing
States.
(e) Biodiversity resources
133. UNIDO is planning to increase its awareness-building and
promotional activities in the field of bio-safety and the sustainable
utilization of biological resources, and provides technical expertise
for the establishment of national biotechnology and biodiversity
development programmes.
(f) Regional institutions and technical cooperation
134. Promotion of a cluster of services for small island
developing States is directed towards providing industrial
information, regional cooperation mechanisms, technology management,
business development, and innovation and industrial investment
promotion. UNIDO is planning a feasibility study in the eastern
Caribbean on remote sensing and decision support technologies for
integrated coastal area management. In the Mediterranean, UNIDO is
carrying out a feasibility study for the establishment of a North-
South business development centre focusing on the marine industries
sector. The concept is being considered for other regions, such as
the Caribbean and Indian Ocean.
13. Universal Postal Union
135. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) will assist in the
implementation of the Programme of Action in the area of communication
within the framework of the guiding policy principles for cooperation
adopted by the Universal Postal Congress (UPC) for the period 1996-
2000. UPC has decided to accord priority to the least developed
countries, followed by the lower-middle income countries. It has
requested UPU organs (a) to take the necessary measures to enable UPU
to continue providing assistance to least developed countries in the
area of development of postal services; (b) to allocate the highest
possible proportion of UPU resources to the least developed countries;
(c) to monitor continuously the general situation of the post office
in least developed countries and to report to it at its next session;
and (d) to help the least developed countries to enhance their
capacity for deriving further revenues from philately, international
accounting and new services. All those measures will benefit small
island developing States that are classified as least developed.
Moreover, UPU has created a post of Regional Adviser for the
Caribbean, which will become operational in January 1996. During the
meeting of the postmasters-general and the Conference of Ministers
responsible for postal services in the Caribbean in April 1994, it was
decided to intensify efforts for the creation of a Caribbean Postal
Union, in collaboration with and with the assistance of the European
Union and regional organizations, notably the Caribbean Forum of the
African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States. UPU proposes to
notify regional advisers of assistance to be provided to small island
developing States.
14. International Fund for Agricultural Development
136. In accordance with its lending policies and criteria, the
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has mainly
provided financing for projects and programmes that are specifically
designed to introduce, expand or improve food production systems and
to strengthen related policies and institutions within the framework
of national priorities and strategies. In allocating its resources,
IFAD is guided by the need to increase food production in the poorest
food-deficit countries, the potential for increasing food production
in other developing countries, and the importance of increasing the
nutritional levels of the poorest populations in the developing
countries and improving the conditions of their lives. Since most
IFAD small island developing country members are poor food-deficit
countries, IFAD has devoted particular attention to the development of
such countries.
137. From 1978 to July 1995, IFAD provided 25 loans to small
island developing States, for a total of 44.4 million special drawing
rights. Of these, 80 per cent were provided on highly concessional
terms, another 16 per cent on intermediate terms and 4 per cent on
ordinary terms. Such loans amount to some 1.3 per cent of a total of
US$ 4,216.7 million for the 413 loans that IFAD has provided in
respect of 402 projects in 104 member countries over the last
13 years.
15. International Atomic Energy Agency
138. The International Atomic Energy Agency-Marine Environment
Laboratory (IAEA-MEL) is intensifying its activities in small island
developing States. It is involved in pilot monitoring programmes
(e.g., using corals as historical recorders of micro-pollutants) as
well as in capacity-building and quality assurance activities in
island States of the Caribbean and East African region. IAEA supports
studies involving isotopic and nuclear techniques to study
retrospective conditions (climate, sea level, pollution) and to
provide time scales for small island evolution. Project-related
information provided by the organization is included in an addendum
(A/50/422/Add.1).
D. Regional commissions
1. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
139. ESCAP has undertaken specific actions in priority programme
areas to facilitate the implementation of the Programme of Action for
the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, as
described below.
(a) Transport and communication
140. The ESCAP project on inter-island shipping, as reported
previously (A/49/425), continues. An additional project has just
commenced to develop policy options for the replacement of the ageing
ships in the Pacific island fleets.
(b) Tourism resources
141. Special efforts are being made to assist Pacific island
countries in strengthening national capabilities in integrated tourism
planning. A workshop on integrated tourism planning in Pacific island
countries was held at Port Vila, Vanuatu, in June 1995. Guidelines on
integrated tourism planning in Pacific island countries will be
completed in 1995. Efforts continue to assist Pacific island
countries in strengthening national capabilities to create a
favourable investment climate in the tourism sector. A study entitled
"Investment and economic cooperation in the tourism sector in Pacific
island countries", 4/ as well as studies on foreign investment in the
tourism sector in Samoa and Vanuatu, were published in 1995. A
project to undertake a study on land-tenure issues related to tourism
development in Pacific island countries has been prepared and is
awaiting funding.
(c) Natural and environmental disasters
142. Continuing coordination with the IDNDR secretariat and the
Department of Humanitarian Assistance is being maintained to improve
natural disaster preparedness and response in the Pacific.
(d) Science and technology
143. Small island developing States of the Pacific are rich in
natural resources, and their proper monitoring demands the use of
space technology. In order to disseminate such technology, a remote
sensing/GIS workshop for land and marine resources and environment
management in the Pacific subregion was held in Suva, Fiji from 13 to
17 February 1995. Participants from 18 countries, including the 14
Pacific small island developing States, attended. The objectives of
the workshop were to expose senior officials to new developments in
remote sensing/GIS applications, formulate a subregional action plan
and to promote the use of remote sensing and GIS technology for
development. A project portfolio consisting of eight projects was
also developed, covering various thematic applications, training and
data reception, for further implementation under the regional space
applications programme, with financial support from donors.
144. The Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for
Development in Asia and the Pacific (Beijing, 1992) launched the
regional space applications programme for sustainable development,
which contains specific programme areas tailored to meet the
requirements and peculiar situations of island countries.
(e) Land resources
145. Most small island countries are characterized by limited land
resources and are dependent on the agricultural and fisheries sectors
for livelihood. In order to make the agricultural sector more
efficient, ESCAP is promoting sustainable agriculture and rural
development by building the capacities of small island developing
States in planning and implementing rural development activities.
Moreover, advisory services are provided in promoting the
environmentally friendly use of agrochemicals. The dissemination of
information on agrochemicals continues; such information includes new
developments in agrochemicals, market and price situations, and the
protection of land resources. Studies are planned to identify
available land resources and their proper use. Recommendations
emerging from the studies will assist Governments in policy
formulation.
(f) National institutions and administrative capacity
146. A programme of work focusing on sustainable development
issues and their integration into economic decision-making is being
developed. The aim of the overall project is to provide technical
assistance on the institutional setting and policy modalities for
integrating environmental considerations into macroeconomic decision-
making processes. The project covers Pacific island countries, as
well as some other developing countries of Asia. It is proposed to
conduct country studies, as well as subregional and regional workshops
to share experiences. Supporting research involves a case study
involving two Pacific island countries on the formulation and
implementation of policies for promoting sustainable development,
focusing on population growth and mobility, urbanization,
international trade, agricultural production, and energy and transport
costs.
147. The ESCAP/Pacific Operation Centre assists SPREP in the
implementation of its Capacity 21 programme, including the design and
conduct of workshops. Moreover, the Centre is working to incorporate
the essence of this training into other activities, such as advisory
services to small island countries on development finance and regional
and national planning. It is also providing advisory services to the
South Pacific Commission (SPC) and the South Pacific Forum (SPF),
including recommendations for rationalizing the management of marine
resources among SPF, the Forum Fisheries Agency and the South Pacific
Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC).
(g) Human resource development
148. The ESCAP secretariat is currently implementing a programme
on the theme "Reaching the poor through government/non-governmental
organizations cooperation in the planning and delivery of human
resource development services". As part of the activities under that
programme, a national workshop is scheduled to be held in Papua New
Guinea. The objective of the workshop will be to enhance the linkages
between government agencies and non-governmental organizations in
planning and implementing human resource development programmes. The
participants in the workshop will be government officials and
non-governmental organizations personnel responsible for planning and
implementing human resource development programmes. Moreover, in
pursuance of ESCAP resolution 51/10 of 1 May 1995, resources are also
being mobilized to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of
a Pacific subregional training centre for drug demand reduction.
149. The ESCAP secretariat is involving small island countries in
regional preparations for Habitat II and its follow-up, by inviting
them to address their particular concerns and formulate suitable
intervention at the Second Asia Pacific Urban Forum. Local
authorities from small island countries are also being encouraged to
join - as some have already - the Network of Local Authorities for
Management of Human Settlements (CITYNET) through which ESCAP is
channelling assistance in urban management.
150. In addition, a study on maritime manpower resources in the
ESCAP region is being carried out, to identify the requirements for
and availability of trained and qualified seafarers to meet the
growing world shortage. This study will highlight the employment
potential for seafarers from small island developing countries, and
the economic benefits that may be derived from the training and supply
of seafarers to international shipping.
2. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
(a) Coastal and marine resources
151. ECLAC is developing a project proposal on the four essential
elements and components of information - availability of information,
effective means of delivery, responsiveness to user needs and
effective use of information - geared towards coastal conservation.
To that end, the project will establish a mechanism to provide
individuals and groups of users with access to environment- related
information that is integrated with indicators for economic and social
policy-making in Caribbean countries. The project will also seek to
enhance the ECLAC/AMBIONET system as an effective tool for delivering
information and responding to the demand for the effective use of such
information by the public and private sectors.
(b) Energy resources
152. In collaboration with UNESCO and the Centre for Environment
and Development of the University of the West Indies (UWICED), the
Caribbean Council for Science and Technology (CCST) convened a high-
level regional workshop on renewable energy technologies (Saint Lucia,
5-9 December 1994), to discuss the role of renewable energy in the
development process of the region in the context of sustainable
development. Delegates to the meeting focused on the scope of the
utilization of renewable energy as against conventional energy
sources, as well as on the need to improve dialogue and awareness of
the respective problems faced by the principal users of energy. The
meeting adopted a model energy policy and a resolution on renewable
energy. The workshop brought together participants from member
countries, as well as representatives from many energy-based
industries involved in the production and use of energy.
(c) Tourism resources
153. ECLAC work in this area continues as reported previously
(A/49/425 and Add.1). Additional work in sustainable tourism includes
the preparation of chapters of a textbook and research on economic
instruments for tourism development.
(d) National institutions and administrative capacity
154. As part of its programme of work for this biennium, ECLAC is
carrying out a critical examination of the availability of
environmental information in the Caribbean and an assessment of
implications for planning and decision-making. This environmental
database is intended to increase the awareness of member states of
work in the field of environment and development. It will seek to
organize environmental statistics for the region and offer a directory
on the sources of the information.
155. In order to focus on issues emanating from the Global
Conference and to carry out its mandate to increase hemispheric
cooperation, the ECLAC secretariat has included in its work programme
two new subprogrammes on the promotion of cooperation among member
countries of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Council (CDCC)
and between the Caribbean and Latin America and island developing
countries; both subprogrammes will focus on the promotion of
cooperation in functional and sectoral areas among the member
countries of the Caribbean and countries of Latin America. The ECLAC
programme of work will also include the needs of the non-independent
Caribbean countries, which will be addressed within the broad
framework of the analysis of issues related to island developing
countries in the subregion and the review of initiatives taken to
foster the integration of the member countries of CDCC within the
wider Caribbean as well as with other countries of Latin America.
(e) Regional institutions and technical cooperation
156. In collaboration with the Department for Policy Coordination
and Sustainable Development, UWICED, UNEP and UNDP, ECLAC convened a
Caribbean meeting of experts on implementation of the Programme of
Action in May 1995 to discuss constraints on effective implementation
and to agree on priority areas for action. The meeting identified
immediate sectoral priorities for the Caribbean region and for
institutional arrangements for regional coordination in, inter alia,
the following priority areas: "Management of wastes, "Land
resources", "Coastal and marine resources", and "Natural and
environmental disasters".
157. ECLAC has initiated activities that would strengthen its
cooperation and collaboration with regional institutions and other
United Nation agencies. To that end, there is active collaboration
with UWICED, the UNEP Caribbean Environment Plan and UNDP in the
implementation of work in the field of environment and development.
ECLAC has signed memoranda of understanding with CARICOM, UWI, UNEP
and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
(f) Science and technology
158. ECLAC is responding to the Programme of Action through
activities carried out under the aegis of CCST. CCST assists member
countries in their elaboration of science and technology policy and in
increasing national science and technology capacities.
(g) National institutions and administrative capacity
159. ECLAC is continuing to develop its programme on information
gathering and dissemination. It has put into place a communications
package emphasizing the use of the UNECLAC/AMBIONET Electronic
Information Exchange System. This system allows access to more than
33 libraries. It also connected to outside databases and other
information systems through INTERNET.
(h) Human resource development
160. The ECLAC subregional headquarters for the Caribbean
currently executes a project funded by the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA) on the integration of population policies into
development planning in the Caribbean subregion. Included in this
project is a study on the migratory patterns of Caribbean peoples and
a study on teenage fertility in selected Caribbean countries. A
regional project on education, training and employment for teenage
mothers in the Caribbean has been submitted to UNFPA for funding.
CCST has presented a training workshop on project preparation and
management for scientists in the region, and the Caribbean
Documentation Centre has offered training workshops in the use of the
CDS/ISIS and ECLAC/AMBIONET systems of operations.
161. ECLAC also undertakes activities related to the integration
of women in development, focusing its attention on a range of issues
of particular importance to the development of women in the Caribbean,
as well as on the incorporation of population concerns and issues in
the design of social and economic development plans. In addition,
ECLAC continues to work in close collaboration with regional and
national non-governmental organizations, and offers technical support
in developing their programmes of work.
3. Economic Commission for Africa
162. The activities of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
continue as reported previously (A/49/425 and Add.1). In addition,
consultations are under way between ECA and UNDP at the country level
for possible joint activities in identifying, within the context of
national workshops in the five African small island developing States,
areas for building critical human and institutional capacities, as
suggested in paragraph 129 of the Programme of Action. Such
activities will benefit from those of the ongoing ECA framework agenda
for building and utilizing critical capacities in Africa. The focus
will be on capacity-building in (a) environmental economics and
resource accounting; (b) impact assessment; (c) development of the
relevant legislative frameworks; (d) vulnerability assessment; and (e)
resource mobilization. Consultations are also ongoing between ECA and
UNDP for a joint regional workshop on unmet priorities within the
Programme of Action in Africa. A regional workshop will be held
during 1995 to examine the report on unmet priority assessment being
prepared by UNDP and a framework for an African regional programme of
action. A number of ECA programmes are already responding to elements
of the global Programme of Action. Information on ECA technical
assistance to the African small island developing States is included
in an addendum (A/40/422/Add.1).
4. Economic Commission for Europe
163. The activities of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
continue as reported previously (A/49/425 and Add.1).
5. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
164. The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
has indicated that it is involved in the management of supply/demand
of water resources in Bahrain, which depends mainly on groundwater for
its water supply, supplemented by desalinated water and some treated
effluent.
II. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
A. United Nations
1. Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable
Development
165. The responsibilities related to the implementation of the
Programme of Action and follow-up to the Global Conference are being
carried out by the Division for Sustainable Development of the
Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development.
166. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 49/122, a
small island developing States Unit has been established within the
Division for Sustainable Development. Essentially, the Unit is
responsible for four broad functions: (a) to provide substantive
secretariat support to intergovernmental and inter-agency processes
related to the monitoring, review and coordination of the
implementation of the Programme of Action; (b) to act as a liaison or
focal point for Governments and organs, programmes and agencies of the
United Nations system on matters related to the follow-up to the
Global Conference and the implementation of the Programme of Action;
(c) to prepare reports for the Commission on Sustainable Development
and other relevant bodies on the implementation of the Programme of
Action; and (d) to provide support, as appropriate, to other
activities emanating from the Programme of Action. The Unit is
currently staffed by a Chief of Unit and a Sustainable Development
Officer at the Professional level, supported by one General Service
staff member. The Unit functions as a focal point within the
Department on issues related to the Programme of Action, with the
responsibilities outlined above. The Department is coordinating the
implementation of the Programme of Action through the Inter-agency
Committee on Sustainable Development which, at its 6th meeting
(Geneva, 12-14 July 1995), took decisions on the modalities of system-
wide coordination on the recommendations of the Department.
2. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
167. UNCTAD is planning to make new institutional arrangements to
carry out the aspects of the Programme of Action that fall within its
mandate when its capacity is strengthened.
3. United Nations Environment Programme
168. No new institutional arrangements have been put in place
since those previously reported (see A/49/425 and Add.1). UNEP
designated a focal point with respect to the Global Conference and its
follow-up activities, including implementation of the Programme of
Action, in 1993, and immediately following the Global Conference a
joint UNEP/Habitat task force was established. It is anticipated that
the task force will oversee the development of a programmatic approach
to the implementation of small island developing States activities
within the 1996-1997 work programme of UNEP.
4. United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
169. Habitat has designated a focal point with respect to the
follow-up activities for the implementation of the Programme of
Action. A joint UNEP/ Habitat task force is active in coordinating
inter-agency policies and strategies for the execution of activities
in support of the sustainable development of small island developing
States.
B. Funds and programmes
1. United Nations Development Programme
170. The Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing
Countries has been designated to coordinate within UNDP the follow-up
on the implementation of the Programme of Action. In this capacity,
the Unit will work closely with the various bureaux at UNDP
headquarters and the UNDP country offices responsible for small island
developing States to ensure effective follow-up activities.
2. United Nations Population Fund
171. No new institutional arrangements are envisaged by UNFPA to
implement the Programme of Action within those areas relevant to its
mandate.
3. United Nations Children's Fund
172. UNICEF will utilize its existing institutional arrangements
to support the implementation of the Programme of Action. In
addition, a focal point has been established within the Environment
Unit to facilitate the coordination of activities regarding small
island developing States. These arrangements reflect the
organization's response to Agenda 21, which has parallels with the
Programme of Action.
4. United Nations International Drug Control Programme
173. UNDCP will implement the Programme of Action through its
existing institutional arrangements.
C. Specialized agencies
1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
174. The Director-General of FAO has incorporated the
recommendations of the Programme of Action into the FAO programme of
work, and has created two subregional offices, one for the South
Pacific and one for the Caribbean.
2. United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization
175. Prior to the Global Conference, the UNESCO Director-General
established a focal point for relations with small island States
within the Bureau for External Relations. The focal point will be
responsible for facilitating relations with small island developing
States in all matters relating to follow-up to the Global Conference.
In addition, as part of his overall coordination responsibility for
UNCED follow-up, the Director of the Bureau for Coordination of
Environmental Programmes will also be responsible for follow-up to the
Global Conference in terms of ensuring effective internal and
inter-agency programme coordination.
3. World Health Organization
176. The WHO global strategy and related action plan are being
implemented by WHO through its headquarters and regional offices. The
American and western Pacific regional offices are the main offices
dealing at an operational level with small island developing States,
because of their proximity to the Caribbean and South Pacific regions,
respectively. The western Pacific office recently established an
environmental health unit in Fiji, which will focus on the problems
faced by the Pacific island countries. WHO offices in Africa, South-
East Asia and the eastern Mediterranean will also be involved in
supporting those small island developing States that fall within their
area of operations. Also, a new Division for Emergency and
Humanitarian Action has been established, which is intended to
strengthen the capabilities of WHO in the area of natural and
environmental disasters. In addition, an Associate Professional
Officer (APO-Environmental Engineer) was posted in Samoa to provide
closer collaboration also with American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and
Tokelau. Efforts are under way to post an APO with environmental
skills and knowledge in Vanuatu and the Federated States of Micronesia
to support community water and sanitation activities, as well as other
environmental health activities.
4. World Bank
177. Existing World Bank institutional arrangements are supporting
the implementation of the Programme of Action. An institutional focal
point for small island developing States has been designated.
5. International Monetary Fund
178. IMF envisages no special institutional arrangements, because
the substantive areas of the Programme of Action lie outside its
immediate mandate.
6. International Civil Aviation Organization
179. ICAO will support the implementation of the Programme of
Action through its existing institutional arrangements.
7. International Telecommunication Union
180. The development of technical assistance programmes for small
island developing States is carried out by the Telecommunication
Development Bureau, which is the development arm of ITU. The Bureau
has regional and subregional offices in the Americas, Asia and the
Pacific, and Africa. The Caribbean subregion will be served by the
Barbados area office, while the Pacific will be served by the area
office at Jakarta. Activities will be coordinated at ITU headquarters
at Geneva, where a focal point on small island developing States will
be established.
8. International Trade Centre
181. Activities for assistance to small island developing
countries are planned and implemented by ITC utilizing, in the main,
the resources of its existing institutional structure, supplemented by
extrabudgetary funds, when available. No new institutional
arrangements are envisaged by ITC to implement the Programme of Action
within those areas relevant to its mandate.
9. International Maritime Organization
182. Efforts are continuing to establish regional maritime
coordination networks in eastern and southern Africa, and in the South
Pacific. These networks, if established, would benefit a number of
small island developing States.
10. World Meteorological Organization
183. WMO institutional arrangements to support the implementation
of the Programme of Action are included, to the extent possible,
within its existing scientific and technical programmes. WMO has
designated the Director of the World Weather Watch Department as the
focal point for the implementation of the Programme of Action.
11. World Intellectual Property Organization
184. The World Intellectual Property Organization will utilize its
existing institutional arrangements to support implementation of the
Programme of Action.
12. United Nations Industrial Development Organization
185. UNIDO will implement the Programme of Action within its
existing institutional arrangements.
13. International Fund for Agricultural Development
186. Existing IFAD institutional arrangements will support the
implementation of the Programme of Action.
D. Regional commissions
1. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
187. A mechanism for the consultation and pooling of limited
resources through regional cooperation between United Nations bodies
and agencies, intergovernmental organizations, bilateral donors and
international organizations already exists in Asia and the Pacific,
through the Inter-agency Committee on Environment and Sustainable
Development. In June 1994, the Inter-agency Committee considered the
outcome of the Global Conference, and decided that it would facilitate
the coordination and implementation of the Programme of Action, as
requested in paragraph 132 of the Programme of Action. In this
connection, it was agreed that the Inter-agency Committee working
group would review the priority areas of the Programme of Action and
identify projects for joint implementation by the Committee members.
ESCAP has also set up a special body on Pacific island States to
facilitate ongoing consultations with those States.
188. In addition, ESCAP has established the ESCAP Pacific
Operations Centre at Port Vila, Vanuatu, with a small complement of
core staff. Its professional expertise is made available to the small
island developing States in the Asia and the Pacific region through
that Centre. The Centre, as well as various substantive divisions of
ESCAP, also cooperate with other South Pacific regional organizations
in the delivery of their programmes, including the South Pacific
Forum, the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency, the South Pacific
Commission, the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, the South
Pacific Regional Environment Programme, the University of the South
Pacific, the Pacific Islands Development Programme and the Tourism
Council of the South Pacific. Efforts are being made to further
strengthen the capacity of the Pacific Operations Centre to provide
technical assistance to member countries.
2. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
189. ECLAC activities in relation to small island developing
States involve its subregional headquarters for the Caribbean in
Trinidad and Tobago, and the programme of work of the Natural
Resources and Energy Division. The ECLAC/CDCC secretariat is
responsible for guiding and promoting the economic and social
development of those Caribbean countries that are members of CDCC,
consisting mainly of small island developing States. An integral part
of the programme is being accomplished through programme elements on
environment and development of small island developing States. The
secretariat has been mandated, at a regional meeting convened to
consider the status of the implementation of the Programme of Action,
to establish, jointly with CARICOM, a regional coordinating mechanism
to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action.
3. Economic Commission for Europe
190. Existing ECE institutional arrangements can support and
accommodate activities to implement the Programme of Action. ECE
activities will continue as reported previously (A/49/425 and Add.1).
4. Economic Commission for Africa
191. In an effort to implement the Programme of Action with
immediate effect, ECA will endeavour to implement some of its proposed
actions within ongoing programmes and existing resources. However,
additional resources will be needed in two areas: the provision of
advisory services and data collection, and missions and training
seminars and workshops. Additional resources will also be needed for
coordination, including consultancies and participation by African
women, and for providing increased access to resources in both the
formal and informal sectors.
III. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS
192. The responses summarized above indicate that the relevant
organizations and bodies of the United Nations system are committed to
the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States. They have incorporated
the elements of the Programme of Action that fall within their
respective mandates into their work programmes, and have begun to
implement projects to meet the priorities identified in the Programme
of Action. The scope of activities undertaken varies among the
different organizations and bodies depending on the extent to which
the priority areas of the Programme of Action are covered by their
respective mandates.
193. The information contained in the present report and an
addendum (A/50/422/Add.1) on the plans and programmes of the United
Nations system, which is additional to that contained in the previous
report (A/49/425 and Add.1), shows that several organizations and
bodies of the United Nations system have reformulated their work
programmes in direct response to the provisions of the Programme of
Action. It also shows that several of them have expanded their plans
and programmes since their submissions for the preparation of the
previous report. The present report contains information on the
activities of several organizations - UPU, ITC, IDNDR/Department of
Humanitarian Affairs, IFAD, UNU and INSTRAW - for the first time; many
of those activities represent new initiatives under the Programme of
Action.
194. The ongoing and planned activities of the organizations and
bodies of the United Nations system, taken together, cover all the
programme areas - sectoral and cross-sectoral - of the Programme of
Action. In multisectoral areas, such as tourism, while the activities
of no single organization or body cover all dimensions, their
cumulative activities - if sustained and adequately funded - will go a
long way towards meeting the provisions of the Programme of Action.
195. In the area of regional coordination of the implementation of
the Programme of Action, four regional bodies - ECE, ESCAP, ECLAC and
ECA - have reported that they have taken initiatives to fulfil their
mandates. ESCAP and ECLAC have held regional meetings to identify
immediate regional priorities, and have established coordination
mechanisms in collaboration with regional intergovernmental
organizations. ECA has reported that it is in consultation with UNDP
at the country level regarding possible joint activities to identify,
through national workshops in the five African small island developing
States, ways to build human and institutional capacities, as well as a
possible joint regional workshop on current priorities under the
Programme of Action. Regarding coordination at the international
level, the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable
Development has established mechanisms for system-wide coordination
through IACSD.
196. As to specific responsibilities under the Programme of
Action, UNDP has reported that it is actively pursuing the refinement
and operationalization of SIDS/NET and SIDS/TAP in consultation with
small island developing States and other interested parties, and the
Department has taken the initiative, in collaboration with UNCTAD, to
organize an in-session panel discussion on trade-related issues
affecting small island developing States and to explore approaches to
the development of a vulnerability index.
197. It is expected that the organizations and bodies of the
United Nations system will further sharpen the focus of their
activities under the Programme of Action on the basis of decisions
taken by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its fourth
session, in 1996.
198. Of the organizations and bodies included in the present
report, nine have reported that they will implement the Programme of
Action through existing institutional arrangements. UNCTAD and ECA
have indicated that they need additional resources to establish
appropriate new institutional mechanisms. All the others have
established new mechanisms, which vary among the different
organizations and bodies, to oversee and coordinate the implementation
of the Programme of Action.
Notes
1/ Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados,
25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. 94.I.18),
chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.
2/ Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions
Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales
No. E.93.I.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.
3/ Report of the Interregional Conference of Small Island
Countries on Sustainable Development and Environment in Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries, Christ Church, Barbados, 7-10 April 1992
(Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1993),
Part III.
4/ ESCAP Tourism Review, No. 13 (ST/ESCAP/1386).
ANNEX
List of organizations that responded to the request
for inputs to the present report
1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
2. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
3. World Health Organization
4. World Bank
5. International Monetary Fund
6. International Civil Aviation Organization
7. Universal Postal Union
8. World Meterological Organization
9. International Telecommunication Union
10. International Maritime Organization
11. World Intellectual Property Organization
12. United Nations Industrial Development Organization
13. International Atomic Energy Agency
14. International Trade Centre (UNCTAD/GATT)
15. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
16. United Nations Environment Programme
17. United Nations Children's Fund
18. United Nations Development Programme
19. World Food Programme
20. United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
21. United Nations Population Fund
22. United Nations International Drug Control Programme
23. Economic Commission for Europe
24. Economic Commission for Africa
25. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
26. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
27. International Fund for Agricultural Development
28. United Nations University
29. International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement
of Women
30. Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations
Secretariat/ International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
31. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
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