In preparation for The Hague Forum, UNFPA organised a Programme Management Workshop on 16-21 November followed by a Ministerial Meeting on 23-24 November in Nadi, Fiji. The primary objective of the meeting was to review the progress made and constraints faced in the implementation of the ICPD PoA by countries in the Pacific which are covered by UNFPA’s programmes of assistance from the Suva Sub-Regional Office (responsible for 14 island countries) and Papua New Guinea. Another objective of the 16-21 November workshop was to update country programme managers, executing and implementing agencies on the innovations in the UNFPA programme development process including programme monitoring tools. Presentations on these subjects were made by the UNFPA Representative and National Programme Officers.

The Regional Workshop and the Ministerial Meeting which followed were organised by the Office of the UNFPA Representative for the South Pacific. Ms. Uyen Luong, Deputy to the Director and Chief, East and South East Asia Branch, Asia and the Pacific Division, UNFPA New York, attended both the meetings and made presentations on the UNFPA programming process and on ICPD+5 activities. The newly appointed UNFPA Representative for Papua New Guinea, Mr. Birat Simha, and his NPO also participated in the Programme Management Workshop as a resource person and presenter.

Participants concentrating on a presentation at the Programme Management Workshop, 16-21 November, Nadi, Fiji