Ms. Sultana Alam, Gender, Population and Development Adviser, and Dr. Salesi Katoanga, Reproductive Health Programmes Adviser, were on joint-mission to Western Samoa, on 9-20 February to carry out in-depth sectoral reviews. As in other cases, the methodology adopted in the review exercise included extensive interviews and consultations with appropriate government and non-government population programme personnel, collection of recent data, examination of latest policy and programme developments, and the review of institutional arrangements and capacities.
Government officials are in favour of integrating all population activities in a programme approach which will dovetail with the shift in emphasis from comprehensive to strategic development planning. Government-NGO collaboration is being fostered in implementing programme activities addressing gender concerns and reproductive health, including family planning and sexual health.
Joint Mission(2)A second joint mission was undertaken by two CST Advisers, Mr. William House (Population Policies and Development Strategies) and Mr. K. Paramanathan (Population IEC and Labour), on 18-29 March to conduct sectoral reviews in the respective areas of Population and Development Strategies, and of Population Advocacy/IEC.
In recent years the Government has been formulating various drafts of a Population Policy. Most recently, a Population Policy Council has been deliberating while a Technical Committee has been working on a draft Policy. The intention is that the Policy will be presented to the Cabinet for endorsement by mid-1996.
Western Samoa's current social indicators confirm that the country has made significant progress in meeting sectoral goals. Current efforts to design a Population Policy which cements this progress and carries it further augurs well for the future. Evidently, Samoa is well on its way in following the quantifiable targets of the ICPD-POA.
Upon completion, the sectoral reports of the four advisers will represent a comprehensive analysis of the situation and provide critical inputs in national strategy formulation and programme development for the next five years.