2016 Annual Report Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat | 2016 Annual Report 1 the Pacific Islands Forum
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Annual Report 2016 2016 Annual Report Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat | 2016 Annual Report 1 The Pacific Islands Forum Vision Our Pacific Vision is for a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free, healthy, and productive lives. Values We value and depend upon the integrity of our vast ocean and our island resources. We treasure the diversity and heritage of the Pacific and seek an inclusive future in which cultures, traditions and religious beliefs are valued, honoured and developed. We embrace good governance, the full observance of democratic values, the rule of law, the defense and promotion of all human rights, gender equality, and commitment to just societies. We seek peaceful, safe, and stable communities and countries, ensuring full security and wellbeing for the peoples of the Pacific. We support full inclusivity, equity and equality for all people of the Pacific. We strive for effective, open and honest relationships and inclusive and enduring partnerships—based on mutual accountability and respect— with each other, within our sub-regions, within our region, and beyond. These Pacific regional values will guide all our policy-making and implementation. 2 Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat | 2016 Annual Report Table of Contents The Pacific Islands Forum 4 Forum Chair Letter 6 Secretary General’s Letter 7 Welcoming French Polynesia and New Caledonia to the Forum 8 Promoting Inclusive Regionalism 9 Advancing Forum Priorities for Regionalism 10 - 14 Other Initiatives 15 - 17 CORPORATE Management Team 19 Organisational Development 20 - 21 Audited Financial Statements 22 - 29 REPORTS Regional Authorising Office Report 30 Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner 31 KEY DOCUMENTS 2016 Communique 32 2016 Annual Report Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat | 2016 Annual Report 3 THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM The Pacific Islands Forum is the region’s political The expression of a common sense of organisation. Founded in 1971, it has 18 Members: identity and purpose, leading progressively Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of to the sharing of institutions, resources, and Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, markets, with the purpose of complementing Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, national efforts, overcoming common Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall constraints, and embracing sustainable Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and and inclusive development within Pacific Vanuatu. Associate membership of the Forum countries and territories and for the Pacific is currently held by Tokelau. American Samoa, region as a whole. Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Guam and Wallis and Futuna , who are territories of either The Framework for Pacific Regionalism explicitly France or the United States of America; and, recognizes that all Pacific people have a role to the African Carribean Pacific Secretariat, Asian play in regionalism and commits the Forum to Development Bank, Commonwealth Secretariat, inclusive regional public policy development International Organization for Migration, the and implementation. United Nations, Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, World Bank Group hold The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is mandated Observer status, with Timor Leste holding Special through the 2005 Agreement Establishing the Observer status. The eighteen Forum Dialogue Pacific Islands Forum to provide policy advice Partners include Canada, Peoples Republic to the Forum and coordinate the implementation of China, Cuba, the European Union, France, of Forum Leaders’ decisions. The Secretariat is Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic based in Suva, Fiji, and is led by the Secretary of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Spain, Thailand, General, Dame Meg Taylor of Papua New Guinea. Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of The Forum Officials Committee (consisting America. of nominated representatives from all Forum Governments) is the governing body of the The Forum’s Pacific Vision is for a region of Secretariat. The Forum Secretariat is funded peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and by its member governments through assessed prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free, membership contribtuions, as well as voluntary health, and productive lives. and extra budget contributions from members The Forum’s work towards this Vision is guided by and donors. the Framework for Pacific Regionalism, which is The Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat a robust process for supporting focused political is the permanent Chair of the Council of conversations and settlements for identifying and Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP). addressing priority regional strategic issues. The The Secretary General also serves as the Framework sets out the strategic vision, values, Pacific Ocean Commissioner, the Chair of the objectives and approaches to achieving deeper Specialist Sub-Committee on Regionalism, and regionalism. Deeper regionalism is defined in the Regional Authorising Officer for the European the Framework as: Development Fund. For more information about the Pacific Islands Forum and the Secretariat please visit www. forumsec.org 4 Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat | 2016 Annual Report The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Vision is for a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free, health, and productive lives. (Framework for Pacific Regionalism, 2014) Republic of the Marshall Islands Federated States of Micronesia Palau Kiribati Kiribati Nauru Papua New Guinea Kiribati Tuvalu Solomon Islands Samoa Fiji Vanuatu Niue Tonga French Polynesia New Caledonia Cook Islands Australia New Zealand Figure 1. Pacific Islands ForumPACIFIC Members ISLANDS FORUM www.forumsec.org 2016 Annual Report Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat | 2016 Annual Report 5 MESSAGE FROM THE OUTGOING CHAIR OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM As outgoing Chair, I acknowledge all the Pacific Island Nations in our collective efforts to deal with the concerns of our collective nations. 47th Pacific Islands Forum, 2016 But we must continue to work together, think smarter and be sensible in our economic decisions, so that our growth continues. Climate change makes these challenges worse. Climate change is more than an environmental issue – it is an economic and a political issue as well. Climate change is destroying communities and costing jobs and displacing many of our people. The Paris Agreement in which we led the discussions has set targets, and provided global recognition of the concerns and realities. As a global community we must deliver on these Honourable Peter O’Neill promises for our people. Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea The recent commitment by the United States and The past year has been a very busy time for the China to ratify the Agreement is most welcomed. Pacific Islands Forum group of nations. In Port We must continue to show leadership and Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Forum Leaders encourage all countries to ratify the agreement. reaffirmed their commitment to a prioritised regionalism agenda under the Framework for We also as a region, continue to engage as a Pacific Regionalism, adopted in Palau in 2014. group in multilateral discussions with our major trading partners. We have held discussions with The Framework is in the early and formative Japan, China, India and last week with the United stages of a new era for the Pacific region. Coupled States. These engagements gives collective to this is the 2030 Development Agenda and strength to bring concerns to the largest global Sustainable Development Goals, which represent economies. Through these engagements we the new universal development paradigm for all are able to better realise our collective vision for nations. Our challenge is to implement this in a the region. We need to continue to expand this way that is consistent with our region’s, and also collective representation. our individual national concerns and context. As outgoing Chair, I acknowledge all the Pacific As a group of island nations – the status of our Island Nations in our collective efforts to deal with marine environment remains a priority. Last year the concerns of our collective nations. we prioritised action to ensure a sustainable increase on our return on fisheries. We must I also acknowledge the good work of the Staff not lose sight of this commitment and we must of our Secretariat and the Secretary General of monitor implementation. the Pacific Islands Forum - Dame Meg Taylor, But there are also global challenges that we face who have been the driving strength behind today. Global commodity prices are low, there is a many of the issues that the Leaders have raised. slowdown in larger Asian trading partners. Global Individually, our nations are small in global terms pressures affect all island nations. The slowdown – but together we are strong. affects tourism, and demand for non-resources commodities. 6 Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat | 2016 Annual Report MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM The Secretariat’s role in regional policy- WHO WE ARE making and implementation in 2016 has been guided by Forum Leaders’ vision, 35 values and objectives as articulated in the Framework for Pacific Regionalism, in particular through ensuring an inclusive and transparent policy development cycle, and forging genuine and durable partnerships in support of Leaders’ ambition for the Pacific region. Continuing to embed