Republic of the Marshall Islands NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN 2015–2017 June 2014 © EPPSO, June 2014. Republic of the Marshall Islands This document is available for re-publication and public use. Any modification of any kind is strictly prohibited without the expressed permission of the Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office (EPPSO). Map of the Republic of the Marshall Islands MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT His Excellency President Loeak It gives me great pleasure and privilege to present to all stakeholders, the RMI National Strategic Plan, (NSP). This Instrument provides for the RMI development strategies for the next three year period, (2015–2017). As our young nation faces difficult challenges in its daily activities and planning, we tend to look to the past for guidance for the present and future, to ensure that we steady the course towards progress and self-sufficiency. The NSP is such the instrument steadying the course and navigating us toward this goal. The development of this National Strategic Plan was accomplished through joint collaborative efforts of governmental ministries, agencies, businesses, as well as private sector entrepreneurs, non- governmental organizations, and numerous others in civil society, who shared in one goal and objective aiming to ensure that the course and future of RMI is steered toward self-sustainability and efficiency. As President, I strongly encourage stakeholders to allocate sufficient resources to support the implementation of the development goals and objectives identified in the National Strategic Plan, for the continued development of good governance and a vibrant Marshallese society. I extend to the RMI development partners, especially the United Nations Development Fund and the Asian Development Bank, the warm gratitude and appreciation of the Government, and the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, for their full on-going support and assistance, towards the implementation and progress of the National Strategic Plan. I encourage stakeholders to come together in the spirit of joint collaboration and efforts, as enshrined in the words of our forefathers, “Jepelpelin Ke Eju Kaan”, to achieve successful results and progress of RMI national priorities, in order to ensure a greater and brighter future for our young nation. Please accept the assurances of my highest gratitude. Sincerely, Christopher J. Loeak President ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands wishes to thank the National Strategic Plan Steering Committee for their guidance and oversight in designing and developing this document. The Steering Committee was led by the Chief Secretary. Other members of the Committee include the Secretary of Finance, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Director of Economic Policy Planning and Statistics Office, the Director of the Office of Compact Implementation, the President of the Marshall Islands Mayors Association, and representatives from the Office of Attorney General, the Private Sector and the Non-Governmental Organization Community. Special appreciation is given to the Marshall Island Government’s line Ministries, Agencies and State Owned Enterprises, and most importantly, all of Marshallese society for their valuable input and contributions to the development of this National Strategic Plan. RMI government would also like to acknowledge the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Fiji for sponsoring the Technical Assistance Team, comprised of Chris M. Yanckello, for their assistance in preparing this document. The Government also wishes to acknowledge the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for their assistance in printing this document and providing technical assistance for the initial implementation of the National Strategic Plan, including the development of the National Strategic Plan Electronic Platform found at www.eppso.org. Acknowledgement is also extended to the staff of the College of the Marshall Islands and EPPSO for their efforts in reviewing and preparing this publication. All photographs used by permission. For further information on the material contained in this report, please contact: Government of the Marshall Islands Economic Policy Planning and Statistics Office Office of the President PO Box 7 Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960 Telephone : 692-625-3802/03 Fax : 692-625-3805 Email : [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .................................................................................................. ix EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................xiii 1. SNAPSHOT OF THE RMI ......................................................................................................................... 1 2. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 2 3. NSP COMPONENTS AND NSP TIMELINE ............................................................................................... 5 NSP Components ................................................................................................................................... 5 NSP Timeline ......................................................................................................................................... 6 4. RMI BACKGROUND OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................. 7 Government .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Economy ................................................................................................................................................ 7 Geography ............................................................................................................................................. 8 People .................................................................................................................................................... 9 5. NATIONAL PLANNING HISTORY IN THE RMI ....................................................................................... 12 History ................................................................................................................................................. 12 6. ORGANIZATION OF THE NSP ............................................................................................................... 13 7. COORDINATION OF THE NSP WITH ONGOING PLANNING AND BUDGETING .................................... 15 8. NSP NATIONAL CONTEXT AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THEMES .................................................. 17 Vision 2018 and NSP National Context ............................................................................................... 18 9. THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN VISION ............................................................................................ 22 Vision Statement ................................................................................................................................. 23 10. THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE ...................................................................................... 24 NSP Objective ...................................................................................................................................... 24 11. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SECTOR .......................................................................................................... 25 SECTOR OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 26 SECTOR DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................. 29 NSP NATIONAL PRIORITIES AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SECTOR DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES ........ 32 12. ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESILIENCY SECTOR ............................................................ 34 SECTOR OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 34 SECTOR DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................. 38 NSP NATIONAL PRIORITIES AND ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AN RESILIENCY SECTOR DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................ 40 vii RMI National Strategic Plan 2015–2017 13. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT SECTOR ........................................................................................ 42 SECTOR OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 43 SECTOR DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................. 47 NSP NATIONAL PRIORITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT SECTOR DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................................................... 50 14. SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SECTOR ............................................................................ 52 SECTOR OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 53