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This report represents the World Bank's experience in climate and disaster resilient development, and contends that such development is essential to eliminating extreme poverty and achieving shared prosperity by 2030. The report recognizes however, that such development requires additional start-up costs, which pay off in the long run if done correctly. Given this, the report argues for closer collaboration between the climate resilience and disaster management communities, and the incorporation of climate and disaster resilience into broader development processes. Selected case studies are used throughout this report to illustrate promising approaches, lessons learned and remaining challenges.

The nine Pacific Island countries (PICs)1 covered in this regional strategy face similar development challenges today despite notable differences in history, culture, and endowments. The lack of economic growth in the face of growing populations has contributed to rising unemployment and hardship in the region. Even those countries that have seen positive growth in per capita income have been unable to fully translate this into adequate job creation and poverty reduction. With over 50 percent of the region's population under age 24, steady rural-to-urban migration, and the erosion of traditional systems of social support, all PICs recognize the importance of dealing with the issue of youth unemployment and its associated social problems.