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The Pacific Island Forum Secretariat, referred to here as the Secretariat, is located on Ratu Sukuna Rd in the Rji capital, Suva. Within its compound there are seven office blocks, a large conference centre, a thatched fale and a staff club. Buildings were designed with high ceilings and natural ventilation, and as seen from the aerial view, the compound has extensive gardens.

Funding to support developing countries take action on climate change is projected to increase dramatically in the coming years. However, this increase in opportunities is being matched by an equally dramatic increase in complexity. This range of sources, each with their own set of rules and regulations, is often difficult to navigate, confusing and requires significant investment of a country’s limited resources to access and manage. The purpose of this national climate change finance assessment (the Nauru Case Study) is to assist the Government of Nauru (GoN) make informed decisions on measures to improve access to and management of climate change resources. It has been undertaken in response to a request from the GoN, following recent decisions made by Leaders and Economic Ministers on climate change financing.

The mandate of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) to develop frameworks for Traditional Knowledge (TK) protection arose at the Forum Trade Ministers Meeting in 1999 out of a recognition that the region’s traditional and cultural resources were being improperly exploited without due compensation to TK owners. Work on TK aims to address this on two levels through the development of regional frameworks for 1) Traditional Biological Resources (protection of traditional plants, medicinal knowledge etc), in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP); and 2) Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture (TKEC) (protection of traditional arts, songs, dances etc.), in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

The 2010 Pacific Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Tracking Report recognises that the MDGs were intended as global targets; therefore they do not need to be, nor are they necessarily expected to be achieved in each and every country. This is especially true perhaps amongst many of the Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) which already had MDG and related human development indicators above the benchmark global averages set for 1990. Further, countries were encouraged to “localize” the global indicators to suit local circumstances and priorities. In the Pacific Papua New Guinea (PNG), which was well below global averages for many indicators at the time the MDGs were agreed, has set itself more meaningful targets for many of the Goals. It has thus given itself a realistic chance of achieving substantial improvements in human development, even if they fall somewhat short of the global targets. Other countries have added their own Goals, notably Cook Islands and Niue which have identified specific additional Goals on governance and sustainable population respectively; still others have localized the goals where some indicators have not been relevant, e.g. those PICs in which malaria is not endemic have focused on reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) instead.

The care of the ocean is the responsibility of all people. The Oceans are interconnected and interdependent. covering some seventy per cent of the world's surface. They are the last great frontier and their conservation and sustainable use is vital to the well being and survial of the human race. Pacific Island communities inhabit the islands scattered throughout an Ocean across which some of the most inspiring migrations in human history have taken place, over many thousands of years. The Ocean unites Pacific Island communities more than anything else. It has supported generations of Pacific Island communities - not only as a medium for transport but also as a source of food, tradition and culture.

The Marine Sector Working group (MSWG) dates back to the late 1990s, when its primary focus was on the development of the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy (PIROP), which was finally institutionalised in 2004-2005. Unfortunately, the PIROP has not had the impact that was expected at the time of its development, and has lost some visibility in recent years.

The Marine Sector Working group (MSWG) dates back to the late 1990s, when its primary focus was on the development of the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy (PIROP), which was finally institutionalised in 2004-2005. Unfortunately, the PIROP has not had the impact that was expected at the time of its development, and has lost some visibility in recent years.