2 Aug 2012

Push for more aid to help smaller Pacific states

6:28 pm on 2 August 2012

Pacific development partners are being urged to support the Pacific Islands Forum's Smaller Island States Development Fund.

The Fund supports short term development initiatives in the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu.

At an SIS officials meeting held in Suva this week the potential of the Fund to support broader areas of the Pacific Plan reflecting the priorities of smaller states was considered.

The Forum is currently trying to secure additional resources from a wider range of development partners.

The meeting also welcomed proposals to review the Pacific Plan next year, with an emphasis on the specific requirements of the smaller countries, and the potential for the development of a sub-regional SIS strategy within the Plan's framework.