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Micronesia (Federated States of)
Voluntary National Review 2020

“Striving towards Self Reliance and Maintaining Sustainability”

Introduction

The Constitution of the FSM – ratified in 1978 at the dawn of the Federation’s young nationhood – states: “We affirm our common wish to live together in peace and harmony, to preserve the heritage of the past, and to protect the promise of the future...to become the proud guardian of our own islands, now and forever.”

This nation of 607 islands, atolls and islets, spread across 2.6M square kilometers of the Western Pacific Ocean is fully committed to implementing Agenda 2030, at the National level and within the four island States of Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap. FSM identified 89 SDG targets, with an accompanying 90 SDG indicators, linked to the FSM Strategic Development Plan, 2004-2023 (SDP).

The current implications of the COVID19 crisis must now also be factored into our efforts to implement the SDGs, wherethe Federation has been redirecting resources to proactively implement measures to prevent this virus from entering our shores to protect and maintain sustainable communities;

Implementing the SDGs into the State and National Processes

The SDP is a national strategy that seeks to achieve sustainable economic growth and self-reliance. It prioritizes sustainable development through the sectors of Health, Education, Agriculture, Fisheries, Private Sector Development, Transportation, Communication and the cross-cutting sector of Energy, many having their own policies that align to the SDP and SDGs. In addition:

  • In July 2016, the FSM established the SDG Working Group (WG). This internal coordination mechanism draws from Departments and associated agencies within the government soliciting input from civil society actors and the chambers of commerce. A critical component of the SDG WG is the establishment of State Focal Points (SFPs) for effective implementation and reporting; and,

Main Messages for the Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development Goals in the FSM May 1, 2020

  • FSM has prioritized the production and use of data to monitor SDGs and inform national policies and programming, through the upcoming 2020 Census of Population & Housing, the Household income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), including a multi-dimensional Poverty Index, National Social Indicators Survey, a draft Strategy for Development of Statistics (SDS) 2020-2024, a national SDG dashboard developed based on assessment of the SDGs in 2017, and a comprehensive performance audit of the implementation of the SDGs.

Challenges and Potential Areas of Support

    Although the UN has agreed in principle to the request to set up a Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Micronesia, the accelerated establishment of this entity is a critical step needed for the on-theground support and expertise to achieve our national sustainable development goals and accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, including strategic support to human rights frameworks, such as CEDAW, CRC, CRPD and the ICPD25 Nairobi commitments;
  • Though negotiations are forthcoming, the termination of the funding provisions (Title II of US Public Law 108-188) of the Amended Compact of Free Association Treaty with the United States, which provides major support to key sectors in supporting public infrastructure and socioeconomic prerogatives, looms. Coupled with limited human resource capacity in priority sectors such as education and health, delivery of necessary services to FSM citizens will be impacted;
  • Our livelihood as a Big Ocean State is threatened by the existential threat of climate change, overfishing and vulnerability to natural disasters and sudden shocks like COVID-19. More support for developing social protection and preparedness and recovery will be needed, particularly in the areas of health, sanitation, waste management, education, gender, and critical water and food security.
  • Data related complexities remain a significant challenge in defining targets for the prioritized indicators for monitoring SDGs in the FSM.

Conclusion

The year 2020 has been coined the Decade of Action because we have only 10 years to accelerate our efforts to implement the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. To stand up and be counted among the nations of the world, a country must have something of value. The FSM has value in its proud history, its vibrant cultures, its progressive values, its vaunted ecosystems, and a heritage of living in peace and harmony with our environment. FSM values its people as a fundamental resource to progress the 2030 Agenda, and will therefore continue to pursue gender equality, universal access to health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights of all citizens, and ensuring safe and dignified lives, particularly women, girls and adolescents.

Focal point
Mr. Marion Henry
Assistant Secretary
Department of Economic Affairs
Kolonia

Documents & Reports

National Reports
Report Topics covered Process
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Partnerships & Commitments
The below is a listing of all partnership initiatives and voluntary commitments where Micronesia (Federated States of) is listed as a partner or lead entity in the Partnerships for SDGs online platform
A Jurisdictional Implementation of the Micronesia Challenge

The Micronesia Challenge is a commitment by the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, Territory of Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to preserve the natural resources that are crucial to the survival of Pacific traditions, cultures and livelihoods. The overall goal of the Challenge is to effectively conserve at least 30% of the near-shore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020. To effectively achieve this commitment and further its jurisdictional implementation, the...[more]

Partners
Refer to http://www.micronesiachallenge.org/
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Chuuk Lagoon Pacific Ocean Emergency Response - Safeguarding Underwater Cultural Heritage

To assist Pacific SIDS, in particular Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), in the preservation of their underwater cultural heritage in an Emergency Situation. It also addresses urgent and serious risks related to environmental hazards emanating from certain World War II shipwreck sites in the Pacific, taking Chuuk Lagoon as an example case for the region.

Partners
Relevant National Organization/Agency, Chuuk State Government, University of Guam and UNESCO
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Country Action on the Parties to the Nauru Agreement's Third Implementation Agreement Program (FSM Public Law 19-169)

"To amend sections 101, 102, 103, 106, 204,205,303, 402, 404, 407, 603,606, 611, 701, 907, 910 and 911 of title 24 of the Code of the Federated States of Micronesia, as amended by Public Law No. 18-109, in order to enhance the ability of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia to enforce, in its territory or exclusive economic zone and other zones where FSM-flagged or FSM licensed vessels undertake fishing activities, the national fishery laws, regulations, and the international obligations including those in the Third Implementing Arrangement of the Parties to the Nauru Agreemen...[more]

Partners
Members of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Federated States of Micronesia's 24 Mile Closure (FSM's Public Law 19-167)

To amend title 24 of the Code of the Federated States of Micronesia, by inserting a new section 505, that declares as a closed area, the twelve mile area seaward of the territorial sea, not to extend beyond twenty-four nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, prohibiting commercial fishing and exploitation of natural resources thereon, and for other purposes.

Partners
National Government, State Governments, NGO, Private Sector, and the Communities
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Federated States of Micronesia's Shark By-Catch Amendment (FSM Public Law 19-167)

To further amend sections 503, 913 and 914 of title 24 of the Code of the Federated States of Micronesia, as amended by Public Laws No. 18-108 and 19-21, to allow the disposal at sea of by-catch after recording the by-catch in a daily catch report form, to allow for alternate methods of the reporting and disposal of sharks, to clarify the standards for criminal and civil penalties and to allow for clarification of the penalty provision, and for other purposes.

Partners
Relevant National Organizations/Agencies, Civil Society Partners, Regional/International Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Forum Compact - A Pacific Regional Enabling Mechanism to Achieve Sustainable Development

The Pacific is home to one third of the 52 Small Island Developing States in the world. With the exception of PNG, the rest of the Pacific SIDS are constrained by small administrations and limited economies of scale. Despite universal support for the MDGs, MSI and the high per capita ODA in the Pacific, the region is off track in achieving most of the MDGs by 2015 . Recognising this, the Pacific Isalands Forum Leaders in 2009 agreed to the (Cairns) Forum Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination. The Compact comprises various initiatives including: i) annual Millennium Development G...[more]

Partners
Pacific Islands Forum members: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. Development Partners & Organisations : ADB, EU, France, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Secretariat of the Pacif...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Implementation of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement's Vessel Day Scheme

To place effort control on the skipjack fisheries

Partners
Parties to the Nauru Agreement Members and Supporting Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries (J-PRISM)

The objective of the J-PRISM Partnership is two-fold, firstly to strengthen and develop national waste management systems and human capacity in Pacific SIDS through partnership with Pacific SIDS, SPREP and the Government of Japan; and secondly to promote the regional sharing of knowledge and expertise and encourage the eventual uptake of good waste management practices in Pacific SIDS.Good waste management is a vital component of national sustainable development, since poorly managed waste has negative impacts on areas such as public health, environment, and tourism. By strengthening the syste...[more]

Partners
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) International Labour Organization (ILO) Member Countries (11 countries) Federated States of Micronesia Republic of the Fiji Islands Republic of Kiribati Republic of Marshall Islands Republic of Palau Independent State of Papua New Guinea Independent State of Samoa Solomon Island...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Lighthouses Initiative

IRENA has developed the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative to support the strategic deployment of renewable energy in SIDS, to bring clarity to policy makers regarding the required steps, and to enable targeted action. As a joint effort of SIDS and development partners, this framework for action will assist in transforming SIDS energy systems through the establishment of the enabling conditions for a renewable energy-based future, by moving away from developing projects in isolation to a holistic approach that considers all relevant elements spanning from policy and market frameworks, through technol...[more]

Partners
Antigua and Barbuda, Mauritius, Bahamas, Nauru, Barbados, Palau, Cabo Verde, Samoa, Comoros, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cook Islands, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Fiji, Seychelles, Grenada, Solomon Islands, Guyana, Tonga, Kiribati, Trinidad and Tobago, Maldives, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Federated States of Micronesia, ENEL, New Zealand, European Union, Norway, France, SE4ALL, Germany, ...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Micronesia Challenge

The Micronesia Challenge is a commitment by five governments—the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the U.S. Territory of Guam and the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands — to effectively conserve at least 30% of the near-shore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020. The Challenge has grown into a network supported by over 50 partners globally and has seen enormous progress.

Partners
The Federated States of Micronesia The Republic of the Marshall Islands The Republic of Palau The US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands The US Territory of Guam Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT) The Nature Conservancy Conservation International (CI) Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) Bat Conservation International Chuuk Conservation Society College of Marshall Island...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Oceania 21

Noumea Communique2nd Oceania 21 ConferenceNoumea, 2 July 20141. The 2nd Oceania 21 Conference (Oceania 21), organised by the New Caledonian Government, with the support of France, and was chaired in turn by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Vanuatu, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu and the President of the Marshall Islands, currently Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Partners
New Caledonia, France, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Nauru, Niue, Palau,Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, SPREP, Prince Albert II of Monaco, the French Research for Development Institute (IRD) and Green Cross and Ocean Futures Soc...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Pacific Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Network

The network enables effective knowledge sharing and advocacy on the practical application of Integrated Water Resources Management approaches to address key water resource, catchment and coastal management challenges in Pacific Island Countries

Partners
SPC; Global Environment Facility (GEF); Pacific SIDS including Cook Islands, FSM, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, RMI, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu; UNDP; UNEP; University of the South Pacific; International Water Centre (IWC).
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM)

Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting is a summit-level meeting which has been held every three years since 1997. Leaders openly discuss various issues that Pacific Island Countries(PICs) are facing in order to build close cooperative relationships and forge a bond of friendship between Japan and PICs. The 7th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM7) was held in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan, on 22 and 23 May, 2015. At this summit, under the slogan of "We are Islanders - Commitment to the Pacific from Iwaki,

Partners
Government of Japan in cooperation with Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management

The Partnership will support Pacific SIDS in meeting their obligations to implement and effectively enforce global, regional and sub-regional arrangements for the conservation and management of transboundary oceanic fisheries thereby increasing sustainable benefits derived from these fisheries

Partners
Pacific SIDS: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Vanuatu with UNDP, FAO, Global Environment Facility (GEF), Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Parties to the Nauru Agreement
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Pacific Solarisation for Head of State Residences Initiative

The Pacific Islands Development Forum is partnering with PIDF Member Countries (including Fiji, Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) and Solar Head of State to facilitate the installation of solar energy infrastructure to power residences of heads of state of eleven PIDF member countries and the PIDF Headquarters to promote renewable energy in the Pacific This project will be a symbolic statement of intent by the governments, and also a test project to encourage more future grid-connected solar projects on the...[more]

Partners
Pacific Islands Development Forum, Solar Head of State and Government of Fiji, Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
PacSIDS Ridge to Reef Programme Partnership

The goal of the Pacific Islands National Priorities Multi-Focal Area ‘Ridge-to-Reef’ (R2R) program is to maintain and enhance Pacific Island countries’ ecosystem goods and services (provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural) through integrated approaches to land, water, forest, biodiversity and coastal resource management that contribute to poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience. This goal will be achieved through a series of national multi-focal area R2R demonstration projects which will support and address national priorities and development needs whi...[more]

Partners
Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Samoa with the GEF, UNDP, FAO, UNEP and SPC.
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Protecting Children from Violence, Abuse and Exploitation in the Pacific

Outcome 1: Child Protection Systems (including Justice and Police, child and family social services, health and education and communities) provide improved quality of and access to services for the prevention of and response to violence, abuse and exploitation of children at all times.Outcome 2 Parents, caregivers, and children demonstrate skills, knowledge and behavior enabling children to grow up in caring homes and communities, including schools that are free from violence, abuse and exploitation.

Partners
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of Australia UNICEF Governments of Nauru, Palau, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Tuvalu
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
United Nations