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Nauru
Voluntary National Review 2019

Nauru is the smallest Republic in the world with land area of about 8 square miles and population of 12,500. Nauru faces challenges associated with its small size, remote location and narrow production base.

Despite these challenges, the Government is committed in ensuring a sustainable quality of life for all Nauruans. Since 2014 progress have been made in some areas including improvements in the energy and economic sector. Recent economic growth has enabled investments in major capital works with the establishment of a new learning village and refurbishment of the hospital. Recently the Government was able to provide Banking and Financial Services and established the Intergenerational Trust Fund, which will generate future investment earnings. These developments would not have been possible without the assistance of development partners.

Review Process

Nauru has demonstrated its commitment to achieving the sustainable development goals through the review of its National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS). The VNR is aligned to coincide with the review process to avoid duplicating efforts. The Division of Planning and Aid Division under the Ministry for Finance spearheaded the review process with the guidance of a technical working group which was created to advise and guide the Ministry in the review process.

The consultation was an inclusive and transparent process which engaged diverse groups of stakeholders, through a series of stakeholder consultations including sector specific consultations, district open forums and questionnaire distributions. A good coverage of participation of elders, youth, and people with special challenges was recorded.

The Government recognizes the synergies between the NSDS and international frameworks, it has ensured that the 2030 agenda and the SAMOA Pathway are taken into account in the revised NSDS, providing a roadmap for the implementation of the SDG’s.

Challenges

Findings of the review indicated that only 26% of the NSDS milestones had been implemented. Factors affecting implementation included inter alia the lack of funding, staff capacity, weak coordination, land issues and unclear goals.

Nauru’s health challenges are severe with the significant burden of NCD’s. Government spends a substantive proportion of its budget on curative measures, however health standards remain poor. In the Education Sector enrolment numbers have improved however the level of truancy, retention and pass rates are still a concern.

Nauru continues to be affected by challenges, triggered by its vulnerabilities and external factors, including global environmental challenges, external economic shocks, and climate change. Climate Change has the potential to impact revenue sources received from fisheries further exacerbating economic vulnerability.

One of the main findings of the review was the need to mobilize access to, and management of, land. Projected sea level rise poses risks to Nauru’s communities and key infrastructure, concentrated mainly in the coastal areas. Therefore, relocation to higher ground is imperative and a top priority of the Government. However, relocation will not be possible without the restoration of the higher grounds. Restoration of the higher grounds and relocation process will continue to be long term initiative and will require significant donor support to succeed.

Implementing the SAMOA pathway, 2030 agenda and other internationally agreed frameworks with limited resources and capacity remains a challenge. Accessing new sources of financing will be paramount.

Next Steps

Following the review, a selection of indicators with baseline benchmarks and quantifiable indicators will be identified by implementing line agencies to measure progress. Further consultations will be undertaken with the Ministry of Finance to design the M&E systems for each priority area. Implementation will be monitored through a Three-year Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MSTF), linked to a multi-year budget.

A National Planning and Development Committee (NPDC) was established to provide a mechanism for improved coordination and consultation for monitoring and evaluating policy, and program implementation of the NSDS. The Committee is Chaired by the Minister for Finance and comprises of key heads of departments. The Planning and Aid Division with the National Bureau of Statistics provides the technical support to the Committee.

Accelerating SDG’s implementation will require focus on the implementation of National Priorities identified in the Medium Strategic Framework 2019-2023, improving national statistical systems, strengthening institutions, improving the M&E Framework, and building national capacities of Finance Ministry to support line agencies in these regards. Continued support from development partners is an important component in helping us achieve the SDGs.

Focal point
Ms. Margo Deiye
Third Secretary/Sustainable Development Advisor
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Nauru

Partnerships & Commitments
The below is a listing of all partnership initiatives and voluntary commitments where Nauru is listed as a partner or lead entity in the Partnerships for SDGs online platform
Avoid, Intercept, Redesign plastics to save our Ocean

The Government of Nauru through the Department of Commerce, Industry & Environment (CIE) is responsible for the strategic planning and regulatory aspects of waste management. Solid waste management operations including waste collection & disposal are carried out by the Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation. Municipal waste collected is taken to the landfill, the management and control of the landfill continues to be a challenge. A key concern is seepage which will cause major contamination of underground sources of water. Nauru is a net importer of goods, importing nearly all of material needs. Li...[more]

Partners
Ministry of CIE, PARLEY
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Barbados Declaration - Voluntary Commitment by Cook Islands

50% of inhabited islands electricity needs to be provided by renewable energy in 2015 and 100% by 2020 through implementing the Cook Islands Renewable Energy Chart with key strategies that: (1) Ensure the use of proven renewable electricity technology options (2) Ensure the policy and regulatory environment is aligned with the 50% by 2015 and 100% by 2020 renewable energy goal (3) Ensure ongoing education, awareness and advocacy for renewable energy and energy efficiency (4) Strengthen the required capacity to implement the Cook Islands renewable energy targets

Partners
Cook Islands, in partnership with the Governments of Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom, and UNDP.
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Barbados Declaration - Voluntary Commitment by Nauru

1. Medium to long term- At least 50% of energy demand provided by alternative sources of energy, including through renewable sources by 2015. 2. Long term milestone- Viable power generating capacity including alternative renewable energy sources by 2025

Partners
Nauru, in partnership with the Governments of Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom, and UNDP.
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
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
Nauru Awareness and Beach Clean-up Campaign

Nauru is committed to preventing and reducing marine pollution through a one week nation-wide awareness and beach clean-up campaign. The objective of the campaign is to reduce land based pollution and litter on our beaches by raising awareness to inform the public about the problems related to marine litter. This nation-wide campaign will focus on raising awareness on the impact of pollution, particularly plastics on the marine life and the environment, to prevent pollution and influence a positive change in the culture of littering.

Partners
Department of Commerce, Industry and Environment, Department of Education, Department of Womens Affairs, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Health (Civil Society) District Community Groups, Nauru Rotary, Youth Groups and Nauru Surf Club and Fishermen Association.
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
Project for reinforcing meteorological training function of FMS

Meteorological training is enhanced in the Southwest Pacific.

Partners
Southwest Pacific countries (Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu), SPC/SOPAC, USP, SPREP
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