Catalog

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p. 14 of 29 BACK | NEXT Executive Summary I. Introduction II. Development Challenges III. Key Variables Influencing Development A. Vulnerability B. Political Stability and Good Governance C. Capacity and Skills D. Sociocultural Context E. Population Growth Rates F. Physical, Technological, and Financial Infrastructure IV. External Assistance V. Review of ADB Assistance and Strategy VI. The New Pacific Strategy

A Pacific Strategy for the New Millennium : III. Key Variables Influencing Development

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E. Population Growth Rates

35. The rate of population growth continues to be worrisome. In most PDMCs, improved health conditions have added to longevity. Populations in Melanesia and parts of Micronesia⁹ continue to grow rapidly because of high fertility. For instance, the growth rate of the RMI is 3.6 percent and that of the Solomon Islands is 3.3 percent. In most of Polynesia,¹⁰ population growth remains largely stable reflecting substantial migration to New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

36. The single biggest challenge is to generate wage- and income-earning opportunities for rapidly growing labor forces. Given no expansion in public sector employment, and the inability of the private sector to absorb new labor force entrants, current population growth rates will result in ever-increasing levels of unemployment. This in turn will have adverse impacts on poverty levels as is already happening in the RMI and the Solomon Islands, and is beginning to occur in PNG.

37. At the root of the population problem is the inability of education services to reach out to the people, particularly the women. This is particularly the case in Melanesia and Micronesia. Admittedly, providing the necessary education services, particularly to females in the rural areas, is not easy. Government budgets continue to be strained. The capacity of education agencies is weak. The topography of many PDMCs makes the task doubly difficult. NGOs do play an important role, but their number and resources in the PDMCs remain seriously limited. Government commitment to this problem and innovative methods and approaches are urgently needed if population growth is to be addressed.

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