The Pacific

The Midterm Review of ADB's Pacific Strategy 2005-2009 sets out key initiatives implemented under the Strategy to support development in the 14 Pacific developing member countries, i.e., Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The Midterm Review also sets out the next steps to be taken by ADB in the region. These next steps include the better targeting of ADB resources by providing more emphasis on physical infrastructure, a more explicit focus on governance, and the recognition of the need for a longer-term, more flexible approach to capacity development. Under the refined Strategy, there will also be a deeper engagement with private sector and civil society groups.

This report results from the implementation of ADB's governance policy in the Pacific region. It provides an overview of governance issues, strengths, and weaknesses in ADB's Pacific developing member countries (PDMCs); and it aims to improve the understanding of the governance environment, both in individual countries and the region as a whole, and as the basis for a more focused policy dialogue with PDMC governments on areas where development partners, and ADB in particular, can help make development assistance more effective.

ADB recently launched an initiative to gain sharper insights into the issues inhibiting private sector development in the Pacific region. This publication contributes to the discussion by taking a hard look at the problems, evaluating them against international experience and best practices, and raising critical issues. Options and potential solutions to address these are offered to both governments and donors.

The goal of this strategy is to improve learning outcomes for the poor and disadvantaged in the Pacific. ADB support would enhance the supply of and demand for equity, quality and relevance of education services.

The Pacific Region Environmental Strategy (PRES) is the result of a regional technical assistance funded by ADB and the Government of New Zealand. The study covers:

• a review of key environmental issues and main response strategies in the Pacific
• an assessment of past environment-related assistance by ADB and other development partners
• an identification of priority areas for intervention to map out future