Vanuatu - National Report for Third International Conference

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution A/C.2/67/L.40 decided that theThird International Conference on sustainable development of small island developing states(SIDS) should convene to assess the progress and gaps in the implementation of the BarbadosProgramme of Action (BPOA) and the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI), building on,inter alia, existing reports and relevant processes (i.e., Rio+20 and post-2015 UN developmentagenda). Resolution 63/213 stressed that the review should provide the international communitywith an opportunity to conduct an assessment of the progress made, lessons learned andconstraints encountered in the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation(MSI) and agree on what needs to be done to further address the vulnerabilities of SIDS.Vanuatu shares common features of vulnerability with other SIDS. The common featuresnamely

narrow resource base, distance from markets, lack of economies of scale, low factorproductivity, small domestic markets and vulnerability to adverse environmental disasters leadso difficulties in integrating to the regional and global economy. Vanuatu has a thin economicbase which depends primarily on proceeds of tourism and agriculture, both very volatile sectors.As such the country is very vulnerable to exogenous shocks which can also affect its integrationinto the regional and the global economy.This report is a review of the way MSI has been implemented in Vanuatu integrated into nationalpolicies, achievements made to date, constraints encountered and lessons learnt by bothGovernment and Civil society in the implementation of the MSI.