National Sustainable Development Plan 2006-2010.

The National Sustainable Development Plan is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. The timeframe of this Plan is 5 years between 2006 and 2010. The purpose of this Plan is to build a sustainable future that meets the economic and social needs of the present and future generations in partnership with the government, the private sector and the local, regional and international stakeholders, through prudent economic management, environmental integrity, and social stability.
Food and nutrition security will be ensured through increased production of economically viable food products that are nutritious and safe. The access to safe drinking water will be increased by developing the Integrated Water Resources Management Policy to guide supply and demand management of water in each island.
In order to ensure sustainable use and management of natural resources and the environment, policy framework will be developed in the fields of marine resources, offshore fisheries, pearl farming, coastal fisheries, land use planning, agriculture, livestock, food safety and security, biodiversity conservation, waste, climate change, water resources, plant and animal health, and quarantine. Agricultural development will be achieved in an environmentally sustainable manner taking into account sustainable use of land and other natural resources, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.
The equitable participation of young people of all gender and cultural groups will be encouraged in the development of Cook Islands to reflect their special needs in each sector strategy and plan. Moreover, special emphasis will be given on the participation of girls and women in the development processes with the aim of addressing their needs and benefits and increasing the access to economic development opportunities. The community based support for people with disability, aged and young will be increased. The general health and wellbeing of the Cook Islanders will be increased through equitable and cost effective access to quality health services.
Economic growth will be achieved through sound macroeconomic management of the economy that promotes equitable and sustainable economic development. National Private Sector Development Strategy will be adopted and implemented for promoting entrepreneurship and investment, promoting environmentally sustainable development through corporate social responsibility, and strengthening programs to promote small business entrepreneurship and access to business funds. Tourism industry will be developed taking into account the protection of environment and cultural heritage. Education systems will be improved to increase the quality and standards of education in order to ensure equitable access on all islands to quality education for primary and secondary school children. In addition, human resource development will be enhanced on all islands, focusing on providing foundational skills and specialized vocational and technical training. The consumption and production of quality food will be promoted to sustain a healthy and productive life. To this end, a National Food Safety and Nutrition Plan of Action will be developed for consumer protection through awareness raising and information sharing, and production and consumption of nutritious and safe food. The management of solid, liquid and other forms of wastes will be strengthened to minimize the negative impacts on human health and the environment. Legal and policy frameworks will be developed for sustainable water resources management. A National Quarantine Strategy will be developed and implemented for reducing the risk of introduction of alien plant and animal pests and diseases and the risk of their spread and establishment in the Cook Islands, through community awareness, improved quarantine services and border control, and other technical and institutional control mechanisms. The reliance on high greenhouse gas based fossil fuel will be reduced by identifying and adopting technically feasible and financial viable alternative energy sources and increasing the use of renewable energy. Good governance will be strengthened across all sectors and between the central government agencies, Outer Islands Administration and the Island Councils and the legal systems will be developed to ensure access to justice for all Cook Islanders. Sectoral and national information systems will be strengthened to support evidence-based development planning, monitoring and reporting under the national development plan and in compliance with the regional and international commitments. Cultural heritage will be protected through preservation and restoration of historical sites.
A coordinated and effective national disaster risk reduction and management system will be established for all hazards. The resilience to disasters will be increased through climate change adaptation and mitigation and capacity building at the local and institutional level. Moreover, National Pandemics Prevention and Response Strategy will be developed for the management of pandemics, such as the avian flu and SARS.