Palau Development Plan 2023-2026.

The long-term vision of the Palau Development Plan is to substantially enhance the quality of life of current and future generations of Palauans. The medium-term outcome is to establish social, cultural, environmental, economic, and governance processes and programs by 2026 to achieve its vision. The timeframe of the policy is 4 years covering the period from 2023 to 2026. The targets of this Plan are to: (i) improve standards of living, (ii) reaffirm Palauan culture and identity, (iii) protect the environment in a sustainable manner and increase its resilience to the impacts of climate change,(iv) restore economic growth, and (v) strengthen good governance.
The quality of Palauans’ lives will be improved by increasing the livelihood opportunities, with a special emphasis on the rural and outer island communities; coping with non-communicable diseases; improving the quality of education; and building a social protection framework. Good quality and affordable basic services will be accessible to all to make Palauans healthy, educated, food-secure, and productive people.
Education programs will be conducted to raise awareness and promote Palauan cultural and natural heritage. Economic growth and development will be achieved in line with the protection of cultural and natural resources to mitigate environmental, historical, or cultural losses. The restoration of cultural sites will be prioritized and a functioning network of cultural centers will be provided.
The Government will take necessary measures for protecting the environment and increase the resilience of Palau to the impacts of climate change. Investments that accommodate the environment and climate change will be attracted. Disaster risk management will be strengthened to minimize the loss and damage. Measures will be undertaken to control pollution and degradation. Priority will be given to waste disposal, sewerage, potable water, energy and land erosion. Biodiversity conservation will be ensured and the protection of endangered species will be strengthened. The Development Plan underlines the importance of forests, protected areas, freshwater resources, environmental governance, and land use planning.
Economic growth will be achieved through the implementation of new land and labor policies in support of both social and economic growth, improvement of fiscal situation, and reform of public finances. Economic growth will be diversified by providing support for small businesses and for more tourism products and skills in tourism. Employment opportunities will be increased in urban areas, especially for higher paying jobs.
Overall production and productivity will be increased in the agriculture sector through better management of natural resources, review and update of the existing regulatory framework, and development of comprehensive agriculture and food system planning and coordination and a comprehensive local food production and consumption campaign. Agricultural extension and support services will be expanded, especially in livestock, fruit, and vegetables sub-sectors. Employment opportunities in the food sector will be increased to help improve food security and to diversify the economy. Climate-resilient and culturally and environmentally sustainable farms will be expanded among the communities. Technical support will be provided for commercializing and diversifying root crop processing. An online marketing mechanism will be developed, and detailed surveys and data collection will be carried out. Control measures on invasive species will be strengthened. Best practices will be implemented in erosion and sedimentation control for soil health. The nurseries and compost facilities will be expanded. Organic agriculture will be promoted. Energy systems will be provided, protected and maintained on an efficient and equitable basis. The use of renewable energy resources will be promoted to ensure financially and economically self-sustainable energy supply.
The Development Plan addresses marine and inland fisheries and aquaculture. Data collection, monitoring, adaptive management and capacity building will be strengthened in the fields of coastal and pelagic fisheries and aquaculture. Relevant fishery laws, policies and best practices, including spatial plans, will be updated. Research will be conducted to develop stock and harvest assessments, market studies and goods-and-services value evaluations, sustainable use parameters, and climate projections and adaptation needs for nearshore, offshore, and invertebrate fisheries. Institutional capacity will be expanded to realize blue economy. The engagement and participation in bilateral, regional, and international fisheries dialogues will be expanded. Domestic tuna fisheries and aquaculture will be developed through innovative business models or digital marketplaces that may involve both the Government and the private sector. Enforcement capacities of communities will be improved to strengthen fisheries management and conservation. Investments will be allocated to the critical infrastructure of aquaculture and fisheries supply chains, including research capacity to track the impacts of climate change, and improve access to loans for businesses.