National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2005-2015.

The present cross-sectoral National Strategy for Sustainable Development for the period 2005 to 2015 embodies the country’s general vision how to achieve the highest quality of life for every citizen of the island of Tuvalu. The Plan consists of 13 Chapters as follows: The Vision (1); Millennium Development Goals (2); Challenges and Constraints (3); Strategic Framework (4); Good Governance (5); Economy Growth and Stability (6); Social Development (7); Falekaupule and Outer Islands (8); Private Sector and Employment (9); Education and Human Resources (10); Natural Resources (11); Infrastructure and Support Services (12); Implementation and Monitoring (13). One Annex is enclosed listing the Millennium Development Goals as follows: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger (1); Achieve Universal Primary Education (2); Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women (3); Reduce Child Mortality (4); Improve Maternal Health (5); Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases (6); Ensure Environmental Sustainability (7); Develop a Global Partnership for Development (8).
SO2: Chapter 11 on Natural Resources deals with objectives and suggested strategies for the improvement of agriculture, fisheries and the environment. Some of the key policy targets for agriculture are to:1) increase the availability of land for agricultural production; 2) increase production and consumption of local produce; 3) mitigate climate change-related agricultural impact. The strategies that shall be adapted are the following: Improve and expand agricultural extension services; Create more opportunities to educate and train agriculturalists; Expand availability of basic agricultural tools and equipment; Assist private entrepreneurs to produce and market local produce; Assist with access to land and credit; Incorporate more agricultural subjects into school curriculums. Elsewhere in the document it is established that women shall be provided with small business and entrepreneurial training, and access to appropriate credit facilities. Also the management of fisheries resources- inshore and EEZ shall be improved by, inter alia, increasing revenue from fish licensing and formulating and implementing a clear, coherent and integrated fisheries sector development programme. As far as the environment is concerned, Tuvalu is ranked one of the most environmentally vulnerable states in the region. Largely because of its low relief and small land area. The key risks confronting the environment are: sea level rise as a result of climate change; rising population density in Funafuti; decline in traditional resource management; unsustainable use of natural resources; and poor waste management and pollution control. To remedy this situation the following strategies shall be implemented: 1) Develop and implement an urban and waste management plan for Funafuti; 2) Establish national climate change adaptation and mitigation policies; 3) Encourage international adoption of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol; 4) Increase the number of conservation areas and ensure regulatory compliance.
SO3: It has to be underlined that real poverty does not exist in Tuvalu; nevertheless those who live in the outer islands, or in large families (both in Funafuti and the outer islands), the disabled, the less educated, and those without access to land (where they reside), are often at a disadvantage and suffer from what can be described as a ‘poverty of opportunity’. To this end it is essential to monitor the incidence of poverty and hardship through regular household surveys. Also the standard of governance, management and administration shall be improved. Furthermore, better infrastructure (water storage, roads, jetties, causeways/bridges, seawalls, airfields, power, and other infrastructure, including renewable energy technologies, communications/internet, and sanitation shall be provided.
SO4: Chapter 11 on Natural Resources deals with objectives and suggested strategies for the improvement of agriculture, fisheries and the environment. One of the key challenges will be to revitalize and expand agriculture extension services, encourage people to once again turn to local rather than imported foods for better nutrition health, and improve transport and marketing of local produce. Some causes for the poor output are lack of proper facilities to keep and market poultry and livestock which has resulted in an increasing reliance on imported products; lack of suitable land for gardening, declining outer island populations, increasing urbanization, declining interest in traditional agriculture practices, distance to export markets, and poor local market access for those who do wish to produce cash crops. Moreover, there are in some parts deteriorating growing conditions through environmental changes including salination. To remedy this state of affairs the following strategies shall be implemented: 1) Improve and expand agricultural extension services; 2) Create more opportunities to educate and train agriculturalists; 3) Expand availability of basic agricultural tools and equipment; 4) Assist private entrepreneurs to produce and market local produce; 5) Assist with access to land and credit; 5) Incorporate more agricultural subjects into school curriculums. As far as fisheries are concerned the key issues and challenges are: 1) Improve resource management and marketing of local fish catches; 2) Reduce subsidies to Commercial Fishing Centres (CFC) 3) Move these Centres toward a more commercial footing leased to private operators, or transferred to the Kaupule; 4) Commercial operations; and management of National Fisheries Corporation of Tuvalu (NAFICOTs) long-line fishing venture; and 5) better manage and increase fish licensing revenue. To achieve these objectives the following strategies shall be implemented: 1) Efforts will focus on better resource management; 2) Shifting commercial development to the private sector; and not allowing government enterprises to undercut local commercial fishermen; 3) Implementing the strategies will depend on close cooperation in transport, private sector development, education and training, island Kaupule, and with development partners In Chapter 4 dealing with Strategic Framework it is stated that infrastructure and support services and reliable, competitively priced economic infrastructure and utilities are an essential requirement for sustainable development of natural resources. Without these supporting services it will be impossible to attract investment, create employment, new wealth and opportunities for the people. The strategies will put in place whatever support services are needed which provide the nation with a satisfactory quality of service at a reasonable price. Chapter 7.4 deals with gender issues coming to the conclusion that although Tuvalu rated first among 15 Pacific Island countries based on UNDP’s gender development ratio, more work remains to be done, such as promote gender equity and expand the role of women in development. Therefore, the following strategies are proposed: 1) Integrate the role of women, and the issue of gender and development in implementing Te Kakeega II strategies; 2) Review laws governing the distribution of land and the custodial rights of women; 3) Provide women with small business and entrepreneurial training, and access to appropriate credit facilities.
SO5: The main risk factors in Tuvalu are sea level rise and salination. In Chapter 2 entitled “Millennium Development Goals” two items address climate change as follows: Environmental sustainability is crucial to meeting most if not all of the MDG targets, which in particular will require additional funding and technical assistance to adapt to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise; Medium and long-term MDG trends could suddenly change due to climate events, which in turn could rapidly trigger severe shortages of food, water and shelter and a high vulnerability to disease - hallmarks of poverty. Also Chapter 11 on Natural Resources sets forth as one of its objectives to mitigate climate change-related agricultural impacts.