Micronesian countries, like many other Pacific Island nations, faces numerous development challenges, including limited natural resources, poor infrastructure, limited institutional capacity, and vulnerability to climate change. The joint programme, therefore, will adopt a multi-sectoral approach to addressing these development challenges. The joint programme focuses on supporting initiatives and projects that have the potential for transformative impact and can contribute to achieving multiple SDGs. It seeks to promote innovation, policy development and coherence through ICT development masterplans and strategies, and capacity development in implementing the SDGs, while also emphasizing the importance of leaving no one behind and reaching the most vulnerable and marginalized populations.
Under this, each PUNO plays pivotal roles. ITU aspires to empower remote island communities by bringing reliable and affordable broadband connectivity, digital services, and essential digital skills training through its innovative Smart Villages and Smart Islands model. ILO is supporting the Joint Programme focusing on the formulation of national employment policies targeting job creation in the digital economy and promoting digital entrepreneurship and MSME development while FAO is facilitating the digitalization of agrifood systems and nutrition with specific focus on digitization of Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) and the development and digitization of e-agrifood systems strategies. UNESCO supports cross-sectoral digital policy and strategies related to right to information, data protection and privacy, and inclusive ICT in education. Relatedly, UNICEF will support to strengthen multi-sectorial policy, planning and budgeting for Early Childhood Development and Nutrition. UNOPS contributes to its expertise in regional project management and digital procurement. UNODC drives the installation of AIS base stations on remote coastal locations to expand maritime surveillance, using digital connectivity to link with national operations centre for enforcement action.
The Joint Programme will provide a mechanism to coordinate and leverage resources from various stakeholders, ensuring that resources are directed towards the achievement of the SDGs in a coordinated and effective manner. The programme will work closely with UN partner agencies, the government, private sector actors, civil society organizations, and other development partners to achieve its objective.
