People inform the development direction for the next five years.

The United Nations has heard it.

From political uncertainties, deteriorating health conditions, adverse climate change impacts on the ocean and environment, increased unemployment, education system gaps, gender-based violence, socio-economic challenges amplified by the Covid 19 restrictions, most importantly are the challenges that the UN has not yet captured and addressed through its development support.

Just a few,  from a long list of challenges that were voiced by the government, the private sector and the civil societies during the consultations on the preliminary report of the first Common Country Analysis (CCA) for Samoa.

The consultations on the preliminary CCA report according to the UN Resident Coordinator Simona Marinescu, allows the UN to better understand the development challenges and to be best prepared to address the challenges that emerge through evolving country contexts

The consultations to validate the CCA were informative and insightful.

In the consultation with the relevant government ministries, the UN was advised to ensure through the CCA, that the UN Development Cooperation Framework, (the UN five-year strategic development plan) is relevant and is adequately resourced to address the most pressing economic and social challenges that are prioritized in the country's national development strategy.

The COVID 19 restrictions on trade and tourism have struck the private sector negatively, in addition, the shortage of skilled manpower or tradesmen due to overseas seasonal employment schemes and the limited opportunities to strengthen local entrepreneurial skills and talents.

The consultations with civil societies that included faith-based organizations, village women, traditional leaders, youth, fa'afafine and fa'atama (transgender community), academia and researchers, women in sports and persons with disabilities, brought to the forefront the concerns of the people over climate change, health issues, gender inequality, unemployment and food systems.

Even the civil societies in Savaii, (the biggest island of the four islands of Samoa), were not left out in this process.

“To recognize the voice of the civil societies, especially our members in Savaii, in the planning process for UN development support is unprecedented and we are quite happy for this opportunity”, said Mataafa Faatino Utumapu, an advocate and a strong leader of persons with disabilities.

During the community consultations, the Samoa National Council of Women asked the UN to provide more economic empowerment opportunities for village women and strengthen gender-based violence prevention and response services at the village level.

The concerns of the youth and young women on some of the social issues affecting them also came through and they call on the UN to strengthen their programmes on youth suicide due to cyberbullying, unemployed university graduates, teenage pregnancy and drug and alcohol use. 

The traditional leaders told the UN that the success of all development projects at the village level lies within their authority to enforce village by-laws, discipline and protect youth and young women, respect the rights and contributions of women, persons with disabilities, fa'afafine and fa'atama (transgender) in village decision making and development affairs.

The consultations also raised solutions for the UN to consider. The ministries, the private companies and the people also told the UN about the relevant processes, approaches and values that can guarantee reliable collaborations to overcome the development barriers and can steer progress towards reaching development targets for a safe planet and a prosperous life for everyone.  

The CCA will be revised with information from the consultations and the final CCA will inform the design of a relevant and high-quality UN Development Cooperation Framework (UNDCF) that is harmonized with the development needs and priorities of the Government of Samoa.

The UN Resident Coordinator Office is also leading the process to develop the CCA for the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.

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About the CCA | The basis of the UN Development Cooperation Framework and the Joint Country Action Plans (JCAP) for the UN MCO for the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau.

The CCA is a process that the UN undertakes in preparation for its five-year strategic development plan. The process analyses the current economic trends, social challenges and the political situation of Samoa, to determine the gaps, vulnerabilities and opportunities with which the UN can assess, structure and exert its expertise and knowledge through relevant development programs and support, ensuring stable progress towards fulfilling the national development goals, at the same time contributing to the success of the 2030 Agenda.

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development demands a UN development system that is relevant and responsive to a country’s development priorities and people’s needs. It requires rights-based programming for the agenda 2030 that is underpinned by robust national analysis, a renewed push for collective action and partnerships, and a laser-like focus on helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leaving no one behind. That is the spirit embedded in the new Internal Guidance for the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, a centrepiece of our reform process.

The Cooperation Framework begins and ends with an analysis of the national development landscape and SDG priorities, including through the lens of the imperative to leave no one behind.  This analysis has shifted from a one-off event to a “real-time” core analytical function, where the UN Country Team are required to conduct the Common Country Analysis (CCA) as it underpins the Cooperation Framework and the CCA allows the UN to better understand and address the development challenges that emerge through evolving country contexts.

The UN Country Team under the leadership of the Resident Coordinators Office leads the process to draft and present the CCA for validation.