The UN committs to strengthen its support to the development prorities of Tokelau.

Advancing impactful development support for Tokelau in the next five years remains a commitment for the United Nations Country Team serving the Cook Islands Niue Samoa and Tokelau based in Apia.

The setbacks and achievements of the UN engagement and support for Tokelau in the last five years and development priorities of Tokelau for stronger and more meaningful collaborations with the UN in the future were discussed with the Tokelau Liaison Office.

‘The shortage of manpower to organize and deliver better results continues to be a challenge for the Government of Tokelau and it’s important to find a new way of working to ensure that Tokelau benefits well from the UN development support’, according to Ake Puka -Mauga of the Office of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau.

The Resident Coordinator Simona Marinescu who co-led the discussion with Tokelau also reminded the UN agencies to ensure that the joint UN development support for Tokelau is relevant with the most appropriate strategies, methodologies, and resources to deliver, considering also the lack of UN physical presence in Tokelau.

This discussion premised on the development support for Tokelau in the next two years (2023-2024) as proposed under the Country Implementation Plan.

The CIP is an integral component of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), as the planning tool that clearly informs the UN agencies of the development priorities of a country where its support, whether in financial resources or technical expertise adds value to.

The overall vision within the UNSDCF 2023-2027 is to improve the lives of the people of the Pacific and the UN for the Pacific has organized its development support under four key pillars namely, People, Planet, Prosperity and Peace.

Under the People pillar the UN envisions and aims to improve the lives of everyone through enabling access to quality essential services such as education and health; social protection services, sustainable food systems and nutrition.

The Planet Pillar aims to build resilience to shocks and disasters, climate change impacts, to ensure that the natural ecosystems and biodiversity are better protected, at the same time, their traditional knowledge and cultural values are integrated and recognized across these efforts.

The Prosperity Pillar brings together the work of the UN to ensure equal opportunities to decent jobs and livelihoods and the Peace Pillar focuses on human rights, gender equality and participation.

The four Pillars are aligned to the national development pillars of Tokelau and it was important that the UN seeks the validation on the exact development areas for successful development collaborations.

The Government of Tokelau endorsed the UNSDCF 2023-2027 in November, 2022.

Tokelau consists of three small coral atolls Atafu, Fakaofo, and Nukunonu with a total population of approximately 1400. The coral atolls provide a sustainable subsistence lifestyle but within a fragile environment.

Tokelau maintains strong social cohesion, active traditions and a strong communal culture, which places considerable emphasis on collective effort and reward.

Tokelau currently has no air transportation, and the only means of transport is by sea from Samoa (the trip usually takes between 24 and 30 hours). All travel and supplies into and out of Tokelau originate and terminate in Samoa its closest neighbour.