PURPOSE

The PUP aims to help enable the implementation of actions arising from the Pacific Urban Forum and the Pacific New Urban Agenda by supporting the countries of the region to achieve sustainable urban development. It seeks to rally implementing partners, to mobilize resources for regional and cross-country learning and development across different sectors to achieve better integration and synergies.

BACKGROUND

The Fifth Pacific Urban Forum (PUF5) was held in Nadi, Fiji, in the first week of July 2019. Following the adoption of the New Urban Agenda and a renewed recognition of the many opportunities and challenges for the Pacific, PUF5 provided an inclusive multi-stakeholder platform for review of progress towards achieving the Pacific New Urban Agenda and for further action planning. More than 200 participants from 25 countries, including high level representation from 13 Pacific Islands countries attended the three-day Forum focused on “Accelerating the implementation of the New Urban Agenda to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the Pacific”. The event was hosted by the Government of Fiji and co-organized by a range of partners, including UN-Habitat, the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Monash University, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, UN ESCAP and Compass Housing Services.

The Forum recognized the importance of urbanization for sustainable development and agreed on long-term national planning for urbanization through national sustainable development plans, urban policies and sector plans and the implementation of good governance and effective local service delivery, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the Pacific. In order to agree on the implementation mechanisms of the Pacific Urban Agenda, the Forum undertook the following:

• Reviewed progress towards the Pacific New Urban Agenda based on country consultations and reporting, in light of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Habitat III outcomes and emerging issues.
• Adopted a declaration reaffirming the commitment towards the Pacific New Urban Agenda and its accelerated implementation to achieve sustainable urbanization in the Pacific.
• Developed an action plan with concrete voluntary country and stakeholder commitments for the implementation of the Pacific New Urban Agenda along its pillars and goals and related areas.

PUP COMMITMENTS

The members of the PUP facilitate the effective implementation of the actions arising from the Pacific Urban Forum and drive forward the outcomes envisaged by the New Pacific Urban Agenda by:

PARTNERS

Each partner brings specialist skills and capacity to the collective effort to achieve sustainable urbanisation in the Pacific region.

UN Habitat

is the United Nations agency for cities and the built environment; the custodian of SDG 11 and the New Urban Agenda. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people, human settlements and communities, reducing urban inequality, discrimination and poverty through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance and collaborative action to leave no one and no place behind. UN Habitat has Regional, multi-country and country offices in 70 countries, including offices in Fiji and Solomon Islands.

Asia and the Pacific Region | UN-HABITAT Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Fukuoka) (https://fukuoka.unhabitat.org/en/asia-and-pacific)

UN-ESCAP

the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific serves as the United Nations’ regional hub promoting cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific region. ESCAP is a regional intergovernmental platform with 53 Member States and 9 associate members, providing capacity building and insight into the evolving economic, social and environmental dynamics of the region. UN-ESCAP promotes inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in the region, with priority accorded to implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UN-ESCAP is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, along with five subregional offices including Suva, Fiji.

Environment and Development | ESCAP (https://www.unescap.org/our-work/environment-development) 

Subregional Office for the Pacific | ESCAP (https://www.unescap.org/subregional-office/pacific)

COMMONWEALTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT FORUM

is a membership organisation bringing together cities and local governments, and key stakeholders, across the Commonwealth. Since 2000 CLGF Pacific has been working as a trusted partner with a strong network to deliver capacity building to ensure that local government is well positioned to play its full role in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. CLGF Pacific promotes and strengthens democratic local government, institutions and service delivery capacity to support sustainable development across the region. Based in Suva, Fiji, CLGF Pacific works with central and provincial governments, city and town councils, in ten Pacific Island Countries.

https://www.clgf.org.uk/regions/clgf-pacific

ICLEI LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY OCEANIA

supports local governments across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific to accelerate climate action and sustainable urban development. ICLEI Oceania is part of ICLEI’s global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments in over 100 countries aiming to influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. ICLEI helps cities, towns and regions anticipate and respond to complex challenges, from rapid urbanization and climate change to ecosystem degradation and inequity. ICLEI Members work together through peer exchange, partnerships and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability.

www.icleioceania.org

EAROPH

the Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Human Settlements, is a UN registered multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral peak body for the Asia Pacific Region. EAROPH, which has Chapters in different countries and individual members, has members who are actively involved in helping local communities to work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the New Urban Agenda. EAROPH aims to build capacity and collaboration across the Pacific region in promoting sustainable human settlements. Key focus areas are SDG implementation, the informal economy, biodiversity, circular economy. The Australian Chapter is supporting a newly formed Pacific Chapter. 

www.earophaustralia.com

HOME IN PLACE

is an International NGO that provides housing options for vulnerable communities in Australia and New Zealand and engages in international development programs in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. As a member of the UN Global Compact Network Home in Place has aligned its policies and programs with the objectives of the SDGs and the NUA. Home in Place works to ensure that all people have appropriate and affordable housing and are engaged in sustainable communities by providing homes, empowering people, connecting communities and influencing the future.

SDA, Affordable & Community Housing Providers: Home In Place https://homeinplace.org

University of Melbourne Centre for Cities

is Australia’s top-ranked university, with a renewed focus on the Pacific and the key challenges faced by Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (especially health, climate change, and urbanization). The cross-faculty Melbourne Centre for Cities focusses on building new capabilities for supporting regional partnerships, specialising in the way networks, international processes, and information influence urban governance. The University’s enduring purpose is to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. The Melbourne Centre for Cities strives to link academic research to practical needs and advocate for evidence-based leadership, through research initiatives throughout the Pacific.

Melbourne Centre for Cities (https://sites.research.unimelb.edu.au/cities)

Monash University Sustainable Development Institute

is Australia’s largest and most international university, with over 70,000 students and 10,000 staff. Monash has campuses in Australia, Indonesia, China, India and Malaysia and aims to bring the best minds, technology and drive to advance the wellbeing of people and planet for current and future generations. The transdisciplinary Monash Sustainable Development Institute works to understand, influence and transform systems to achieve sustainable development in Australia and the Pacific region. This is done by collaborating with government, industry, academic and civil society partners to build knowledge and capacity, and drive practical change. The Institute works in Fiji, Marshall Islands, Tonga, and beyond.

Monash Sustainable Development Institute - Monash Sustainable Development Institute (https://monash.edu/msdi)