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 Home Overseas Projects The Pacific Region Strategy
The Pacific Strategic Plan 2005-2008
29 March 2006
The Pacific Islands are affected by extensive social and cultural change occurring against a history of strong cultural diversity and Christianity.
Background - Program Context
Due to the constraints of finance and geography, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has decided to focus strategically on the inner Pacific ring of countries from West Papua to Fiji, which comprise Australia's closest geographical links and contain the large majority of the region's population.
Some Melanesian countries suffer from chronic political destabilisation and increasing militarisation. The Pacific program has been based on partnerships with local health, education and community organisations in New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Bougainville. Recently, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has started to work with trade unions in the Pacific to address the rapidly growing threat of HIV/AIDS.
Key issues and concerns
Common issues of concern in the Pacific are related to:
- the constraints of size, remoteness and isolation
- the impact of globalisation on small economies
- inappropriate economic development and donor driven agenda
- poor government performance and financial control
- political, ethnic and civil unrest
- unsustainable exploitation of land and marine environments
- rapid population growth and its impact on health and social problems (including youth unemployment and alienation, domestic violence, drugs and alcohol)
- low social and economic status of women and participation in unions
- rapidly emerging health problems due to HIV/AIDS and lifestyle diseases
Key strategies of Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA in the Pacific 2005-2008
- Strategic partnerships with indigenous and Australian NGOs
- Linkages with local, regional and international union organisations to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic
- Advocacy on human, labour, and indigenous rights, plus the needs of youth
- Exchange of information and close collaboration between partners, projects and NGOs
- Research for project development and evaluation
Strategic project areas/themes
Vocational education (including skills training and tools for training)
Appropriate technology and sustainable agriculture
Health including HIV/AIDS and occupational health and safety (OH&S)
Labour rights
Current projects in 2007
- Sustainable agriculture in Bougainville, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
- Quality tools for vocational training centres
- Alternative energy training in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands
- Support for Rural Training Centres in Solomon Islands
- Strategic planning and education on HIV/AIDS by trade unions in PNG
Project areas for further development
- Participatory research for sustainable agriculture and diversity
- Strengthening trade union responses to HIV/AIDS
- Community based vocational training
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