What Kind of Aid Does the Pacific Need? (Part 1)

This learning platform has placed its primary focus on the need to improve knowledge to increase resilience to climate change and manage risks at the community level in the Pacific. One may equate that with learning solely about the impacts of climate change, but that would be a mistake. Being resilient, as we have noted on many occasions, is about improving resilience in all sectors, be it economy, education or communications.

However, the global aid discussion figures around the impacts of climate change. What with El Niño and the hottest six months ever recorded, it is no wonder. In vulnerable countries like the Pacific islands, development discussions - with donors, development partners and within government itself - have been targeting climate change adaptation. And we get that, because time is of the essence.

But many countries in the Pacific are still classified as least developed countries (LDCs) and need a lot of development finance to ensure that issues like education, healthcare and a sustainable economy are meeting the needs of the population - with or without climate change in mind.

So we’d like to talk a bit about other types of aid that is needed in the Pacific - not just climate adaptation finance.

First, we have to focus on education. Without education, it is very difficult to survive and thrive in a globalized, digitized world. Second is health care because health and nutrition is critical to being able to work and provide for a family. Third is infrastructure - particularly communications and transport infrastructure, which will keep the Pacific and Pacific islanders connected to local and regional markets, and the world. And finally, local economies and job creation. With investment in these areas, Pacific islanders will be more resilient to economic shocks, health shocks, food security issues and yes… climate change.

We know that the world is changing rapidly, and we need to be prepared for what is to come. Creating seawalls and better cyclone shelters will not be enough. Better education will lead to better understanding of our health needs, to better skills to engage with regional and global markets, and to utilize technology in our daily lives. We need to figure out how to live in a changing world, how to adapt to a more expensive world, and yet sustain local cultures and practices for the next generations. It is not an easy job, and cannot be relegated to a lesser priority in the face the threats of climate change.

In this series of articles, we’ll look at the type of aid that is needed and assess how that aid responds to local development priorities. Next up: responsive government.