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"Official organ of the League of California Municipalities and of the League of Pacific Northwest Municipalities." ; Mode of access: Internet.

The small Pacific Island Countries (PICs) face unique constraints which pose public financing challenges beyond those faced by other small island developing states. The PICs also face frequent natural disasters and climate-related impacts which have destructive effects on livelihoods and the capital stock. Further compounding these challenges, the process of accessing finance from development partners after a disaster can be lengthy, difficult, and uncertain, the resulting allocation of resources across projects and sectors may not be optimal, and the overall envelope of available finance is often insufficient to return the physical capital stock to its pre-disaster level. This paper provides a quantitative assessment of the outlook for government finances in the PICs over the next 25 years. Section one gives introduction. Section two assesses current public expenditure and revenue trends in the PICs and presents a range of scenarios for the evolution of government finances through to 2040. Section three examines longer-term prospects for meeting these financing needs, including via official development assistance, trust fund flows, and debt. Section four considers how the PICs' capacity to meet their financing needs will be affected by the extent to which they take advantage of the revenue- and growth-enhancing opportunities described in the other Pacific possible background papers. Section five examines whether there is scope to improve the modalities, terms, and timing of aid delivery, including in response to natural disaster. Development assistance currently plays a key role in supporting public service delivery in the Pacific, and this role is likely to remain important over the next 25 years: working together to ensure that aid is provided as efficiently as possible is therefore of paramount importance. Due to the region's high and increasing exposure to external shocks, the development of more effective financial risk management instruments will also be critical. This paper examines each of these areas of financial collaboration.

Editor: Aug. 1899- H.A. Mason (with W. J. Locke, Feb. 1908- ; "A monthly review of municipal problems and civic improvements." ; July 1932 not published. ; Mode of access: Internet. ; Official organ of the League of California Municipalities, the League of Pacific Northwest Municipalities, and the Board of Supervisors Association of the State of California.

This report grew out of the efforts of a joint ADB–Commonwealth project team. It surveys the challenges and opportunities facing the Forum membership. It looks to economic theory to highlight lessons for regionalism in the Pacific. It demonstrates that benefits can be secured by the Forum membership from closer cooperation and integration, and proposes ways in which the inevitable costs can be offset. It provides insights from other regions, while showing that the experiences of other regions, however successful they may be, cannot also be introduced in the Pacific region without careful consideration of its own unique history, diversity, and geography.

This report grew out of the efforts of a joint ADB–Commonwealth project team. It surveys the challenges and opportunities facing the Forum membership. It looks to economic theory to highlight lessons for regionalism in the Pacific. It demonstrates that benefits can be secured by the Forum membership from closer cooperation and integration, and proposes ways in which the inevitable costs can be offset. It provides insights from other regions, while showing that the experiences of other regions, however successful they may be, cannot also be introduced in the Pacific region without careful consideration of its own unique history, diversity, and geography.

This publication seeks to explain the nature of settlements termed "urban villages" as set within the context of growing levels of urbanization in contemporary Pacific towns and cities. It investigates the meaning and conceptualization of myriad forms of urban villages by examining the evolution of different types of settlement commonly known as native or traditional villages, and more recently squatter and informal settlements. It views village-like settlements such as squatter and informal settlements as a type of urban village, and examines the role these and other urban villages play in shaping and making the Pacific town and city and arguably, the Pacific village city. It presents key actions that Pacific countries and development partners need to consider as part of urban and national development plans when rethinking how to conceptualize the ongoing phenomena of urban villages while achieving a more equitable distribution of the benefits of urbanization.

This volume contains the papers presented at the Brisbane Conference on 'The Future of Asia-Pacific Economies: South Pacific Is lands at the Crossroads?' held in Brisbane, Australia on 10-12 November 1992. This Conference is the fifth in the conference series on the Future of Asian-Pacific Economies organ ized by APDC . Since 1986 , with the support of UNDP, ADB and the host governments, APDC has successfully organized this series of development fora on the future of Asia-Pacific economies in the context of global economic adjustments . The Brisbane Conference is part of this continuing emphasis on future development directions . This time the focus is on the South Pacific islands.

This report results from the implementation of ADB's governance policy in the Pacific region. It provides an overview of governance issues, strengths, and weaknesses in ADB's Pacific Developing Member Countries (PDMCs); and it aims to improve the understanding of the governance environment, both in individual countries and the region as a whole, and as the basis for a more focused policy dialogue with PDMC governments on areas where development partners, and ADB in particular, can help make development assistance more effective. ADB staff prepared the report. The term governance has various meanings, but in broad terms the concept describes the institutional environment in which citizens interact among themselves and with government agencies. Good governance is concerned directly with the development process, involving both the public and private sectors. Indeed, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) considers it as an essential element in achieving its overarching objective of poverty reduction in the region. All members of the aid community, from their own experience, recognize that in countries with effective governments, strong oversight institutions, an independent judiciary, and a vibrant civil society—i.e., countries with good governance—development assistance helps reduce poverty; without it, such assistance is mostly ineffective.

This report results from the implementation of ADB's governance policy in the Pacific region. It provides an overview of governance issues, strengths, and weaknesses in ADB's Pacific Developing Member Countries (PDMCs); and it aims to improve the understanding of the governance environment, both in individual countries and the region as a whole, and as the basis for a more focused policy dialogue with PDMC governments on areas where development partners, and ADB in particular, can help make development assistance more effective. ADB staff prepared the report. The term governance has various meanings, but in broad terms the concept describes the institutional environment in which citizens interact among themselves and with government agencies. Good governance is concerned directly with the development process, involving both the public and private sectors. Indeed, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) considers it as an essential element in achieving its overarching objective of poverty reduction in the region. All members of the aid community, from their own experience, recognize that in countries with effective governments, strong oversight institutions, an independent judiciary, and a vibrant civil society—i.e., countries with good governance—development assistance helps reduce poverty; without it, such assistance is mostly ineffective.

In late 2009, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched a new Pacific Approach, a framework for its role in the development of its 14 Pacific developing member countries (DMCs). The Pacific Approach expresses concern for the poorly managed urbanization processes in the Pacific DMCs and recognizes the strain urbanization has placed on urban infrastructure and services. Selecting urban development as one of its operational priorities, the Pacific Approach commits ADB to supporting good urban development through the supply and delivery of urban services in the Pacific.This publication examines the urbanization process in the Pacific, the condition of urban infrastructure and services across the region, and the urban governance and management systems in place to manage urban development. The report points to ways in which ADB, Pacific DMC governments, and other urban stakeholders can improve urban governance, management, and development within the Pacific.This report expands on the earlier publication of the same title which presented the highlights of the research on urbanization in the Pacific.

In late 2009, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched a new Pacific Approach, a framework for its role in the development of its 14 Pacific developing member countries (DMCs). The Pacific Approach expresses concern for the poorly managed urbanization processes in the Pacific DMCs and recognizes the strain urbanization has placed on urban infrastructure and services. Selecting urban development as one of its operational priorities, the Pacific Approach commits ADB to supporting good urban development through the supply and delivery of urban services in the Pacific.This publication examines the urbanization process in the Pacific, the condition of urban infrastructure and services across the region, and the urban governance and management systems in place to manage urban development. The report points to ways in which ADB, Pacific DMC governments, and other urban stakeholders can improve urban governance, management, and development within the Pacific.This report expands on the earlier publication of the same title which presented the highlights of the research on urbanization in the Pacific.

Australia is historically and geographically bound to the South Pacific. The stability and security of our island neighbours is vital to Australia's national interests. However, in the Twenty First Century, this relationship is under new strain. The friendship and mutual respect that has characterised the relationship for decades has begun to erode. Signs of this erosion can be witnessed in the rising influence of sub-regionalism, new bodies of Pacific island representation that exclude Australia and New Zealand at the UN, and a faltering support for Australia's lead on initiatives in the region. Increasingly fixated on Asia, our neighbours are critically reflecting on the traditionally dominant role Australia has played in regional policymaking. Australia must make what has historically been a 'privileged' relationship its Pacific island neighbours much more effective to meet the challenges of the Twenty First Century. It must find nuanced, innovative and innovative responses to regional issues that will allow the relationship to overcome obstacles and grow stronger. It will be proposed that most sophisticated way to achieve this is by practicing soft power. Soft power, the power of 'attraction' in international relations, provides a means of reconnecting the Pacific to Australia's objectives on both a regional and international scale. This paper will focus on public diplomacy, which has been described as 'a practical manifestation of the use of soft power.' 1 In the global information age, soft power and public diplomacy are increasingly vital instruments of foreign policy. An examination of public diplomacy in Australia reveals a fundamental failure to appreciate the importance of this foreign policy tool. Australia public diplomacy program is underfunded and strategically incoherent. We have failed to grasp the importance of technological changes in the way diplomacy in general and public diplomacy in particular are now conducted most effectively, and our most significant public diplomacy effort, the Australia Network, has been under-resourced for decades. Without a deeper and more sophisticated consideration of global trends toward soft power and public diplomacy, Australia will struggle to re-establish itself as a leader in its regional setting. It is time that Australia caught up with the global trend toward public diplomacy and used it to repair and strengthen its relationship with the South Pacific. This paper will propose four recommendations for the improvement of Australia's public diplomacy capacity: 1. Greater coordination of Australia's public diplomacy program 2. Establishment o f an Office of eDiplomacy 3. Review of the content and purpose of the Australia's international broadcaster, Australia Network 4. Evaluation of DFAT's public diplomacy programs

"International aviation services are crucial to trade, growth, and development in the Pacific region. Improved access provided by international aviation from every other region in the world to an increasing number of islands is opening new opportunities. Tourism contributes substantially to income and employment in many Pacific countries, usually in areas outside of the main urban centers, and enables air freight services for valuable but perishable commodities that would otherwise not be marketable. Although some features of the Pacific region make provision of international aviation services a challenge, there have also been some notable successes that offer key lessons for future development. Case studies of national aviation sector experience show the value of operating on commercial principles, attracting international and private-sector capital investment, assigning risk where it can best be managed, and liberalizing market access. Integration of the regional market for transport services, combined with harmonized but less restrictive regulations, would facilitate a greater range of services at more competitive prices. Pacific island country governments have the ability to create effective operating environments. When they do so, experience shows that operators will respond with efficient service provision."

"International aviation services are crucial to trade, growth, and development in the Pacific region. Improved access provided by international aviation from every other region in the world to an increasing number of islands is opening new opportunities. Tourism contributes substantially to income and employment in many Pacific countries, usually in areas outside of the main urban centers, and enables air freight services for valuable but perishable commodities that would otherwise not be marketable. Although some features of the Pacific region make provision of international aviation services a challenge, there have also been some notable successes that offer key lessons for future development. Case studies of national aviation sector experience show the value of operating on commercial principles, attracting international and private-sector capital investment, assigning risk where it can best be managed, and liberalizing market access. Integration of the regional market for transport services, combined with harmonized but less restrictive regulations, would facilitate a greater range of services at more competitive prices. Pacific island country governments have the ability to create effective operating environments. When they do so, experience shows that operators will respond with efficient service provision."

To be read in conjunction with the Asian Development Bank report Poverty: Is it an Issue in the Pacific? The intent of the papers is to foster broadly based consultation among the Asian Development Bank, governments, and civil society for the purpose of developing a supportive and appropriate approach to ensuring equitable growth and poverty reduction. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank or the governments of Pacific developing member countries.