National Sustainable Development Agenda (NSDA) 2020+ Annual Indicator Report Highlights Cook Islands' Progress and Challenges in Sustainable Development
Rarotonga, August 2023 – The Cook Islands is pleased to unveil the National Sustainable Development Agenda (NSDA) 2020+ first Annual Indicator Report, a crucial document providing an encompassing overview of key indicators assessing wellbeing, social, economic, and environmental performance. This report stands as a vital tool for informing policymakers, stakeholders, and the public about the nation’s advancement towards achieving its goals and objectives, while identifying areas necessitating improvement.
The NSDA Annual Indicator Report provides a panoramic snapshot of the Cook Islands’ sustainable development voyage across a wide spectrum of indicators. It serves as a snapshot, spotlighting areas of advancement and shedding light on areas demanding focused attention. By systematically tracking progress over time, the report facilitates the effectiveness of policies and interventions in achieving intended outcomes. It remains a pivotal tool in ensuring the nation remains steadfast in its pursuit of objectives, aligning with the vision towards Turanga Memeitaki.
A key observation from the report showcases the economy’s upward trajectory. However, this economic growth has not been consistently reflected across all aspects of wellbeing and environmental preservation. The report emphasizes the need for policies that foster comprehensive growth, employment opportunities, and an enabling environment for holistic wellbeing.
Education, another vital facet, takes the spotlight in the report. While access to education has seen improvement, the quality of education remains a significant challenge. Concerning statistics reveal that a significant percentage of youth the Pa Enua region, comprising 24%, were classified in the 2021 Census as not in education, employment, or training (NEET). The report advocates for investments in education, particularly in early childhood education and the development of the education workforce, to elevate education quality and better equip students for the future.
The report also highlights pressing environmental issues, including climate change, waste management, and biodiversity loss. While there have been notable strides in these areas, the report emphasizes the critical need for more extensive efforts to secure a sustainable and resilient future. The recommendations put forward advocate for the adoption of policies that champion clean energy, Net Zero and Zero waste targets within the next 25 years, as well as robust environmental safeguards.
“The report provides a scorecard that provides a snapshot towards sustainable development and turanga memeitaki and sets the baseline for the next four years” said Valery Wichman, director of the central policy and planning office “I want to acknowledge the great work being done in the Nation towards our vision of wellbeing and also the CPPO office for compiling this report. The next steps are that the report will be discussed at the Public sector leader’s conference to be held later in the year to look at tangible solutions to the various challenges at hand and feed into the Medium term fiscal strategy for budgeting prioritisation going into the future”.
The full report is accessible on our official website: www.pmoffice.gov.ck. Alternatively, limited printed hard copies will be available from September 2023 from the CPPO division within the Office of the Prime Minister. For additional information, please contact cppo@cookislands.gov.ck or call 25494.
