The SPREP has been charged by the governments and administrations of the Pacific region with the protection and sustainable development of the region's environment. As a member the Cook Islands benefits from activities are guided by the SPREP Strategic Action Plan 2011-2015. Developed through extensive consultation with Members, Secretariat programme staff and partner organisations, the Plan establishes four strategic priorities:

• Climate Change;
• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management;
• Waste Management and Pollution Control; and
• Environmental Monitoring and Governance.

www.sprep.org/Cook-Islands/cook-islands-pein

Focal points for the SPREP programme in the Cook Islands are the National Environment Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration.

Forum Leaders agreed through the Forum Compact in August 2009 that the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) should, among other things, establish and report annually to the Pacific Islands Forum on a process of regular peer review of Forum Island Countries’ (FICs’) national development planning and budget processes to:

a. promote international best practice in key sectors,

b. improve effective budget allocations and implementation to achieve national development priorities; and

c. guide support from development partners.

The Cook Islands works with PIFS on Aid Effectiveness, which refers to the relative strength of development assistance and development cooperation in achieving its stated goals and objectives. Continual attempts are being made by the donor community in collaboration with multilateral organisations and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in ensuring that development assistance is as effective as possible. Such attempts are generally aligned with efforts to increase the degree of donor assistance harmonisation, with some focus given to reducing duplicated assistance efforts, greater harmonisation through joint donor formulation of country assistance programs and the like, regular donor and development assistance recipient meetings on terms and conditions of development cooperation, and adherence to internationally ratified aid effectiveness principles.

One key action is the Cook Islands Peer review scheduled for July 2013, more details on this PIFS program on http://www.forumsec.org/pages.cfm/strategic-partnerships-coordination/pacific-principles-on-aid-effectiveness/peer-reviews.html

The Cook Islands also participates in a number of other activities managed by the SPC Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC). This aims to ensure the earth sciences are utilised fully in order to fulfill the SPC Mission.  In the island context the earth sciences comprise geology, geophysics, oceanography and hydrology.

To fulfill this, the division has three technical work programmes:

• Ocean and Islands
• Water and Sanitation
• Disaster Reduction

These three programmes share common technical support services:

• Natural Resource Economics
• GIS and Remote Sensing
• Technical Equipment and Services
• Data Management
• Publications and Library

The work programme is reviewed annually by a technical advisory group consisting of members, Secretariat representatives and a Science, Technology and Resources Network (STAR).

http://www.sopac.org/

Assistance from The United Nations and its specialised agencies is diverse and includes health, agriculture, gender, climate change and governance. The United Nations Development Programme is leading changes to provide the Cook Islands with a focal point for all UN activities. In order to foster functional relationships across the diverse stakeholders the Development Coordination Division hosts a UN coordinator in its offices.

43rd Pacific Islands Forum Cook Islands 27 - 31st August 2012 - United Nations Side Events

• Forum Presentation for UN
• UN Discussion - Presentation
• UN - Agenda for Side meeting 30th August
• UN - Minute for Side Meeting 30th August
• National Sustainable Development Plan Snapshot 2011-2015
• National Sustainable Development Plan Matrix Result 2011-2015
• UN Feedback - Social Service
• UN Feedback - Gender Equality
• UN Feedback - Environment Management

For further information of the United Nations partnerships with the Cook Islands, please see link below.

www.undp.org.ws/UNDPSamoa/CountryProgramme/CookIslands/tabid/934/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Since 1963, the EIB has been actively involved in financing development in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). The EIB’s lending operations in the Pacific form part of this engagement, and 15 ACP Pacific Island States and four OCTs are eligible for financial assistance from the Bank.

To date the programme in the Cook Islands has not been significant however negotiations are ongoing with the view to explore opportunities with the Bank of the Cook Islands and other partners.

www.eib.org/index.htm