At the fifth Responsible Business Forum, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today called on business leaders to take a greater role in the new development era in order to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This Forum, opened in Singapore by UNDP and Global Initiatives, aims to address a sea change in the nature of development funding by creating a new partnership for sustainable development.

While foreign funding (Official Development Assistance) is still essential for the development system, it now accounts for 0.7 percent of total financial flows in Asia-Pacific (down from 13.5 percent in 1990), while domestic public and private finance accounts for 89 percent, according to a UNDP report launched last month.

While there has been remarkable progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in the Western Pacific region over the past two decades, the disease remains a major public health problem and a renewed effort is required to end the epidemic, said public health experts who gathered this week in Fiji for a regional TB meeting.

Thank you Mr. Preston for the introduction, and thank you to Global Initiatives and the Marina Bay Sands for walking the sustainability talk – for making the Responsible Business Forum the first zero-waste zero-emission conference of this scale.

The United Nations Development Programme and Global Initiatives, Singapore will welcome over 600 business and sustainability leaders, senior government officials, UN agencies, Non-Government Organisations from across the globe for the Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development in Singapore on 22-24 November 2016.

Findings from a new joint study by the UNDP, UNICEF and the University of New South Wales indicate an urgent need for reforms in Pacific island countries to adequately address HIV and STIs among vulnerable populations.

UNDP has partnered with Global Initiatives for the Responsible Business Forum 2016, to present practical ways to accelerate solutions for a more sustainable world while increasing business and industry growth. For more information: http://sdg.responsiblebusiness.com/

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Initiatives will welcome over 600 global business leaders, senior government officials, UN Agencies and non-government organisations from across the globe for the Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development on 22nd-24th November at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

A new pilot partnership in Papua New Guinea providing affordable green energy has the potential to drive the adoption and usage of financial services among rural low-income Papua New Guineans.

An agro-forestry farming approach introduced in Vanuatu aims to help communities address agricultural risks worsened by extreme weather patterns. With Tropical Cyclone Pam impacts still fresh in the minds of many, there is an increasing focus on food security as well as domestic food production to support the resilience of local communities.

The Government of the Russian Federation in partnership with the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji today launched the Regional Disaster Resilience in the Pacific Small Island Developing States (RESPAC) Project in Nadi, Fiji.

European Union and the United Nations Development Programme have signed the Delegation Agreement on the implementation of the Project, Fiji Access to Justice. The USD 9.2 million project, Fiji Access to Justice is funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP for the period 2016 to 2020.

The second Pacific Islands Climate Outlook Forum officially opened today with national, regional and international experts on climate services and disaster risk reduction present to explore common approaches and best practices for climate services that can be extended throughout the Pacific Island region.

Eight months since Tropical Cyclone Winston devastated the South Pacific Island nation of Fiji, the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) recovery efforts in partnership with the Fiji Government have been progressively underway to rebuild people’s livelihoods.

A training to increase agricultural productivity and income of market-vendors is helping many who are both farmers and market vendors. The United Nations Development Programme in partnership with Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture is using the training to broaden market vendor-farmers’ knowledge and awareness on how and what effect climate change can have on their farms and ways in which it can be mitigated.

Seventeen women from a diverse range of backgrounds gathered on this week for the start of Tuvalu’s second Women’s Practice Parliament. Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Maatia Toafa, in his opening remarks spoke on the importance of carving out a space for women in politics.

“Tropical Cyclone Winston hit us early this year, we now heavily depend on our farms to help us recover,” said the Turaga ni Koro or the village chief of Nabalabala Village in Ra. The Engaging Youth in Organic Farming programme will assist the TC Winston recovery efforts by training youth in organic agriculture and product development.

With the new UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Country Director and Head of Regional Policy and Programming, Bakhodir Burkhanov, settled in, representatives of media organisations in a recent Meet the Media Morning Tea Event had the opportunity to engage with him in dialogue and be recognized as an important partner in the country’s and the Pacific’s development work.