United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) new Director for the Pacific based in Fiji also in charge of 13 other Pacific countries, Mr. Iori Kato, presented his introductory letter from the UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem, to the Government of Nauru, to the Acting President, Hon. Mr. Rennier Gadabu, MP on 15 February 2023.
Nauru is one of 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) covered under the UNFPA Pacific new 7th Multi-Country Programme 2023-2027 (MCP7), which was endorsed by the UNFPA Executive Board in New York on February 4, 2023. Mr. Kato’s recent visit to the Republic of Nauru solidified UNFPA Pacific’s commitment to the continuation and potential expansion of its support to the Government and people of Nauru under MCP7, contextualizing population and development needs in line with national policies, laws and priorities.
Mr. Kato and his UNFPA Pacific delegation met with Hon. Minister of Health Mr. Timothy John Ika MP, and visited the Republic of Nauru Hospital maternity ward and ante-natal care unit, discussing potential areas of collaboration on safe motherhood and reproductive health, family planning, midwifery services, to name a few. He also had opportunities to meet with Hon. Minister of Education, Sports & Postal Services, Mr. Richard-Hyde Menke MP, and other officials from foreign affairs and trade, internal affairs and youth, women and social development, statistics, police, as well as development partners based in Nauru including the Australian High Commission.
“I am extremely grateful to the Government of the Republic of Nauru for the recent opportunities granted to me and the UNFPA Pacific team to meet and discuss with key senior officials across the sectors relevant to UNFPA’s mandated areas. UNFPA is keen to establish a bigger footprint in Nauru to provide more direct and effective support, under the guidance of the Government,” recollects Iori Kato, UNFPA Director for the Pacific. He added, “UNFPA looks forward to continuing to contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of Pacific small island countries under MCP7 2023-2027 and beyond, assisting the Pacific governments in advancing universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights and achieving gender equality, especially for the vulnerable women and young people including those impacted by health pandemics and climate-induced disasters. For Nauru and other 13 PICTs, UNFPA stands ready to assist the countries in harnessing the demographic dividend, towards realising the SDGs by 2030 and the regional 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.”
