Community Lifelines Programme
For SOPAC, lifelines are elements of development that are essential for life or improved quality of life (e.g. clean water, sanitation, energy and the rapidly developing information and communication technologies). Energy, water, health and sanitation, and information and communications technologies are recognised as three of the essential inputs for lifelines that support the 3 pillars of sustainability of financial, economic and social development.
Community Lifelines is a diverse programme that assists in strengthening national capacity in energy, water, health and sanitation, and information and communications technologies.
Goal: To improve communities access to
energy,
water, sanitation and hygiene and
information and communications technologies for a sustainable livelihood.
Rationale: In the global context, the activities of the Community Lifelines Programme are consistent with the Millennium Development Goals for energy, water and information and communications technologies. As part of this process, the need to strengthen planning capacity is acknowledged and through improved strategic planning and management, it is anticipated that linkages with critical component sectors within countries will be developed and strengthened.
The Community Lifelines Programme will ultimately assist in achieving sustainable development within member countries, in particular the energy, water, health and sanitation, and information and communications technologies while recognising that women are important stakeholders in the Community Lifelines Programme. Within the Community Lifelines Programme, the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) applications are integral subsets of information and communications technology.
Critical Issues: The continued increase in population, poverty, urbanisation and economic growth expectations within Pacific Island Countries contribute to the increase in the demand for critical services in the energy, water, health and sanitation, and information and communication technologies sectors. These requirements are further complicated by the very wide and diverse nature of the Pacific Island Countries and their population that are predominantly living either on coral atolls, low or high volcanic islands spread over a vast area of the Pacific Ocean.
Opportunities: The Community Lifelines Programme contributes significantly towards the development of its member countries and the region through the energy, water, health and sanitation, and information and communications technologies sectors.
For more information, please contact:
Paul Fairbairn
Manager Community Lifelines
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