08:00-09:00 Registration of participants
09:00-09:45 Official Opening of the Conference
09:45-10:30 Break
Group photo
10:30-12:30 PLENARY 1: Impact of the Crisis on People - Pacific Perspectives
Countries in the Pacific have been buffered from the direct impacts of the crisis. Nevertheless, the fall in global commodity prices reduced activity in commodity-based economies while economic slowdown in many developed countries lowered tourism receipts. These and several other factors including reduction in remittances are already affecting employment, household incomes as well as fiscal revenue in countries of the Pacific.
Main Resource:
The impact of the global economic crisis on people of the Pacific (GEC/1)
Background Resources:
- The global financial crisis and developing countries: taking stock, taking action: ODI Briefing Paper September 2009.
- Taking the Helm: A Policy Brief on a response to the global economic crisis
- ILO Global Jobs Pact
- The impact of the Crisis on Pacific Island Women: A Snapshot
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:30 Parallel Roundtables on Impact Assessment
Roundtable A: Impact assessment at national levels: Economic growth, trade and employment
Background Resources:
- Global Employment Trends for Women
- ADB Outlook Update 2009
- USP Working Paper: Monetary Policy Response of Pacific Island Countries to Global Economic Downturn
Roundtable B: Impact assessment at community levels: Women, children and other vulnerable groups
The central lesson learned from every previous economic crisis is that the poorest people in developing countries suffer the most and that not enough is done to help them. Since children, women and other vulnerable groups are likely to be amongst those most severely affected, it is important to assess the impact of the crisis upon them.
Background Resource:
- Children in times of economic crisis: Past lessons, future policies: ODI Background Note March 2009
- Impact on Pacific women: UNIFEM Market Project
15:30-16:00 Break
16:00-17:30 PLENARY 2: Actions taken by Countries in Response to the Crisis
Since countries of the Pacific and their people have been affected by the crisis in different ways, a range of policy responses have been taken to protect the vulnerable. An assessment of these policy responses, in terms of their relevance, effectiveness and efficiency, as well as identification of constraints faced in implementing these policies could lead to greater understanding of how countries across the Pacific could better respond to the current and future crises.
Background Resources: