This report was conducted under the overall leadership of María del Pilar Garrido Gonzalo, Director of the Development Co‑operation Directorate (OECD). It was produced by Shashwat Koirala, Jieun Kim, Abdoulaye Fabregas (OECD) and Jonathan Baines (World Resources Institute), under the supervision of Jens Sedemund, Environment and Climate Change Team Lead, Financing for Sustainable Development Division, Development Co-operation Directorate (OECD). Haje Schütte, Head of the Financing for Sustainable Development Division, Development Co-operation Directorate (OECD), provided overall strategic guidance. Piera Tortora (OECD) provided insights on the sustainable ocean economy and guided the conceptualisation of the report, and Juan Casado Asensio (OECD) provided inputs regarding capacity development in small island developing states. Sokob Challener (OECD) supported logistics and report editing. Daniel Prosi provided statistical support for the analysis of official development assistance. Maria Sapatu and Nicholas Conner collated an initial literature review to inform the analysis and provided comments on the first draft of the report. The authors are also grateful for the support received from Juliana Corrales on graphic design and for the editorial review conducted by Victoria Elliott.
The report was informed by structured interviews and consultations with representatives from relevant Samoan ministries and government bodies, development partner representatives, think tanks, civil society and the private sector, including from: Samoa’s Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Ministry of Police and Prisons, Ministry of Customs and Revenue, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Central Bank of Samoa, Development Bank of Samoa, Samoa Ports Authority, Samoa National Provident Fund, Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa, National University of Samoa, Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations, Samoa Commercial Bank, National Bank of Samoa, Bank South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, European Union, New Zealand High Commission, Australian High Commission, British High Commission, Japan International Cooperation Agency, United Nations Development Programme, World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Capital Development Fund, Conservation International, Waitt Foundation, World Wildlife Fund and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Support for the identification of stakeholders for these consultations and for the consultations themselves was provided by Janice Nand and Sheenal Naiker (Solved (Fiji) Pte Limited).
The authors would like to acknowledge comments and suggestions from OECD colleagues: Cecilia Piemonte, Will Symes, Juliette Lassman, Georges Laimé, Oriana Romano, Sophie Lavaud, Catherine Gamper and Mikaela Rambali.
The authors would also acknowledge comments from the Government of Australia. The Blue Recovery Hub of Samoa has been established in partnership with the Government of Samoa, under the leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and in co-ordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Steering and direction from Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown-Reupena, Chief Executive Officer (MNRE) are kindly acknowledged. The authors are also grateful for the support and engagement of Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Peseta Noumea Simi, Chief Executive Officer (MFAT).