Developing an evaluation framework for environmental management of small island states in the South Pacific (Kiribati, American Samoa)

Geographers have long recognized the significance of islands in historical, political and socio-economic analyses. In the 21th century, small island developing States (SIDS) around the world are at the center of international efforts as special cases in the study of environment and development interactions. Despite increased attention, a valid model has yet to be established for the study of small islands as special cases in the environment and development policy arena.; This dissertation developed an evaluation framework for environmental management of small island states in the South Pacific. It examined two research questions: (1) What are the factors that should be considered and which conceptual parameters could be used for framework development? and (2) In what way should the framework for the evaluation of National Environmental Management Strategies (HEMS) in the South Pacific be designed and developed? In addressing these two questions, framework development was (1) process-based because it integrated contextual, conceptual and empirical parameters for evaluation design, and (2) geography oriented because the research involved vulnerability assessment, situational analysis and site studies in Kiribati and Samoa. Through a two-pronged strategy using exploratory and confirmatory studies, the research employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. As a qualitative research method, stakeholder-based consultation in the study sites was used as ‘constructionist epistemology’ to achieve consensus validation in identifying the essential components of the evaluation framework. In investigating the special case argument of SIDS, the dissertation focused its attention on the dilemma of the small island states as ‘vulnerable places’. In terms of the quantitative method, a methodology for vulnerability assessment was developed and the vulnerability of 100 developing countries with special reference to SIDS was investigated. The research situated the concept of place in vulnerability assessment as a method of geographic analysis and asserted the need to understand the study setting and the nature of places to establish evaluation needs. Results indicated that the small island states are more vulnerable than medium and large size developing states.; By developing a Results-Based Evaluation (RBE) framework for environmental management as vehicle to achieve sustainability of SIDS, the research emphasized the relevance of place-based analysis in evaluation design. RBE was designed as an iterative process of analysis, measurement and reporting of performance results in terms of outputs, outcomes and impacts arising from the NEMS implementation. The core elements of the RBE framework include evaluation logic, focus on ex post assessment of NEMS results, use of participatory/stakeholder process and indicators for sustainable development. In addition, the Environmental State and Response Management system (ESRI) and the Results Achievement Matrix (RAM) have been proposed as evaluation methods for improving environmental management in the region. In addressing the concern for evaluation in EM in the South Pacific, it was concluded that the development of RBE represents a significant, positive step toward achieving the sustainable development goal of SIDS. The dissertation reiterated the central importance of geography as an integrating discipline closely affiliated with the fields of environmental management and evaluation and paid attention to an important but neglected subject of policy research, the evaluation of EM strategies for sustainable development.