UNFPA’s Ongoing Commitment to the FSM Reinforced by its Director

Palikir, Pohnpei – On October 4, 2023, the Honorable Iory Kato, Director and Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) met with the Honorable Lorin S. Robert, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs to present his introductory letter from the UNFPA Executive Director to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia. Accompanying Mr. Kato was Mr. Jaap Van Hierden, the Resident Coordinator the United Nations Multi-Country Office, Ms. Evelyn Adolph, UNFPA Assistant Representative, Dr. Titiola Duro-Aina from the Pacific Sub-Regional Office and several local UNFPA staff. The meeting began with acknowledging the historic significance of the UN presence in the FSM. Mr. Kato reiterated to the Secretary UNFPA’s commitment towards the implementation of UNFPA’s new 7th five-year multi-country Office Program and confirmed its desire to further strengthen the country\’s care system, particularly in the remote outer islands. Following the meeting with Secretary Robert, Mr. Kato paid a courtesy call on H.E. President Wesley W. Simina and T.H. Vice President Aren B. Palik. This marked Mr. Kato’s first in-person courtesy call on the new administration as well as his first official visit to the FSM since the opening up of its borders and since Mr. Kato assumed his position as the Representative of the United Nations Population Fund for the Pacific Sub-regional Office, serving 14 Pacific Island Country and Territories (PICTs) including the FSM. President Simina conveyed the government’s appreciation to Mr. Kato for the valuable support provided through UNFPA, based on shared interests and values, especially in the context of promoting gender equality and empowerment of women, girls and young people. Mr. Kato highlighted that UNFPA’s goal is to end unmet needs for family planning, preventable maternal death and gender-based violence (GBV) by 2030. Mr. Kato added that assistance will continue to focus on local capacity development based on national ownership as informed by the country’s needs enshrined in its national development goals, SDGs and the regional 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Mr. Kato also underscored UNFPA’s readiness to strengthen other areas including ending preventable maternal deaths and reducing cervical cancers cases, as part of a comprehensive program of support to ensure universal access to reproductive health services, as well as technical assistance towards eradicating gender based violence during emergencies such as the climate crisis or health pandemics, inclusive of mental health and psycho-social support. President Simina and Vice President Palik agreed on the need for further strengthening of healthcare systems, including in remote outer islands, especially for pregnant women, adolescent girls and young couples, aimed at eradicating maternal mortality, cervical cancer as well as strengthening the health sector’s GBV response capacity. President Simina concluded by thanking the Director for the visit and conveyed his wish to continue strengthening the partnership between the FSM and UNFPA.