More localised goals are likely to be a feature of a global programme of action to succeed the United Nations Millenium Development Goals campaign that expires at the end of 2015.
The UN launched its "MDG Momentum: 1000 Days of Action" on April the 5th as a way of making the most progress towards the eight goals, which include eradicating poverty and improving maternal health.
Tonga is one of three Pacific Island countries to have signed up to the acceleration programme and is concentrating its efforts on tackling non-communicable diseases, which was not one of the goals set in 2000.
The UN Development Programme's Pacific representative, Knut Ostby says Tonga is not the only country to focus on a locally adapted specific goal.
"When you go to the new goals, they will need to relate to what is specifically needed in the future. And if I am to guess I will guess that a more sophisticated way of localising the goals is needed under the new goals. We need a way to have measurable goals at the country level."
The UN Development Programme's Pacific representative, Knut Ostby.
