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Pacific science agencies sign agreement to scale up action and build partnership

The Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Regional Environment Program (SPREP) have renewed and strengthened their approach to supporting Pacific-led and owned development outcomes through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). 

This MOU will increase coordination in key development areas that streamline and support the priorities and development goals set down by Pacific Leaders and the region.  

It also endorses the establishment of a ‘framework for co-operation’ between SPC and SPREP to ensure shared work is underpinned by genuine partnership, mutual recognition and respect for each other’s mandates and expansion of this partnership into the future to better serve our member states. 

Dr Stuart Minchin, Director-General of the Pacific Community reiterated the importance of partnership and mutual respect as the challenges we face cannot be tackled alone. 

“We know the Pacific region needs an investment of more than 1.6billion every year just to address the climate emergency however financing this work and preparing communities for the increasing threat of disaster and climate change means SPREP and SPC must effectively and harmoniously work together to achieve the region’s aspirations for a prosperous Pacific”.  

This MOU provides structure to drive this in a planned and coordinated manner. Director-General of SPREP, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra welcomed the MOU and its intent for our existing and future work. 

“The Pacific is our home. We are duty-bound to work collaboratively with all our partners to ensure a more resilient Pacific for today and tomorrow. At SPREP, we are very pleased about the continuation of this partnership. We need to go back to having a closer relationship, clearer roles, and responsibilities in terms of how we complement each other and having good working relationships across the board in all our areas of work".  

“This is a statement of intent to everyone that two of the biggest agencies in the Pacific are committed to collaborate and work together for a more resilient Blue Pacific.” 

The MOU will be valid for 5 years until 2028 and was signed in the Cook Islands in the margins of the 52nd Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting #PILFM52