SPC has a memorandum of understanding with Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA), New Zealand's largest and most experienced volunteering agency working in international development.
The two organisations have made a greater commitment to work together to assist Pacific Island countries and territories with achieving their development aspirations. Under the new agreement, New Zealand volunteers will be assigned to SPC activities and projects across more than 20 broad sectors, including fisheries, public health surveillance, geoscience and plant genetic resources for up to two years.
In the 53 years since Sir Edmund Hillary was its founding President, VSA has recruited over 3000 New Zealand volunteers for the Asia-Pacific region.
VSA volunteers share skills with people in the wider Pacific to help them build a better future for themselves and their children. The work it does is diverse and driven by the development needs of in-country partners.
These partner organisations range from regional and central government agencies to local or national NGOs, education and health bodies and individual schools, colleges and health clinics. VSA works with businesses, not-for-profit organisations and international agencies to help communities in the wider Pacific.
Cooperation between the two organisations dates back to 2013 involving SPC’s Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division.