The Pacific Way The Pacific Community (SPC)

The solidarity amongst the pacific islands delegation to conserve our region and protect it from the ongoing impacts of climate change was evident at the United Nations Climate Change conference or COP27.

Climate Change Experts from the Pacific Community and other CROP Agencies were present in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt to support and lend a voice to the pleas of the pacific people for the developed world to take action in reducing green house gas emissions with the target ‘1.5 to stay alive’.

For half a century the Pacific Community has been working in collaboration with pacific islands countries and territories to preserve, protect and promote the regions unique traditions as custodians of the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture or FestPac.

In July 2022, SPC celebrated the 50th anniversary of FestPac and the launch of the Pacific Regional Culture Strategy 2022-2032. The event coincided with the Pacific Island Leaders Forum and a week long exhibition was held to mark the occasion and setting the stage for the 13th FestPac to be hosted by Hawaii in 2024.

In early September 2022, the fourth cycle report of the Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA) was launched in Suva Fiji.

Administered through the Pacific Community’s Educational Quality and Assessment Programme (EQAP), over 40,000 students sat for PILNA in 15 pacific island countries and territories.

Through PILNA, the region has set a global benchmark to ensure that children in the pacific get high quality education.

To ensure the region has the capacity and the technical know- how to advance agriculture and aquaculture in the region, a new cadre of experts are being trained through the Australian Center for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR).

The Pacific Community (SPC) is a key partner for ACIAR and SPC and ACIAR have worked in partnership for more than 30 years. SPC helps deliver Australia’s wider strategies to benefit the region’s fisheries, agriculture, forestry and biosecurity sectors.

ACIAR’s scholarship and mentoring programs is increasing regional capacity for long term food security.

Pacific Islands Leaders met in Suva Fiji in July 2022, where the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent was endorsed. The strategy focuses on seven key thematic areas: political leadership and regionalism, people-centered development, peace and security, resources and economic development, climate change and disasters, ocean and environment, and finally, technology and connectivity. The carefully laid out strategy highlights some key areas of concern and implementation guidelines to ensure it trickles down to society.

From the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Pacific Community has worked with donor agencies and partners to strengthen and safeguard the health of Pacific Islanders.

Working with international agencies and local authorities, SPC, the World Health Organisation and the World Food Program helped provide much need medical and humanitarian resources to strengthen COVID 19 preparedness and response.