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 t…

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 Regi…

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…

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 th…

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, …

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 t…

The Pacific Community (SPC)'s Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) has won the 2022 Island Innovation award for Innovative Island Research. The award, which supported by the Clinton Global Initiative, was presented by Island Innovation, a global network that connects island stakeholders through digital communication and events. It is part of…

As the Pacific region looks towards a post COVID economy, the potential of cocoa is seen as a valuable resource for small hold farmers. Known by local farmers as green gold, the quality of Pacific cocoa is increasingly being recognized internationally, and in some cases the resulting chocolate products have been ranked with some the the best in the…

The Pacific Community (SPC) has announced the appointment of Mereseini Rakuita as its ‘Principal Strategic Lead – Pacific Women’. Ms Rakuita will champion the organisation’s work on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls to bring about the transformational changes required to improve the status of women and girls in the Pacific. “I’…

On Saturday 15 January 2022, the Hunga volcano erupted sending a plume of ash and volcanic gas 30 kilometers into the atmosphere and generating tsunami waves across the Pacific. The full impact of this eruption is still being assessed, but the greatest devastation occurred on islands of Tonga.

CRGA 51 and the 12th Conference of the Pacific Community saw the adoption of new strategic plan for the organization and a new star on the SPC flag. We highlight some of the key outcomes in this special podcast.

Traditional and cultural ceremonies in the Pacific would not be complete without a feast, which almost always includes pork and pork products. It is difficult to imagine a function without it. However, the Pacific pig industry is now under threat and an all out effort is being undertaken to ‘Save our bacon’.…

The importance of securing and ensuring sustainable use of the regions agricultural commodities, fisheries resources and forests was the underlying focus at the Seventh Regional Meeting of the Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services (PHOAFS) held earlier this month. With a focus on food systems security, the region prepares to present a …

Building on the successful implementation of the Strengthening Water Security of Vulnerable Island States program, the Pacific Community is assisting member states to improve access to clean water sources and safe hygiene. The initial five-year sub-regional project supported atoll countries to build the skills , systems and basic infrastructure to …

More than 16,000 Pacific people work in the Maritime sector. Across the Pacific, local restrictions have severely curtailed access to supplies like fuel for local fishing boats, bringing to the fore the issue of food security and the need for longer term, sustainable solutions. In this episode, we reflect on the devastating impact of the global pan…

The 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the 7th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women will be held from 27-29 April and 4 May respectively. Hosted by French Polynesia, this year’s conference and ministers meeting will be delivered via a blended approach of in-person and virtual interaction given that travel restrictions are still being …

Sigatoka Valley is known as the 'Salad Bowl' of Fiji proving a majority of the islands fresh fruits and vegetables. But this highly fertile region also attracts hungry pests eager to take a bite out of the bowl. The Pacific Community through its Land Resources Division is now better equipped to prepare and respond to these threats through its the f…

Tokelau is one of the smallest and most remote nations in the world, consisting of three coral atolls in the middle of the Pacific Ocean where clean drinking water is scarce. After years of research and field investigations, the Pacific Community’s Geoscience division has helped locate an abundance of fresh underground water which promises a bright…

Bula, bon jour, and welcome to a new season of the Pacific Way Podcast. In this season opener, we take a journey back to 2020 and look at how, we as people of the pacific are working to overcome the challenges and impacts of COVID 19. Despite the difficulties, the Pacific Community has continued to serve its members through innovation and determina…

Australia and the Pacific Community (SPC) have renewed their longstanding partnership, reaffirming their commitment to supporting the sustainable development of the Pacific. Australia will provide A$42.5 million in core funding to the SPC over the next 3 years to support the renewed 10-year strategic partnership (2014-2023) between Australia and SP…

The European Union (EU) and the Pacific Community (SPC) have today launched three new projects that will help address the social and economic impacts of COVID-19, whilst supporting longer-term economic recovery and health benefits for the Pacific region. The EUR 1.5 million Pacific Regional Integrated Food and Nutrition Security Initiative to COVID…

The recently introduced Pacific Humanitarian Pathway on COVID-19 (PHP-C) was in focus this month with the first flight of medical supplies departing Nadi, Fiji bound for Port Moresby in PNG. The cargo consisted of 44 cubic metres of essential medical supplies. We speak to the Tuvalu High Commissioner in Fiji, the Secretary-General of Pacific Island…

The two-week Women in Agriculture Campaign concludes today with an awards ceremony recognising the hard work of Women who have contributed more than 15 years of service towards the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Land Resources Division (LRD). Collectively, the four women awarded today have more than 80 years of experience in the agriculture field, rangi…

Ensuring Food security in the midst of COVID-19 has become a priority across the Pacific, with limited imports increasing the demand for local staples. However, the instinct for survival and self-sufficiency is resulting in a growing number of individuals looking into the potential of tilapia farming in the Fiji Islands.…

This week the Pacific Community (SPC) handed over 350kg vegetable seeds and 400 tissue culture plants to the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). The event was part of Pacific Seeds for Life (PS4L) and represented the projects first contribution towards the Fiji Government’s relief efforts for TC Harold and the global pandemic COVID-19. https://www.…

Some reflections on this years Head of Fisheries Meeting, held virtually under the cloud of COVID-19.

The arrival of COVID-19 in the Pacific is changing the way the region works. In this edition of the Podcast we hear how SPC is adjusting to the crisis, while ensuring that its core work continues to progress.

Niue suffered significant damage during cyclone Heta in January 2004, sustaining winds greater than 240km/h, classifying it as a category 4-5 cyclone. The Niue Hospital and dwellings near the shore were damaged as huge waves crossed the cliff line and battered houses, roads and the fuel depot. In response, Niue, with help from the Pacific Community…

The European Union (EU) has provided EUR 3 million (FJD 7.2 million) to the Pacific Community’s to strengthen health security in the Pacific. The Public Health Surveillance Network Services to Strengthen Health Security in the Pacific project, which will be led by Pacific Community’s (SPC) Public Health Division, will support regional capacity for …

Papua New Guinea sits on the 'ring of fire' and has a history of volcanic activity. A volcanic eruption can be devastating to local communities, so the government is working with SPC's Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP) to increase the nations early warning and resilience capacity. Better monitoring systems combined with tradition…

The eruption of the Manaro volcano in Vanuatu caught many off guard and forced thousands residents of villages in the area to evacuate. Vanuatu is now working to ensure they are better prepared for these types of evacuations in the future, in part through the establishment of a coordination center in Santo.…

While strong public awareness efforts about disaster preparation are underway across the Pacific, how can officials be certain they are reaching the regions most vulnerable populations? Would a 5 year old child know what to do during a disaster? How can a child safeguard themselves before or during a sudden disaster? These are some of the questions…

Our weekly podcast comes a bit early this week as we mark the end of 16 Days of Activism with a program about how the Solomon Islands is using drama to tackle the issue of domestic violence.

New water and electricity supply schemes have been officially opened on Kiritimati Island, providing greener energy sources and improving access to clean drinking water for the local hospital and more than 400 households in the communities of Tennessee and Ronton.

New Zealand’s strong commitment to supporting sustainable development in the Pacific was highlighted during a small ceremony this week, which marked the official extension of its partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC). The new five-year partnership between the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and SPC commits NZ$45 mill…

Understanding where we are and where things are in relation to us has always been important. Anyone who has ever used a smartphone app to locate themselves or search for driving directions can appreciate how widespread this technology has become, to the point that it is even taken for granted. ‘Where’ is now at everyone’s fingertips. On Earth’s dyn…

For centuries, pacific people have traveled across the vast oceans using traditional canoes and other means of transportation. Today hundreds of thousands of people are dependent on sea and shipping services for business, inter-island travel or just the daily commute to get to work or school. Sea transportation is also the only source of income for…

NCDs are now the leading cause of death, disease and disability in the Pacific and diabetes prevalence is 3 to 4 times higher than elsewhere in the world. Left unchecked, NCDs will cause serious health and social problems for individuals and their families, overwhelm national health systems, and severely limit the development potential of the entir…

A local tilapia fish farmer is inspiring change in Fiji. With some investment and a little training, the farm has become a model operation, showing the way for other farmers to see success in tilapia farming.

Representatives of the 26 countries and territories that govern the Pacific Community (SPC) have gathered in Noumea, New Caledonia for the 49th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations and the 11th Conference of the Pacific Community. In this final podcast, we hear highlights from keynote presentations and revi…

Representatives of the 26 countries and territories that govern the Pacific Community (SPC) have gathered in Noumea, New Caledonia for the 49th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations and the 11th Conference of the Pacific Community. In this podcast, we speak highlight a new agreement signed this week between …

Representatives of the 26 countries and territories that govern the Pacific Community (SPC) have gathered in Noumea, New Caledonia for the 49th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations and the 11th Conference of the Pacific Community. In this podcast, we speak to representatives from some of SPC key partners ab…

Representatives of the 26 countries and territories that govern the Pacific Community (SPC) have gathered in Noumea, New Caledonia for the 49th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations and the 11th Conference of the Pacific Community. Breakout interactive sessions were held to help highlight some of SPC's key a…

Representatives of the 26 countries and territories that govern the Pacific Community (SPC) have gathered in Noumea, New Caledonia for the 49th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations and the 11th Conference of the Pacific Community. We speak to SPC's Deputy Director-General, Dr. Audrey Aumua and SPC's Directo…

The inaugural Pacific Resilience Meeting (PRM) under the theme, ‘Youth Futures in a Resilient Pacific’ took place in Suva, Fiji this week. The event showcased inspiring examples of youth action, and communities and sectors working inclusively to save and improve lives and protect livelihoods. On this podcast we hear from a few of the participants a…

Fiji Minister for Women, Hon. Mereseini Vunidawa joins SPC's Deputy Director General Audrey Aumua, and FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali, for a discussion on the advancement of gender equality in the Pacific.

To mark the 4th Annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Pacific Way team spoke to a few of the Pacific Community women who are leading the way in scientific work for the region.

In the Pacific adapting to climate change is already a way of life. Learn how the people of the Marshall Islands are dealing with drought conditions as they face of future of climate extremes.

On the atolls of Kiribati, finding and maintaining safe drinking water is an ongoing challenge. A growing population and the pressure of climate change are making this challenge even more difficult.

In this episode of Pacific Way we learn about Pacific women breaking new ground in Surveying, including one who's very name means to 'Divide the Earth'.