Collaborating for improved environmental and health effectiveness, integration and reach

-
9 May, 2016 - Two European Union funded projects in the Pacific are working together to expand their effectiveness and reach, and deliver improved environmental and public health outcomes across the region.

In New Caledonia last month, representatives from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and PacWaste attended a three-day INTEGRE project workshop at the headquarters of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Noumea.

The INTEGRE project, which promotes integrated coastal zone management, and the Pacific Hazardous Waste Management (PacWaste) project, are collectively injecting close to 20 million euros in European Union funding across communities in 14 Pacific island countries, four overseas countries and territories (OCTs) and Timor-Leste.

Mr Jesús Laviña, Head of Section for Natural Resources and Infrastructure at the European Union Delegation for the Pacific, explains that while the two projects have different focus areas, there are numerous synergies and opportunities for collaboration:

"It is very pleasing to see these two projects, both funded through the 10th European Development Fund, working together to deliver best practices and, importantly, best value across the region. Collaborations like this one between PacWaste and INTEGRE, serve to expand the reach of both projects and benefit a considerably larger number of communities across the region."

The Pacific Community's INTEGRE Project Coordinator, Delphine Leguerrier, explains that regional collaboration and twinning are key components of both projects:

“For INTEGRE, one of our aims is to promote networking activities and exchanges with mirror sites, provide tailor-made methodological support, and create or strengthen sustainable links between OCTs and their neighbours. Given that PacWaste has similar aims, partnering in key areas will assist us in achieving genuine and enduring change in waste management methods which will, in turn, contribute to more sustainable development for the region.”

The second INTEGRE regional technical workshop, which focused on integrated waste management in the Pacific, attracted around 25 waste management professionals from French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Federated States of Micronesia as well as representatives from SPREP, INTEGRE and the Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries (J-PRISM).

Through a series of detailed presentations and interactive group sessions, participants were able to share their experiences and explore key issues of concern with regard to legislation and governance, financial and economic aspects of waste management systems, hazardous waste, landfill management and strategies for engaging communities in waste reduction.



Speaking from the workshop in Noumea, SPREP's PacWaste Communications Officer, Ms Amber Carvan, observed that the issues faced by OCTs with regard to waste management are not dissimilar to those faced in other area of the Pacific:

"It has been very encouraging to note the cross-cutting issues that impact on both INTEGRE and PacWaste. One example that has been highlighted at the workshop is the importance of engaging communities for positive sustainable waste outcomes. PacWaste is looking forward to involving INTEGRE and communities in the Pacific OCTs in the development of best practice guidelines on communications and public engagement in small island contexts."

The collaboration between the two projects will also see the integration of Wallis and Futuna in PacWaste's regional healthcare waste management training and information sharing on best-practise integrated atoll waste management between Republic of the Marshall Islands, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna.

PacWaste is a 7.85 million euro project, funded by the European Union and implemented by SPREP to improve regional hazardous waste management across the Pacific.

INTEGRE is a 12 million euro project, funded by the European Union and implemented by SPC to promote integrated coastal zone management in nine pilot sites across four OCTs.

[ENDS]

Media enquiries

For further information, on the PacWaste/INTEGRE collaboration, please contact Amber Carvan (SPREP) at amberc@sprep.org or Ms Delphine Leguerrier (SPC) at delphinel@spc.int
Enquiries for the European Union can be directed to:

Nazeem Mohammed Kasim
Press and Information Officer
Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific

Mohammed-Nazeem.KASIM@eeas.europa.eu

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AUSTRALIA: A STEADFAST PARTNER AND FRIEND TO SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY DR LACHLAN STRAHN, AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SOLOMON ISLANDS Australia and Solomon Islands enjoy a close bond – indeed, we are Pacific family. The Blue Pacific is our shared home, our common region. The Coral Sea links us forever and continental drift is in fact pushing us closer together. But our deep friendship is based on much more than shared geography. We are bound together by our common values as democratic countries committed to peace, a rich spiritual life and a shared determination to give every individual, man, woman, girl and boy, the opportunity to reach their full potential. Family stick together, through the good times and the tough times. Australia partnered with Solomon Islands during some of the country’s darkest moments, including through RAMSI to help restore stability and law and order. And Solomon Islands has been there for Australia, with people across the country reaching into their hearts to raise funds for the communities ravaged by devastating bushfir...
Read more

VANUATU BIGGEST IMPORTER OF CANNED TUNA FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY GEORGINA KEKEA VANUATU is the biggest importer of canned tuna from Solomon Islands. National Fisheries Development (NFD) Limited Managing Director, Frank Wickham shared this information in a recent radio talkback show to mark World Tuna Day. Wickham says the biggest export destination for SolTuna’s canned tuna is Vanuatu. “Followed by Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the market is now open in New Zealand. There is a big move now to promote and market in New Zealand and Australia. We have containers going to Kiribati, Tuvalu with a few to Tonga and Marshall Islands. The biggest of them all is Vanuatu”, Wickham said. He says domestically the consumption of tuna is growing annually making Solomon  Islands one of the biggest canned tuna consumption per capita in the world. “Two years ago it was like more than 800,000 cartons a year. which means for every woman, man and child in the country, they consume one carton a year. So if you look at 48 tin cans in one carton, it is almost one ...
Read more

HOW A TINY PROVINCE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS REACHES OUT TO AUSTRALIA

-
Image
THE small island province of Temotu in the far eastern part of Solomon Islands is one of the nation’s most prone natural hazard areas. The tsunami in 2013 swamped through 20 villages With an estimated population of less than 25,000, Temotu often has its bouts of natural disasters. In 2015, tropical cyclone Pam left devastating effects on the tiny province where people were affected from damages to their fruit trees, food gardens and agricultural crops. People near the coast were evacuated. Then again in 2017, TC Donna in its wake and formation also impacted badly on the people of Temotu. Not to mention it was only seven years ago a tsunami claimed lives of more than 10 people, swamped more than 20 villages forcing the government to declare a state of emergency over the Santa Cruz Islands. Remains of household in Venga village after 2013 tsunami (Photo supplied) Their most recent bout of disaster was in January 2019 where bad weather caused people to face food shortag...
Read more