Long-Term Future Of SPC Under Review

09th February 2012

The Secretariat of the South Pacific Community (SPC) is poised to review its key strategic direction for the next fifty years.

An independent, external review process will take place over the next three months.

In Fiji after five days at SPC Headquarters in Noumea, and leading the Independent Review is Mr James W. Adams, a former World Bank Regional Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific.

Mr Adams is assisted by a team comprised of Dr Colin Tukuitonga (Niue), Noumea Simi (Samoa), Peter Winder (New Zealand), Alan Morris (Australia) Bruno Peaucelier (French Polynesia) and Dr Norman Barth (United States of America).

SPC Secretary General, Dr Jimmie Rodgers said that the organisation had prepared earlier this year for the Review with an Experts Reference Group, led by Mr Alf Simpson, a former Director of SOPAC, (Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission), at which SPC Divisional Directors made presentations on the programmes and projects their teams are undertaking and importantly, identifying key priorities they will focus on into the future.

The findings of the Experts Reference Group will be presented to the Independent Review Team, who will make assessments and recommendations as to the key services SPC should focus on delivering in the coming 10 to 20 years.
Dr Rodgers, who hails from the Western Province of Solomon Islands, completes his tenure with SPC in two years’ time. He sees the Review process as essential to ensure that SPC has the endorsement of its members, following the Regional Institutional Framework (RIF) reforms that led to the inclusion of SOPAC and the SPBEA (Secretariat of the Pacific Board for Educational Assessment) as parts of SPC.

“This review sets the pace for the future of an organisation that houses three previously independent organisations,” said Dr Rodgers.

“My tenure has been about change as well as service delivery. For me, the key issue is to bring this period of change to a close, to set the stage so the next CEO can focus on work and service delivery.

Dr Rodgers’ time with SPC has also been marked by his insistence upon the need for long-term planning and forecasting as a way of preventing a potential short-fall between the region’s resources and its growing populations.
He is a strong advocate of SPC’s core business, to work for and assist the development of Pacific Community members, encouraging an increased focus on members’ priorities, contributing knowledge and expertise to assist decision-makers throughout the region, and maintaining and developing partnerships that will support SPC’s delivery of excellent service.

The excellence of delivery to SPC’s 22 Island member countries is managed through SPC’s Divisions: Economic Development; Education, Training and Human Development; Fisheries; Land Resources; Public Health; SOPAC, (Applied Geoscience and Technology); Statistics for Development, and Strategic Engagement Policy and Planning Facility.

Since its inception 65 years ago, SPC has evolved from a post-World War II agency, created by colonial powers to assist in the administration of the Pacific Island territories and protectorates, as well as help the people living there.

It is now an organisation that employs 300 scientists, technicians and specialists to help address growing threats to the region that include climate change, food security, water, sanitation and health issues, and natural disasters.

ENDS