Pacific Island Countries to benefit from A$5.4miliion Australian Government support to SOPAC .
6 December 2005

The Government of Australia, through its overseas aid program, will provide A$5.4 million from 2006 to 2008, to the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) to support activities undertaken by the Commission in its 21member states in the Pacific.

The Director of SOPAC, Ms Cristelle Pratt, and the Australian High Commissioner, Ms Jennifer Rawson, signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), covering this funding, on 6 December.

Australia, a founding member of SOPAC, is a strong supporter of the organisation and its work within the region. Australia recognises that SOPAC provides strategic and cost effective responses to the sustainable management of non-living resources in the Pacific region. Australia acknowledges the quality technical services and capacity building initiatives SOPAC delivers in critical sectors

Since 2003 Australian Government funding to SOPAC has been provided on the basis of agreed outcomes from the Commission's strategic plans. This has resulted in a move away from the focus on individual projects, thus increasing the organisation's strategic and flexible use of Australian Government funds. The 2006 - 2008 MOU supports the priorities of member countries under the 2005 - 2009 SOPAC Strategic Plan. The three programme areas are: Oceans and Islands; Community Risk; and Community Lifelines.

Oceans and Islands focusses on improved technical knowledge of ocean and island ecosystems for the sustainable management of natural resources.

Community Risk helps build safer communities through improved disaster risk management practices.

Community Lifelines improves community access to energy, water and sanitation, and information and communication technologies.

The partnership between Australia and SOPAC is focused on sustainable and equitable development, contributing to the development needs of the Pacific, effective developmental outcomes, quality in service delivery and a commitment to good governance.

Ms Pratt said SOPAC greatly appreciated the financial and technical assistance provided by the Government of Australia in the past, and looks forward to this continued support over the next three years.