7 August 2011, Port Vila, Vanuatu – The first regional climate change project that coordinates 'on the ground' adaptation activities in 13 island countries is governed by a Board which meets at least three times a year.
Port Vila, Vanuatu is the site of the next board meeting this week which has given direction for the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project to grow in terms of funding for national adaptation projects for island countries.
PACC is currently a 13 million dollar 
project that supports adaptation to climate change projects in three main areas – food security and production, coastal management and water resources management. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is an implementing partner with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
"We have a good board in place that is very knowledgeable of the project and have made some key decisions that have improved implementation," said Mr Taito Nakalevu, the PACC Project Manager.
"We hope to continue to have the support of the board as we move into the future particularly with the opportunity to have the PACC as the implementation framework for adaptation projects in the region aiming for more donors to contribute more funding into the PACC."
The present board is a combination of members with both technical and policy expertise. Melanesia is represented by the Solomon Islands, Micronesia is represented by the Federated States of Micronesia and Polynesia is represented by Niue. The board is chaired by the Resident representative of the UNDP multi country office in Samoa and the Deputy chair is the Acting Director of SPREP, with the University of the South Pacific representing the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific.
They are charged with providing guidance and assistance with financing, project management, technical support and administration for the Project Management Unit based at SPREP. The board is also responsible for making key decisions for the project.
"One of the key items of the agenda for discussion this week includes progressing the work of the project to ensure quality work done on the ground in the region over the next few years as well as future opportunities for the PACC project."
Countries that are part of the PACC include Nauru, Niue, Marshall Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu who are focusing on addressing water resources management; Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands have national projects to help increase food security and food production with; Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa and the Federated States of Micronesia addressing coastal erosion management.
The board will meet during the multipartite review of the PACC project in Port Vila, Vanuatu during 8 - 12 August.