20 September 2024, Alofi Niue - The work of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to promote cooperation in the Pacific region and provide assistance in order to protect and improve its environment, and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations, continues in Niue this week.
SPREP’s Deputy Director General, Ms Easter Chu Shing and her Strategic Planning team, met with the Honourable Mona Ainu'u, Niue’s Minister for Natural Resource, to begin discussions about developing a Niue and SPREP Country and Territory Strategic Partnership Framework (CTSPF).
The SPREP delegation also met with the Secretary to Government, Ms Peleni Talagi, the Deputy Secretary to Government, Ms Gaylene Tasmania, Director of Department of Environment, Mr Haden Talagi, and stakeholders from the Department of Environment, Niue Meteorological Service, and Department of Health.
A CTSPF is a high-level agreement that identifies a member country’s environment and resilience priorities and confirms mutual commitments between the member and the Secretariat for addressing these priorities.
There was shared enthusiasm between the parties about the potential for the CTSPF to guide and strengthen engagement, collaboration, and implementation as the Government of Niue and SPREP work towards a healthy and resilient Niue environment.
The CTSPF process will also provide an opportunity for Niue to identify new priorities and areas for SPREP to assist with, and ensure that SPREP’s activities complement those of other partners working in the environment and climate change resilience sectors going forward.
While in Niue, Ms. Chu Shing and the SPREP team also took the opportunity to meet with the New Zealand High Commissioner, H.E Mark Gibb to Niue as well as the Australia High Commissioner, H.E Katy Stuart to discuss broader strategic partnership issues.