28 May 2024, Apia Samoa - The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) have bolstered the strategic collaboration to work towards building a more resilient Pacific environment.
They have done this through a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by SPREP’s Director General, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra and SINU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Transform Aqorau, at the National University of Samoa (NUS), on the margins of the 4th Pacific Ocean Pacific Climate Change Conference (POPCCC). The first MOU between SPREP and SINU was signed in 2019.
The new memorandum outlines a comprehensive framework to strengthen the cooperation in various areas, including climate change adaptation, environmental sustainability, and capacity building. Within this framework, SPREP and SINU collaborate on activities they will implement, aimed at addressing the pressing issues of climate change and environmental protection in the Pacific region.
“We are very excited to be taking this step today to sign this MOU with the Solomon Islands National University,” said Mr Nawadra.
“SPREP continues to work according to the mandate given to us by our member states and that mandate is 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.
“The MOU signed today allows us to continue this work and I want to thank and acknowledge SINU for the partnership and we look forward to further collaboration across Research and Capacity building and other areas”
SPREP is a regional, intergovernmental organisation comprising 26 members consisting of 21 Pacific Island Countries and Territories and five developed countries. It is the Pacific region’s key inter-governmental organisation for environment and sustainable development and it marks its 31st anniversary this year.
Solomon Islands National University (SINU) was incepted in January 2013 and has five faculties namely the Faculty of Business & Tourism Studies, Faculty of Science & Technology, Faculty of Nursing, Medicine & Health Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry and Faculty of Education & Humanities.
Professor Transform Aqorau said the signing of the MOU with SPREP is another milestone in the ongoing relationship between the organisations.
“It reflects our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and climate resilience,” said Professor Aqorau. “By working together, SINU and SPREP will leverage the strengths of both traditional knowledge and scientific research to address the complex challenges of our time. This partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration in fostering innovation and empowering our communities.”
Professor Aqorau also noted his historical connection with SPREP, having been one of the negotiators and signatories of the SPREP Agreement as the Plenipotentiary of Solomon Islands in 1993.
This enduring relationship underscores the deep commitment and shared vision of both institutions in promoting sustainable development and environmental protection in the Pacific region.
Professor Aqorau, who is an expert in international fisheries law, was one of the keynote speakers during the 4th POPCCC. He spoke on the topic of “Harnessing Ancestral Wisdom: Traditional Knowledge and Practices for Climate Resilience.”
Solomon Islands will host the 5th POPCCC in 2026.