27 May 2024, Apia Samoa - The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Live & Learn Environmental Education Pacific Network have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allowing the organisations to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest as they work to build a more resilient Pacific environment.
The MOU was signed on Thursday evening at the National University of Samoa (NUS), on the margins of the 4th Pacific Ocean Pacific Climate Change Conference (POPCCC) held in Apia.
SPREP is a regional, intergovernmental organisation comprising 26 members consisting of 21 Pacific Island Countries and Territories and five developed countries with direct interests in the Pacific region. The organisation exists to promote cooperation in the Pacific region and to provide assistance in order to protect and improve the Pacific environment, to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations. It marks its 31st anniversary this year.
At the signing ceremony, SPREP’s Director General, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, welcomed the opportunity to work with Live & Learn.
“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,” Mr Nawadra said.
“The collaboration with Live & Learn is an important part of fulfilling our mandate. We welcome the opportunity to work with partner organisations to enable us to serve our Pacific communities better and to always ensure our goal of working towards a more resilient Pacific environment is at the front and center of everything we do.”
Live & Learn is a network of local Non-Government Organisations working across 12 countries in the Pacific to localise development efforts and support communities in building resilience to climate change, sustain ecosystems and maintain healthy communities. Its journey in the Pacific began 30 years ago with its first Pacific country office in the Solomon Islands. Today, it has offices in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru.
Live & Learn’s Programmes Director Pacific, Ms Doris Susau said the MOU with SPREP is important because it will support and guide the development and strengthening of systems concerning environmental protection in the Pacific region.
“With the Memorandum of Understanding, Live & Learn will be committed in our effort towards strengthened collaboration in relation to the environment with SPREP on consultation on policy matters of mutual concern; exchange of information on developments and current activities; supporting awareness-raising efforts; implementing global and regional priorities and supporting capacity-building initiatives,” said Ms Susau.
“The MoU with SPREP is a demonstration of the Live & Learn Pacific Network’s commitment to partnerships. We look forward to our journey together with our pacific communities and people.”
The signing of the MOU began with a prayer conducted by the General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Rev. James Bhagwan. It was witnessed by Samoa’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster and delegates from the 4th POPCCC.