"Our experience in Solomon Islands tells us that climate change adaptation projects must be part of a longer term programmatic or strategic approach to Vulnerability assessments and Adaptation Actions."
Speaking today at the first Pacific Environment Forum in 
Apia, Samoa, Mr Casper Supa, shared his experience and perspective based on key adaptation actions implemented in developing states in the Pacific.
As the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Project Coordinator for Solomon Islands, Mr Supa told audience at the 'Adapting to Climate Change' panel discussion, "we have also learnt that a longer term Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) program or strategic approach must include building capacity to manage change at the local, provincial and national level."
The main objective of the panel discussion was to highlight climate change adaptation results, discuss key adaptation challenges in the Pacific region and identify opportunities to upscale adaptation initiatives at all levels in society including key development sectors.
With the focus to enhance resilience in the Food Production and Food Security Sector under the PACC Project, Mr Supa highlighted a number of achievements.
"We are now at the stage of planning implementation of adaptation options; developing a national policy and using the local experiences to develop the policy. This week our local consultant is presenting the policy framework to a meeting of all Provincial Government Premiers and Senior Officials."
The project has had its challenges for example, the pilot site is a two-day boat trip from the capital, Honiara, and the boats only visit the island every two months and communication is mainly through radio.
A significant challenge for the V&A Assessment is determining the scope, scale and the timing of the interventions, also the Assessment planning and action is a new approach and needs more time and funding, and politics is a big influence in the country.
"Local and national politics shape people's attitude, perceptions and expectations that we have tried to manage while implementing the project', said Mr Supa.
Opportunities that he says is visible ahead of the PACC Project are the enablement to link local planning with national planning and vice versa.
"And another opportunity as I have said earlier is using PACC to develop a longer term strategic and programmatic V&A Plan for Ontong Java atoll, sharing the lessons learnt and up-scaling the Project."
The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project consists of 14 member countries; it is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Australian Agency for International Development with support from United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Climate Change Capacity Development (C3D+) Programme.