The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has expressed its commitment to establish a permanent office in Fiji to further expand technical and policy support, and livelihood programs.
At present, SPREP support to Fiji is valued at $10million worth of projects, including ongoing programs on Beqa Island, Rewa Delta and Savusavu, among others.
With this elevated support, SPREP staff numbers has increased to 15 in Fiji; together with the provision of technical and policy advice, training, capacity building initiatives, and new projects sites identified for Environment Conservation or Waste Management and Pollution Control.
In his meeting with SPREP director-general Sefanaia Nawadra, Ministry of Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Dr Lesikimacuata Korovavala acknowledged the organisation’s commitment and cooperation with Fiji in building resilient, inclusive and sustainable livelihood for the communities, through programs aimed at protecting environment and natural resources.
Mr Korovavala commended SPREP efforts to establish a permanent office in Fiji, which would mean greater level of cooperation and program implementation for the benefit of local communities.
Mr Nawadra said Fiji’s regional hub status offered great opportunities for SPREP to expand and enhance its services in Fiji.
“Currently SPREP is leasing office and plan is to transition in a permanent office and further enhance cooperation with the Government of Fiji, Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies, the United Nations (UN) organisations, Heads of Missions (HOMs) and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs),” he said.
SPREP is a regional organisation that was established in the 1970s and it works to deliver on environmental management and sustainable development in the region against four priority areas: climate change resilience, ecosystem and biodiversity protection, environmental governance and waste management and pollution control.
