We are very happy and proud to introduce you to this new interactive information portal on water, sanitation and hygiene for the Pacific, which will help Pacific Island Countries, the Pacific Water Partnership and SOPAC to share information and news on some of the most important development issues in the Pacific today.

You can find information on the website about all SOPAC initiatives, programmes and projects on water, sanitation and hygiene, by three main themes:

Over the last decade the number of coastal and open ocean programmes collecting marine environmental data in the Pacific has grown substantially. Uptake and use of the data being generated by these programmes is relatively low amongst Pacific Island countries. A training workshop was therefore held in Nadi, Fiji, from 22-25 Sept 2008 with the aim of improving understanding and awareness of the data and data products that are currently available, and provide hands-on training in their use.

This evening disaster management specialists from the region met at the Suva Holiday Inn for the official launch of a new tool that could revolutionise disaster management throughout the Pacific.

The Pacific Disaster Net (www.pacificdisaster.net) is a web-based portal that will help to link disaster management specialists and resources throughout the Pacific region. It will directly help National Disaster Management Offices and all disaster risk management stakeholders to improve knowledge management, planning and decision-making.

Bangkok, Thailand (UN/ESCAP Information Services). Knowledge and familiarity with information and communication technology (ICT) in the Pacific receieved a boost with the holding of a key United Nations training programme for some of the region’s policy-makers and government officials.

The United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology (UN-APCICT), in collaboration with Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), held a four-day workshop on ICT on the Cook Islands from 2 to 5 September, 2008.

Cook Islands’ Senior Fisheries Officer Ngereteina George has spent the last two weeks at the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) developing a Coral Reef Habitat Map for Aitutaki Lagoon.

The Coral Reef Habitat Map for Aitutaki captures the present characteristics of the marine ecosystem which is critical as a management tool to address the economic and environmental concerns including understanding the possible impacts and developing the best options to enlarge the present shipping channel on Aitutaki.

The Ministry of Provincial Development and Habitat for Humanity Fiji signed the agreement for the Suva Vocational School Retrofit project in Suva today.

Permanent Secretary for Provincial Development Manasa Vaniqi, Director of National Disaster Management Office, Joeli Cawaki and HFHF National Director Richard Counts signed the agreement on the project worth over $19 000.

The project, a pilot for the Pacific is part of the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) “Reducing Vulnerability of School Children to Earthquakes" project in Asia-Pacific? region under UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA).
The Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) is helping countries around region with the project.

The International Year of Sanitation 2008, allowed partners working in the area of water supply, sanitation and hygiene activities in the Pacific region to come together to raise the profile of sanitation.

As part of efforts taken to promote safe sanitation and hygienic practices, the Fiji School of Medicine launched the Sanitation Park with renewed efforts along with its’ Coalition Partners yesterday.

The Sanitation Park Project was designed to provide support to communities and health workers in Fiji and the Pacific region to identify and address their sanitation problems.

The Park is located at the Fiji School of Medicine (FSMed), Tamavua Campus in Suva.

Opening Address at the Workshop on the development of the Kiribati National Energy Policy and Mainstreaming of Energy - Honorable Kouraiti Beniato, Minister of Public Works and Utilities, Government of Kiribati

Otintai Hotel, Tarawa: 4th August 2008

The Acting Premier of Niue Hon Pokotai Sipeli launched the Niue Sustainable Coastal Development Policy in Alofi, last week (30th July).

The launch was attended by the New Zealand High Commissioner in Niue, His Excellency Mr. Brian Smythe, Cabinet Ministers, Head of Departments and Representatives of the Private Sector and Communities.

A challenge in implementing Disaster Risk Management in any region of the world is access to resources.

In this respect, Pacific island governments have only limited means to execute initiatives related to natural disasters. Consequently, such initiatives must compete for funds with initiatives from other sectors such as health, education and defence.

The “Pacific Regional Disaster Risk Management Meeting for Pacific CEOs of Finance/Planning and Disaster Management” which starts tomorrow will help respective CEOs develop greater understanding of the global and regional commitments towards Disaster Risk Management.