Problem Solving Through Regional Networking

22 November 2011

[22 November 2011 (Suva, Fiji] – A mail-group based network that links development professionals and practitioners together to share knowledge, innovative ideas and practical experiences to help solve problems related to climate change in the Pacific was launched today.

The AusAID Counsellor-Regional, Ms. Romaine Kwesius and the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. Knut Ostby jointly launched the Pacific Solution Exchange Climate Change and Development Community (CCD) today in Suva, Fiji. The focus of the community on climate change and development emphasizes the importance of ensuring that climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are considered in the context of broader development issues and promote better development outcomes and effectiveness through integrated planning, budgeting and implementation.

“The challenge in this area is to improve cooperation and integration and address the need to draw on good practices as well as the lessons learnt from less successful ventures from both within the region and outside,” said Mr Ostby. He also added that he believed the Pacific Solution Exchange community provided a real opportunity for policy makers and practitioners to work together to solve problems and identify climate change solutions that best meet the needs of Pacific Island countries.

AusAID Counsellor-Regional, Ms. Romaine Kwesius said that Australian assistance for climate change adaptation was delivered through the $328.2 million International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative (ICCAI) and that $80 million of this programme would be delivered in the Pacific over the next two years, building on the significant support that has already been delivered.

“We recognize the need to improve delivery of climate change programmes in the region and the importance of sharing knowledge on lessons learned and best practice. We believe Pacific Solution Exchange – Climate Change and Development community can make valuable contribution to these efforts and are pleased to have provided US$255,000 to support this initiative,” said Ms Kwesius

Joining the CCD Community will allow members to tap into the knowledge, expertise and experiences of other professionals and people working in a wide range of areas connected to both climate change as well as those working to improve aid management and development performance more generally. The membership ranges from government officials, members of non-government organisations, development partners and the academia. All of whom are expected to benefit from sharing knowledge, advice and information on demand and identifying together a wide range of solutions and ideas for increasing development effectiveness.

The first enquiry going out to the members on this community is from Mavis Depaune working in the department of Commerce, Industry and Environment (CIE) for the Government of Nauru.

Ms. Depaune on behalf of the Government of Nauru is reaching out to practitioners on the CCD community to provide advice on how Nauru can ensure the effective implementation of a new national Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Policy. She is looking for examples, innovative tools, lessons learned, and best practices that others have applied to improve management of their water sector and in particular how climate change issues have been addressed. This will help the Nauru Government departments implement the provisions of a new their new policy.

After allowing two weeks for responses, the CCD community facilitation team will synthesize the replies generated from Ms Depaune’s enquiry and research supporting information. The final product called a ‘consolidated reply’ will be shared with the Government of Nauru and the rest of the practitioners on the community.

Overall, the practical experience from the field will help other practitioners improve their projects and will assist in harnessing Pacific knowledge on climate change adaptation and development.

Pacific Solution Exchange: Climate Change and Development Community, which is financially supported by AusAID, builds on the success of a year-long pilot community on Development Effectiveness.

To join the community log onto www.solutionexchange-un.net/pacific/

Link:
http://www.undppc.org.fj/pages.cfm/newsroom/press-releases/2011/problem-solving-through-regional-networking.html

ENDS

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