SPC signs AUD 18 million funding agreement with Australia

SPC signs AUD 18 million funding agreement with Australia

Rob Tranter, First Assistant Director General, Pacific for the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), signed a new AUD 18 million grant agreement that continues Australia’s partnership with SPC for sustainable development of the Pacific.

AUD 13.5 million of this funding is Australia’s core and programme funding for the year, which supports the organisation in providing technical assistance, policy advice, training and research to 22 Pacific Island countries and territories.

Australia provides this funding in recognition of the important role SPC plays in implementing regional priorities.

An additional AUD 2.5 million is included in the agreement to support regional services provided by SPC in the areas of transport and energy.

The remaining AUD 2 million is allocated to help SPC implement the recommendations of last year’s independent external review. This review advocated changes in SPCs’ structure and upgrades to internal systems to keep up with the organisation’s rapid growth over the last few years.

Dr Rodgers welcomed the funding support and said that it would strengthen SPC’s capacity to provide core services to Pacific Island countries and territories. He furthered stressed the significance of the longstanding partnership and Australia’s importance as a key contributor to SPC and hence a major force in helping Pacific people achieve their development aspirations.

Australian support is essential for SPC to continue its activities around the Pacific and help Pacific countries and territories become more resilient to future challenges.

Visiting Noumea, John Davidson, Minister-Counsellor, Pacific for AusAID, noted that Australia is a founding member of SPC and has been a strong supporter of the organisation since its inception in 1947. ‘We look forward to working with SPC in building its capacity to meet the priority needs of its members into the 21st century,’ he said.

Background information
SPC is a Pacific-based international organisation that assists Pacific Island countries and territories by delivering a wide range of technical, research, educational and planning services. It has 26 members comprising 22 Pacific Island countries and territories and Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States of America.

ENDS

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