Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Elizabeth Wright-Koteka, middle, and the Pacific Community director-general, Dr Paula Vivili, third from left, after their meeting on Tuesday. They are pictured with MFAI and SPC officials. MFAI/26101421
Cook Islands and the Pacific Community (SPC) are holding national consultations today to establish a five-year Country Programme. The initiative aims to align regional technical expertise and resources with local development and economic priorities.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI), the consultations will help shape the programme and guide how SPC’s assistance is directed toward national development goals over the next five years.
The consultations follow a bilateral meeting between the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Elizabeth Wright-Koteka, and SPC director-general, Dr Paula Vivili, on Tuesday, as part of SPC’s official mission to the Cook Islands.
They discussed the Cook Islands’ long standing cooperation with SPC in areas such as health, education, water and resilience, fisheries and food systems, statistics and planning, and how SPC’s expertise and resources can better respond to the country’s needs.
MFAI said the meeting provided an opportunity to review the Cook Islands’ longstanding cooperation with SPC and discuss how the organisation’s technical expertise and resources can better respond to the country’s development needs.
Representatives from government agencies, civil society organisations and SPC representatives will take part in the consultations to assess existing cooperation, identify emerging priorities and consider opportunities for more targeted resourcing and technical assistance.
Secretary Wright-Koteka said that the partnership is valuable and that getting the most from it depends on national ownership.
“Our partnership with SPC gives us access to expertise and resources that are important to our development. The responsibility is also on us to identify where support is most needed, ensure our agencies are working towards the same priorities, and be realistic about what we can deliver and sustain.”
The Country Programme will set out the agreed priorities and measurable outcomes for SPC support over the next five years. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration will continue working with SPC and national stakeholders to finalise it in the coming months.
Prime Minister Mark Brown welcomed SPC director-general, Dr Paula Vivili on his first official visit to the Cook Islands this week. Cook Islands was the 23rd and final country on his visits to members this year. HON MARK BROWN (FACEBOOK)/26101422
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Brown welcomed Dr Vivili on his first official visit to the Cook Islands this week. Cook Islands was the 23rd and final country on his visits to members this year.
“Dr Vivili spoke about SPC’s current work with us in climate change, disaster preparedness, water and gender. I shared our priorities for the next four years: bringing all of our islands into the wider economy, diversifying, and making sure that as our country prospers, every family prospers too,” Brown said in a statement on his Facebook page.
“I was proud to see familiar faces who now work for SPC: Alex Herman, our former commissioner of the Seabed Minerals Authority; Valery Wichman, former director of Central Policy and Planning at OPM; and Ian Bertram, former secretary of Marine Resources. Serving in regional organisations builds their own capabilities and inspires others in our public service to see what they too are capable of.
“Meitaki ma’ata, Dr Vivili and team, for your visit and our continued partnership.”