SPC – The Pacific Community

SPC has been the principal scientific and technical organisation working to support development in the Pacific region since 1947.

The Pacific Community (SPC), formerly the South Pacific Commission, is an international development organisation governed by 27 members, including 22 Pacific island countries and territories. The abbreviation ‘SPC’ was retained given its widespread use across the Pacific Islands region.

SPC works in seven key areas relevant to development in the Pacific region, including:

climate change
disasters
non-communicable diseases
gender equality
youth employment
food and water security
biosecurity for trade.

SPC is a key partner for ACIAR and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). SPC and ACIAR have worked in partnership for more than 30 years. SPC helps deliver Australia’s wider strategies to benefit the region’s fisheries, agriculture, forestry and biosecurity sectors. ACIAR provides both core and project funding.

The core funding partnership provides supports vital scientific, technical and management capacities, and activities in agriculture and fisheries that add value to the development of Pacific Island countries and territories in these areas.

Our partnership supports and expands capabilities in delivering strategic services to Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) through SPCs:

Other areas of our partnership, include:

improving genetic resources through conservation and use of food and tree crops
research and development planning for Climate-Smart Agriculture
building capacities of women in agriculture
developing innovative approaches to reverse declines in coastal fisheries.

SPC facilitates the participation and engagement of ACIAR in regional consultation processes such as:

Pacific Week of Agriculture
Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services
Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry Services.

ACIAR and SPC continue to collaborate to progress strategic regional initiatives, particularly mitigating the impacts of risks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.