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About SOPAC
The Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), is an inter-governmental, regional organization with 16 full and 3 associate member Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) as well as Australia and New Zealand. SOPAC is dedicated to providing services to promote sustainable development in the PICTs that it serves. SOPAC’s work is carried out through its Secretariat, based in Suva.
SOPAC was founded in 1972 as a United Nations project called the Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in South Pacific Offshore Areas (CCOP/SOPAC), to promote offshore mineral and petroleum prospecting. It became autonomous in 1984. While its initial focus was on marine mapping and geosciences it has since broadened its scope and capabilities to also include disaster risk reduction and disaster management, environmental vulnerability, oceanography, energy, water and sanitation, and information and communication technology (ICT).
SOPAC focuses on providing assistance to its member countries in three key technical programme areas of: managing Ocean and Islands, developing Community Lifelines and managing Community Risk. These programmes are supported by Corporate Services.
- Ocean and Islands is an integrated programme focused on research, development and management of non-living resources in ocean and island systems addressing issues relating to seabed resources, energy, maritime boundary delimitation and monitoring of ocean processes. This is achieved through a strategic approach to focus interventions in advocacy and governance, resource assessment and monitoring changes in ocean and islands ecosystem.
- Community Lifelines is a diversified programme that strengthens national capacities in energy, water and sanitation, information and communications technologies (ICTs). Through an integrated approach, this programme seeks to harmonize interventions in the area of governance and advocacy, and resource and asset management.
- Community Risk is a comprehensive programme aimed at reduction of community vulnerability through improved hazard assessment and risk management. It provides an intergrated framework for interventions in risk management, including scientific and technical solutions, and developing the skills of risk professional in the region.
- Corporate Services provides a comprehensive management, administrative and technical support to all of SOPAC’s activities.
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