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The SOPAC EU Project commenced working actively in the region during the first quarter of 2003. The initial implementation of the Project focused on those SOPAC Member Countries who are also ACP States under the 8th European Development Fund [EDF8], namely, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Following increased funding in February 2004 through the 9th European Development Fund [EDF9], the project expanded to include Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue and Palau.

The goal of the Project is to address vulnerability reduction in the Pacific ACP States through the development of an integrated planning and management system, Island Systems Management. The objective is to strengthen integrated development in Pacific ACP States by concentrating on three key focal areas in the island system:

• hazard mitigation and risk assessment;
• aggregates for construction; and,
• water resources supply and sanitation.

The Project will address problems such as:

• unavailability of accurate and timely data [GIS, Remote Sensing and Bathymetry];
• weak human resource base [capacity];
• limited resources [money and infrastructure]; and,
• lack of appropriate management plans, policies and regulatory frameworks to deal with these three focal areas.

To be implemented by SOPAC, over a period of four years, the basis of the Project will focus on field surveys in selected onshore areas and coastal harbours, lagoons, bays and shallow waters. User-friendly spatial databases will be developed from these survey areas [together with up-to-date aerial photos and satellite images] through application of Global Positioning Systems [GPS], and Geographic Information Systems/Remote Sensing [GIS/RS] tools. Access for all stakeholders to these common spatial databases via effective communications networks will be established through the foundation of dedicated information and communication centres in-country and training in the use of the tools developed.

For each country, this information will support the development of a knowledge base in these three focal areas thereby enabling the production of planning and management tools such as codes of practice, guidelines and draft legislation, to enhance integrated development for selected geographic areas or nation-wide.

The Project is consistent with UN Agenda 21, the Barbados Programme Of Action [BPOA] for Small Island Developing States [SIDS] and recent initiatives of the UN Economic and Social Council [ECOSOC] that recognise the vulnerability of small island states and emphasise the role information communication technology can play in assisting such countries in resource development.

Further information on the SOPAC-EUProject and details of in-country work programmes and selected Project study sites can be obtained from the Secretariat, or by accessing the SOPAC-EU Project Website: http://map.sopac.org