5 March 2025, Apia Samoa - Data-driven decision-making allows policy makers, practitioners, and communities to develop targeted strategies that enhance resilience and safeguard livelihoods. Effective data management, in turn, ensures this information is organised, accessible, and actionable.
Initially developed under the GEF-UNEP funded Inform Project, and continuously supported by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Pacific Environment Data Portal and its network of 14 national portals serves as a crucial platform for managing and sharing environmental data across the Pacific region.
By providing a centralised, secure repository for environmental data, the portal enables member countries and partners to easily access critical information for their adaptation planning and reporting obligations.
During a refresher training session facilitated by the Environmental Governance team on Tuesday 18 February 2025, fourteen SPREP staff members gained skills in understanding and effectively using the Pacific Environment Data Portal.
“The Pacific Environment Data Portal is an essential tool for our member countries, providing access to reliable environmental data that supports adaptation planning and reporting obligations,” said Mr Jope Davetanivalu, Director of SPREP’s Environmental Governance Programme.
“By investing in internal capacity building, we are strengthening our ability to support member countries in achieving their sustainable development goals.”
The training covered key features such as creating datasets, uploading resources, the importance of metadata, and data-sharing licences to facilitate effective data management. Pre and post-training surveys revealed that while most participants had heard of the portal, they rarely used it before the session.
However, following the training, most participants expressed a strong interest in utilising the portal. The participants also took part in practical exercises to familiarise themselves with the portal's functionalities, ensuring it supports their work and promotes efficient data management for evidence-based decision-making.
Access to accurate and timely data is the foundation of effective decision-making in addressing environmental challenges.
By centralising data management through the Pacific Environment Data Portal, SPREP is enabling a more coordinated regional approach to tackling issues such as waste management, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
The portal's capacity to store and disseminate data and information on hazardous waste, coastal health, climate and biodiversity directly supports national reporting obligations and helps align local actions with key regional frameworks, such as the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
This training is the first of a series planned for 2025, through which SPREP reaffirms its commitment to enhancing regional collaboration and supporting its member countries in addressing environmental challenges.
By leveraging reliable data, SPREP aims to contribute to a more resilient and sustainable Pacific, ensuring that the region's communities can thrive despite the growing impacts of climate change.
The internal training was supported by the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) through its SPREP Climate Change - Policy, Operational, Advisory and Enabling Support.
For more information on the Pacific Environment Portal, please contact Ms Lagi Reupena at lagir@sprep.org or Tavita Sua at tavitas@sprep.org. For information regarding the NZ MFAT SPREP Support, please contact Mr Jope Davetanivalu.