3 September 2025, Apia - The Pacific’s journey towards a more resilient Blue Pacific environment has taken key step forward with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Pasifika Communities University (PCU).
The MOU was signed on Wednesday between SPREP Director General, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, and PCU Vice Chancellor, Rev. Dr. Upolu Luma Vaai, on the margins of the 32nd SPREP Meeting of Officials and related meetings underway in Apia, from 1-5 September.
The memorandum provides a framework of co-operation between SPREP and PCU on issues of mutual concern to strengthen systems, institutions, organisations and individuals concerned with environmental protection in the Pacific region.
SPREP is a regional, intergovernmental organisation comprising 26 members consisting of 21 Pacific Island Countries and Territories and five developed countries with direct interests in the Pacific region.
It exists to promote co-operation in the Pacific region and to provide assistance in order to protect and improve its environment and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations.
SPREP Director General, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, welcomed the Pasifika Communities University to the family of educational institutions the Secretariat has signed memorandums with, in its ongoing efforts to work with communities, to build a resilient Pacific environment.
“SPREP is extremely grateful on behalf of our Pacific members to be able to sign this most important partnership,” he said. “We look forward to working with the Pasifika Communities University on faith-based initiatives and Pacific approaches to sustainable development, consistent with our culture and traditions.”
Formerly the Pacific Theological College (PTC), the PCU was launched in April 2025 as a university with a history of over 50 years’ experience in theological education. Besides its theological education portfolio, PCU has now added two learning portfolios – School of Ecological and Resilience Development, and the School of Pasifika Philosophies, Education and Sciences.
Central to its vision of ‘whole of life’ education is its ‘community-based’ learning and research.
PCU Vice Chancellor, Rev. Dr. Upolu Luma Vaai, said: “I am encouraged by this MOU with SPREP, marking a bold step towards a unified collaborated approach to address development issues through the lens of Pasifika “whole of life philosophies and theologies.”
“Besides our theological portfolio and the addition of new schools, centres on development, leadership, gender justice and climate change, PCU offers Pacific ‘whole of life’ philosophy as central to recognising development and policy creation and reframing.”
The MOU will allow SPREP and PCU to strengthen collaboration on the implementation of global, regional and national priorities, support capacity-building initiatives, development of partnerships in research, philosophies courses, climate change projects and leadership.
The Thirty second SPREP Meeting of Officials (SM32) and associated meetings are taking place at Sheraton Aggie Grey’s Hotel & Bungalows in Samoa, from 1-5 September.
Guided by the theme “Sustaining our Pacific Environment in Harmony with our Cultures”, the SM32 and associated meetings bring together SPREP Members to discuss strategic issues pertaining to the organisation, and to approve the 2026-2027 Work Programme and Budget.
The 21 Pacific Island Members of SPREP are: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna. The five Metropolitan members of SPREP are: Australia, France, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
In our efforts to fulfil our vision of ‘a resilient Pacific environment, sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures’, SPREP is extremely grateful to our valued Members, partners, donors, our CROP family, and stakeholders.
For more information on the 32SM, visit https://www.sprep.org/sprep-meeting/2025/32nd-meeting-of-officials or contact sprep@sprep.org