The Pacific’s collective effort to strengthen ocean resilience and community well-being has been bolstered through the launch of the Pacific Ocean Initiative – Sustainable Protection and Management of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems for Community Resilience. The programme was formalised in December 2025 through a partnership between the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
Backed by an €8 million AFD grant over five years, the Pacific Ocean Initiative is a regional programme designed to protect coastal and marine biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and support sustainable development across Pacific Island countries and territories. The initiative brings together SPREP and the Pacific Community (SPC) to coordinate activities with Pacific governments, scientific and technical partners, and non-governmental and civil society organisations, addressing shared ocean challenges and promoting food and economic security for Pacific communities.
The initiative will benefit 18 Pacific Island countries and territories, including Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Timor-Leste, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna.
SPREP Director General Sefanaia Nawadra described the programme as “a bold and collective commitment to safeguard the ecosystems that sustain our communities, cultures, and economies.” He added, “By fostering knowledge sharing and regional collaboration, this programme aims to strengthen the capacity of Pacific nations to protect, sustainably manage and restore their coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.”
AFD Head in Fiji, Elodie Vitalis, emphasised the importance of the Pacific-led initiative. “Protecting the Pacific Ocean means safeguarding the beating heart of this region. Together with SPREP and SPC, we are joining forces to restore vital ecosystems, support the communities whose livelihoods depend on the ocean, and strengthen the capacity of Pacific Island countries to face the impacts of climate change,” she said.
The Pacific Ocean Initiative aligns with the Blue Pacific 2050 Strategy, which seeks to ensure sustainable and resilient development across the region. The initiative focuses on strengthening regional and local expertise for sustainable management of marine and coastal resources through three components: enhancing regional collaboration and national capacity, supporting community-level co-management of coastal resources, and providing project management, monitoring, and evaluation. SPREP will lead the regional coordination and management components, while SPC will oversee community-based ecosystem management.
Expected outcomes include the development of a regional community of practice for coral reef monitoring, improved coral restoration through inter-reef connectivity, and healthier, more resilient communities through sustainable coastal fisheries management.
By fostering a forward-looking partnership between SPREP, SPC, and AFD, the Pacific Ocean Initiative aims to ensure that the region’s marine ecosystems are sustainably managed, resilient to climate change, and capable of supporting prosperous and sustainable communities for generations to come.
