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Visiting one of my project site on the 29th October 2020 with Minister Usamate.

From understanding, to the practical application of Ridge to Reef principles, the Pacific R2R Programme has presented participating Pacific Island countries an opportunity to test, refine, replicate and upscale an emerging and sustainable, development paradigm. Longer-term investment in R2R mainstreaming, concepts, practices and policies could prove model for up-scaling at the level of large continental river basins, linked coastal and marine areas.

As an integral part of the GEF strategy, the Pacific R2R Programme has provided unique opportunities to support country capacity development (formally and informally) of local professionals to sustainably govern and manage their priority environmental issues and contribute to global environmental benefits.

To highlight some of the impacts of the training and capacity building activities to date, the Regional Programme Coordination Unit conducted a rapid online survey serves to showcase experiences.

In 2017, the Pacific Community (SPC) R2R programme partnered with James Cook University to deliver the Post Graduate Program in Ridge to Reef Sustainable Development. The R2R post graduate programme provides educational pathways from 2 years for the certificate to an additional year for the diploma.

Participating countries include: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia , Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshal Islands , Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Name

Sereseini Dikalouniwai

Job title

Project Manager Safeguards

Country

Fiji

Project

IW R2R Project

Organization name

Water Authority of Fiji

 

Which formal (accredited) capacity building/training activity has been the most successful for your project and/or stakeholders?

Ecosystem Dynamics, Project Mangement, R2R Tools, Integrated Management of R2R Ecosystems, Technical Stream

Why have each of these that you have identified been successful?

it really assist me in my present working areas.

What were your key learnings from each subject you identified as successful?

Ecosystem Dynamics - The ideas of interacting Mosaics and connectivity are key to understanding  why the Ridge to Reef management approach is important and how best to employ it.

How have you applied these key learnings in your work? Please give examples.

Yes. Am currently looking after the safeguards of the Rewa River Water Supply Projects where I also collected water samples from different locations for testing. This R2R course really helps me in terms of analysing the data and also the collecting of water samples.

What opportunities has applying these learning provided for your community/country? Please give examples.

The project that am handling at the moment is for the government of Fiji where it is going to provide a quality drinking water to about 300, 000 people within the Suva Nausori Corridor.

What were some of the challenges you faced with the formal training and capacity building activities? 

Learning remotely has challenges and communication responses may often be delayed.