REGIONAL INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENTS PERTAINING TO SOPAC

On 17 October 2007, at the 38th Pacific Islands Forum, Leaders expressed "the need to rationalise the functions of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) with the work programmes of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) with the view to absorbing those functions of SOPAC into SPC and SPREP" (para. 19b of the Forum Leaders' Communique of 2007).

Following that, at the 36th SOPAC Session (AS36) in November 2007, the SOPAC Governing Council decided on a way forward <Decision> in response to Para.19b of the Forum Leaders’ 2007 Communiqué. This page was created to track milestone events and associated documentation for the SOPAC Secretariat.

On 21 August 2008 (Fiji Time) the Forum Leaders' Communique 2008 released after the Leaders met in Niue reaffirmed the Leaders' 2007 decision, clarified timelines, and issued directives to governing councils of affected organisations to take final decisions on the new institutional arrangements during 2009, and for implementation to commence immediately following those decisions (Para. 20 of 2008 Communique).

In July 2009, at an unprecedented joint SPC, SPREP and SOPAC governing councils' meeting, chaired by the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Members apportioned the SOPAC functions and programmes that would transfer to SPC and those that would transfer to SPREP.

On 6 August 2009, the Pacific Forum Leaders at their 40th Meeting in Cairns, Australia, noted the decisions of the governing bodies of SPC, SPREP and SOPAC that met jointly in July 2009.

At the 38th SOPAC Session in October 2009, the SOPAC Governing Council in recognising the challenge to meet the January 2010 timeline set by Leaders in Niue in 2008, while complying with the timelines and legal requirements of the “Agreement Establishing SOPAC” adopted a resolution that called for the development of integration agreements between SOPAC and the receiving organisations (SPC and SPREP).

On 6 August 2010, at the 41st Forum Leaders' Meeting, Leaders "welcomed the signing at their Plenary Session on 4 August 2010 of the Letter of Agreement between SPC and SOPAC relating to the final transfer of the core functions. Leaders acknowledged the importance of ensuring adequate resources for SOPAC's functions beyond the RIF to ensure that the overall level of service is not diminished."

In October 2010, the SOPAC Governing Council took the decision to suspend the Commission, delegating the role to oversee the closure of the Commission to the Director General of SPC assisted by a troika comprising the past Chair (Vanuatu), the current Chair (Australia) and the 2010 Vice-Chair (Cook Islands).

Suspension of SOPAC Commission

On 7 August 2012, “Director-General [of the SPC] Dr Jimmie Rodgers, presented to [a] Special Session of [the] CRGA a joint letter signed between Dr Russell Howorth in his capacity as Director of SOPAC Commission and himself confirming the full and effective closure of the SOPAC Commission. The Director General advised the meeting that all the requirements for the formal closure of the Commission had now been completed with the finalisation of its closing audit. In this regard the joint letter was the final communication confirming the ‘Letter of Agreement of August 2010’ [as] fully implemented.”

 

REGIONAL CONTEXT DOCUMENTS

• • CROP Charter 2004
  • Pacific Plan 2005
  • Pacific Plan 2006
  • The Eminent Persons’ Group Review of the Pacific Islands Forum/Sir Julius Chan & others, April 2004
  • Strengthening Regional Management – A Review of the Architecture for Regional Cooperation in the Pacific/Anthony Hughes, August 2005 [Consultative Draft]
  • Reforming the Pacific Regional Institutional Framework/Kaliopate Tavola & others, August 2006
  • The Pathway Towards Quality of Service from Pacific Regionalism/Lou Pangelinan & others, June 2007
  • FORUM COMMUNIQUE 2008

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OTHER CROP ORGANISATIONS' LEGAL STATUS DOCUMENTS

• • PIFS_Agreement Establishing the Forum
  • SPC_Consolidation of Provisions and Practices on Establishment and Operation
  • SPC_Declaration de Tahiti Nui 05 B
  • SPREP_Agreement Establishing SPREP

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SPC/SPREP/SOPAC PROGRAMMATIC DOCUMENTS

SPC

• • Corporate Plan 2007-2012
  • Budget for Year Ending 31 December 2008

SPREP

• • Strategic Programmes 2004-2013
  • Action Plan 2005-2009
  • Work Programme and Budget 2008

SOPAC

• • Strategic Plan 2005-2009
  • 2008 Work Programme and Budget

 

• • Presentations at First Programme Trilateral, 15-16 May 2008

 

• • i) Facilitation
  • ii) SPREP
  • iii) SPC Overview
  • iv) SPC Human Development Programme
  • v) SPC Social Resources Division
  • vi) SPC Public Health Programme
  • vii) SPC Land Resources Division
  • viii) SPC Marine Resources Division
  • ix) SOPAC Overview
  • x) SOPAC Ocean and Islands Programme
  • xi) SOPAC Community Risk Programme
  • xii) SOPAC Community Lifelines Programme
  • xiii) SOPAC Social economics work

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SOPAC DOCUMENTATION

1990

• • Agreement Establishing the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission

1999

• • i) AS28/11.8 The SPC-SOPAC Relationship: A Planning Sequence for Integration
  • ii) AS28/11.8 Suppl The SPC-SOPAC Relationship Planning Sequence: A modified terms of reference
  • iii) Discussion Summary excerpted from the 28th SOPAC Session Proceedings, pg. 33
  • iv) PS28, App.8b Expanded Summary of Discussion under Item 11.8

2000

• • i) AS29/10.4 The SPC-SOPAC Relationship: A Planning Sequence for Integration
  • ii) AS29/10.4 Suppl The SPC-SOPAC Relationship:Consultants’ Report
  • iii) Discussion Summary excerpted from the 29th SOPAC Session Proceedings, pg. 37
  • iv) PS29, App.8 Expanded Summary of Discussion under Item 10.4

2001

• • i) AS30/10.3 SPC/SOPAC Integration Study
  • ii) Decision Summary excerpted from the 30th SOPAC Session Proceedings, pg. 41

2004

• • i) AS33/11.3 Leaders Pacific Plan
  • ii) Discussion Summary excerpted from the 33rd SOPAC Session Proceedings

2005

• • i) AS34/10.2 Leaders Pacific Plan
  • ii) Discussion Summary excerpted from the 34th SOPAC Session Proceedings

2006

• • i) AS35/10.1 Regional Institutional Framework Review Report
  • ii) Discussion Summary excerpted from the 35th SOPAC Session Proceedings
  • iii) AS35/10.1 Sup Letter to FOC Chair from SOPAC Chair

2007

Pre-AS36 Documentation, August-November? 2007

• • i) AS36/11.1 Regional Institutional Framework – an update to Council on the RIF
  • ii) AS36/11.1 Sup1 Regional Institutional Framework – an update to Council wrt Para.19b

AS36, Nuku’alofa Tonga, 22-28 November 2007

• • iii) AS36/11.1 Sup2 STAR Outcome Statement of its Discussion on the RIF
  • iv) AS36/11.1 Sup3 Statement from PMEG
  • v) AS36/11.1 Sup4 Governing Council Decision on the RIF Item

Post AS36, December 2007 to February 2008

• • vi) Summary Record of the SOPAC 36th Session
  • vii) Verbatim Record of the RIF Discussion at AS36
  • viii) Proceedings of the SOPAC 36th Session

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2008

1st Meeting of the SOPAC Council Committee of the Whole (SCW)
SOPAC Secretariat, 19th March 2008

Agenda

1 Adoption of Agenda

• • SCW01/1.1 Provisional Agenda
  • SCW01/1.1 Rev Adopted Agenda
  • SCW01/1.1.1 Provisional Annotated Agenda

2 Documentation
3 Actions since Council Meeting
4 Purpose of the SCW
5 Terms of Reference for the work of the SCW

• • SCW01/5.1 Terms of Reference for the Committee of the Whole
  • SCW01/5.2 Revised Terms of Reference of the Committee of the Whole (NZ Alternative)
  • SCW01/5.3 Revised Terms of Reference of the Committee of the Whole (Fiji Alternative)
  • SCW01/5.3 Rev Final Terms of Reference

6 Institutional Arrangement Options

• • SCW01/6.1 SOPAC Parameters Paper
  • SCW01/6.2 SOPAC Parameters Paper

7 Timelines and Constraints

8 SOPAC Director Work Programme
**Initial Tasks to be Completed

9 Proposed Schedule of Committee Meetings and Reporting

10 Other Business

• • Summary Record of the First SCW Meeting

2nd Meeting of the SOPAC Council of the Whole (SCW)
Banyan Room, Holiday Inn, Suva, 4th June 2008

Agenda

1 Welcome and Introduction of Observers

• • OPENING REMARKS BY THE CHAIR

2 Adoption of Agenda

• • SCW02/2.1 Provisional Agenda
  • SCW02/2.2 Provisional Annotated Agenda

3 Minutes of SCW01

• • SCW02/3.1 Summary Record

4 Documentation

5 Actions since SCW01

6 Rationalisation-Beyond-a-Glance?

• • SCW02/6.1 Summary Outcomes 1st Trilateral Meetings - SOPAC, SPC & SPREP CEOs, April 2008
  • SCW02/6.2 SOPAC-SPREP-SPC Programme Trilateral Meeting, 15-16 May 2008

7 Roadmap for a Way Forward

• • SCW02/7.1 The Road Map - Process and Way Forward
  • SCW02/7.2 Road Map for Way Forward (Presentation)

8 Update on Timelines and Constraints

9 SOPAC Director Work Programme between SCW02 and SCW03
o Tasks to be Completed

10 Date of SCW03

11 Other Business

12 Closing

• • List of Participants
  • Record And Minutes Of The Meeting

3rd Meeting of the SOPAC Council of the Whole (SCW)
Banyan Room, Holiday Inn, Suva, 16th July 2008

Agenda

1 Welcome

• • OPENING REMARKS BY THE CHAIR

2 Adoption of Agenda

• • SCW03/2.1 Provisional Agenda

3 Approval of Minutes of SCW02

• • SCW03/3 Draft Record of SCW02

4 Matters Arising

5 Update since SCW02

• • 5.1 01_Item 05-1_Legal Assessments pertaining to SOPAC
  • 5.1.1 02_Item 05-1.1 The Legal Basis for Regional Reform

6 Consideration of Progress Report to the Forum

• • SCW03/6 Progress Report to the 2008 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting
  • Revised Progress Report

7 Consideration of Council Chair Covering Letter

• • SCW03/7 Cover Letter for Progress Report to 2008 PIFL Meeting
  • Revised Cover Letter

8 Date of Next Meeting, Update on Timelines and Constraints


9 Other Business


10 Closing

• • List of Participants
  • Record and Minutes of the Meeting

4th Meeting of the SOPAC Council of the Whole (SCW)
SOPAC Secretariat, Suva, 16th September 2008

Agenda

1 Welcome

• • Chair’s Opening Remarks

.
2 Adoption of Agenda

• • SCW04/2.0 Rev Draft Agenda

3 Approval of Minutes of SCW03

• • SCW04/3.0 Summary Record and Minutes of the SCW03

4 Matters Arising

5 Consideration of Forum Communique on the RIF

• • SCW04/5.0 Para. 20 of Forum Leaders' Communique

6 Consideration SPREP Council on the RIF

• • Provisional SPREP Council RIF Decision

7 Timelines and Constraints

8 Committee Report to Council, and recommendations for way forward

9 Closing

• • List of Participants
  • Summary Records

SOPAC 37th Session (2008) RIF Documentation

• • AS37/10.1 Paragraphs 251 and 252 Proceedings of AS36 (RIF)
  • AS37/10.1 Supplementary 1 - Governing Body Decisions of the PIF Leaders; SPREP and SPC
  • AS37/10.1 Supplementary 2 - Abridged Summary of Legal and Contractual Issues Pertaining to SOPAC Should it Decide to Dissolve or Suspend its Operations
  • AS37 (2008) Council Decision on the RIF
  • Proceedings of the SOPAC 37th Session

 

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2009

Pacific Energy Ministers’ Meeting (PEMM2009)
Regional Energy Officials’ Meeting (REM2009)
Fa’onelua Convention Centre, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 20-24 April 2009

PAPER BY THE CEOs OF SPC, SPREP & SOPAC

MINISTERIAL DECLARATION AND COMMUNIQUÉ


Joint Meeting of SPC, SOPAC and SPREP Governing Bodies
Tradewinds Convention Centre, Suva, 7-8 July 2009

AGENDA

MEETING PAPERS

• a) Joint paper by CEOs of SOPAC, SPREP and SPC
• b) Memorandum of Agreement between the CEOs
• c) RIF Consultant’s Final Report: Part One
• d) RIF Consultant’s Final Report: Part Two
• e) A Legal Assessment of Options
• f ) Assessment of Financial Implications of Options
• g) The SPREP Preferred Option
• h) SOPAC Due Diligence Assessment of Options
• i ) SOPAC Director Presentation to Joint Meeting
• j ) SPREP Director Presentation to Joint Meeting

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

DECISIONS
i) Joint SPC-SPREP-SOPAC Governing Bodies Summary of Decisions
ii) SOPAC Special Session Summary Record


SOPAC 38th Session (2009) RIF Documentation
Le Lagon Resort, Port Vila, Vanuatu, 21-30 October 2009

• AS38/10.1 Legal Implications (Revised)
• AS38/10.2 Financial and Administrative Matters
• AS38/10.3 Implementation
  • AS38/10.3.1 ICT Outreach
  • AS38/10.3.2 Energy
  • AS38/10.3.3 Core SOPAC Work Programme – A Division of SPC
  • AS38/10.3.4 CC-related and advocacy functions into SPREP
  • AS38/10.3.5 PMEG and STAR
• 10.4 RIF Risk Management Framework
• AS38(2009) Council Decision on the RIF
• AS38(2009) Verbatim Record of the RIF Discussion
• AS38(2009) Summary Record of the SOPAC 38th Session
• AS38(2009) Proceedings of the SOPAC 38th Session

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2010

SOPAC Governing Council Sub-Committee? Meeting, SOPAC Secretariat, 23 February 2010

• Agenda
• Issues Paper
• SOPAC 38th Session Summary Record Vol-IV finaldraft
• List of Participants
• Summary of Outcomes
• Summary Record

Signing Ceremony for the transfer of certain SOPAC functions and activities into SPREP & SPC, 31 March 2010

• Programme
• Press Release
• Director's Remarks

• Signed Letters of Agreement
  • SOPAC & SPREP
  • SOPAC & SPC-Energy
  • SOPAC & SPC-ICT Outreach
  • Signed at Port Vila, 4 August 2010
  SOPAC & SPC - Core SOPAC work programme

SOPAC 39th Session (2010), the Commission's final Governing Council meeting, Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji, 16-21 October 2010

• AS39 (2010) Approved Record of the SOPAC 39th Session
• AS39 (2010) Proceedings of the SOPAC 39th Session

The bulk of the work programmes of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission started operations from 1 January 2011, in the new Applied Geoscience and Technology Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

This update concludes the business and purpose of establishing this special RIF page on the SOPAC website.

• COMPENDIUM OF SIGNED LETTERS OF AGREEMENT