SPC Director-General Meets Representatives of Germany

SPC Director-General Meets Representatives of German Development Agencies

Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), who was in Europe to meet key German development partners, held meetings in Frankfurt with high level representatives of key German agencies to discuss development priorities and an enhanced partnership with SPC.

Dr Rodgers met with Dr Christine Heimburger, Director East Asia and Pacific for the German Development Bank (KfW). He also met with Ms Ute Klamert, Director General for Asia/Pacific and Latin America/Caribbean, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Mr Stephan Contius, Head of Division for United Nations and Cooperation with Emerging and Developing Countries, Federal Environment Ministry (BMU); and their senior officials.

Discussions focused on Pacific development, and particularly on adaptation to climate change, one of the key challenges faced by the Pacific. These meetings were an opportunity for Dr Rodgers to provide detailed information about the work of SPC and its role as the premier technical and scientific organisation in the Pacific. 

Dr Heimburger stated that SPC is a trusted partner for KfW for which assistance to the Pacific region can be offered and further committed to working with SPC as implementation partner. She said that she looked forward to finalising the documentation for a new EUR 6 million project on Climate Change by the end of 2013.

Mr Contius noted that through the German International Climate Finance Initiative there were real opportunities, recognising the extensive work that SPC undertakes in climate change adaptation for further developing a partnership in progressing a ‘Green Economy’ in the Pacific context.

Dr Rodgers acknowledged the close on-the-ground cooperation between the Secretariat and GIZ which has resulted in outstanding achievements for the region.  Ms Klamert echoed these sentiments, adding that GIZ looked forward to a continued and enhanced partnership with SPC in the implementation of jointly developed projects and programmes to benefit Pacific people.

Furthermore, Ms Klamert assured SPC of GIZ’s support for a strategic holistic approach and advocacy of SPC’s work among European partners.    These meetings resulted in a resolve to seriously pursue an integrated German programme in the Pacific bringing together the various instruments of BMU, GIZ, KfW and BMZ (the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development).

ENDS

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