The Pacific Community (SPC) organised a gathering of key project stakeholders, training providers, and members of the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) and Stakeholder Endorsement Committee (SEC) to develop a Micro Qualification (MQ) for two programs: (1) Develop a Marine Spatial Plan and (2) Conduct Marine Spatial Planning analysis using geospatial tools. The review and endorsement workshop were carried out in Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 6 to 8 October 2025.
This development is the first of its kind to develop a Pacific-specific micro qualification that is tailored for the needs of ocean policy and decision makers in the Pacific. Capacity building is a strong outcome of this work.
Halatoa Fua, NES Director, attended as a Stakeholder Engagement Committee member, together with representatives from the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Fiji. The Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) was represented by academic, scientists and civil society members from SPC, University of the South Pacific, National University of Samoa, Kiribati Institute of Technology, Solomon Islands National University, Conservation International and others.
The first Micro Qualification (MQ) is to ‘Develop a Marine Spatial Plan’. Learners will study the MSP concepts, processes, and stakeholder engagement from within a Pacific context. The MQ has a strong focus on integrating indigenous and traditional knowledge and the alignment to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The second MQ is to ‘Conduct MSP analysis using geospatial tools’. The use of geographic information systems (GIS) to understand the use of marine spatial area in the Pacific, will allow learners to develop technical skills to analyse integrated marine resource use, conservation, and sustainable development.
As an outcome, learners will acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies in marine spatial planning in the Pacific context and understanding how to use geospatial tools to develop the MSPs. Capacity building will be applied to compiling of data, using MSP software and repository data systems.
Halatoa Fua stated ‘ being part of this review process gave participants an appreciation of marine spatial planning and using of geospatial tools, by understanding its application in the Pacific context. With the growing need of marine spatial planning in the Pacific, this MQ will enhance the skills of many GIS technical officers and MSP practitioners in the region. Following the endorsement of the two Micro Qualifications in Honiara, IAC will continue to the next phase which is developing the curriculum and assessment criteria
