Photo from left to right: Mrs. Virginie Bleitrach, AFD Regional Director of the Pacific Ocean, Ambassador Véronique Roger-Lacan, Permanent Representative of France to the Pacific Community, and Dr Stuart Minchin, Director-General of the Pacific Community. Credit: SPC
Today, the Agence française de développement (AFD) and the Pacific Community (SPC) signed a significant funding agreement of Euro 4.5 million to support the "Strengthening Health Security in the Indo-Pacific Region" project.
This project, to be implemented by SPC with funding from AFD, will span the next four years and builds upon AFD’s prior support of Euro 5 million to the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN) from 2018 to 2023. The new funding agreement represents the second phase of AFD’s ongoing commitment to enhancing health security across the region.
Over the last several years, AFD has supported the structuring and development of three regional epidemiological surveillance networks in the Indo-Pacific region: the Economic Development, Ecosystem Modifications, and Emerging Infectious Disease Risk Evaluation network (ECOMORE) in Southeast Asia; the One Health network for epidemiological surveillance and alert management (SEGA One Health) in the Indian Ocean; and the PPHSN in the Pacific region with the Pacific Community (SPC) being the focal point of the PPHSN Coordinating Body.
Mrs. Virginie Bleitrach, AFD Regional Director of the Pacific Ocean, mentioned that through this new phase of collaboration with PPHSN, AFD reinforces its commitment to an expanded network that allows for cross-regional learning and the sharing of experiences between the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and Asia. This approach aims to capitalize on collective expertise to improve epidemiological surveillance and public health preparedness.
Furthermore, this project strengthens a long-standing partnership between AFD and SPC, which builds around various initiatives, including CRISP/RESCCUE, the Kiwa Initiative, and the Initiative Pacific Ocean, currently under development. This continued collaboration underscores AFD’s dedication to sustainable development and resilience in the Pacific region.
Dr. Stuart Minchin, Director-General of SPC, expressed gratitude for AFD’s continued support, stating, "We are thankful for AFD’s support, as it significantly strengthens critical health areas, including laboratory capabilities, climate health, surveillance, and response systems. These efforts are essential in promoting the well-being of Pacific communities and improving the delivery of health services throughout the region."
The project will focus on strengthening integrated approaches to human, animal and environmental health in our region through the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network.
Media contacts:
Evlyn Mani, Communications Officer, Pacific Community's Public Health Division | [email protected]
- Cyrielle Douabin, Senior Assistant – Finance & Administration, Pacific Community's Public Health Division | [email protected]
- For general media enquiries, please contact [email protected]
- Sophie Soejitno, AFD Regional policy officer | [email protected]
- Virginie Bleitrach, AFD Regional Pacific Ocean Directo | [email protected]
