A Case for Formal Education in the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Sector for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Pacific Islands Region

The Pacific Small Island Developing States (P-SIDS) are extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts and natural hazards due to their geographical location, topography and major economic sectors (agriculture, tourism and fisheries). The sustainable development and even the mere existence of these P-SIDS are under threat. Regionally, leaders are aware of this vulnerability and many related projects have been conducted on a national and regional basis by different stakeholders. Limited availability of appropriate formal training related to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the region has led to: lack of locally trained people to implement and monitor projects; use of donor funds to support foreign experts; unsuccessful projects causing maladaptation or increasing vulnerability and risk. Findings from a regional needs and gap analysis indicate that formal qualifications which account for local contexts are required to build national capacity to: accurately monitor and assess impacts of climate change and natural hazards; identify solutions to reduce these risks; and plan, manage and implement risk reduction projects to reduce damage and losses. This paper makes the case for the introduction of formal and accredited qualifications in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the technical, vocational education and training sector to support climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the Pacific Islands Region (PIR). The development of regionally-specific quality assured qualifications in this context is ground breaking and is the impetus for the European Union Pacific Technical Vocational Education and Training in Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Adaptation Project (EU PacTVET). Responsive and accredited regional qualifications should ensure that the interventions managed by those having these qualifications are really supporting sustainable development