For the first time at an SPC governing body meeting, the Secretariat has rewarded one of its programmes for its gender-inclusive approach to activities developed in countries throughout the region.

The SPC Land Resources Division is the recipient of the 2007 award, which has been created to recognise the critical importance of gender issues and concerns in development, both in the corporate management of regional organisations such as SPC and in the delivery of technical assistance and programmes.

'Our region continues to struggle to meet its gender-equality commitments at national, regional and international level,' stressed Linda Petersen, SPC Human Development Programme Manager, to delegates from SPC member Pacific Island countries and territories this morning during the presentation of the award.

'The award is aimed at promoting increased integration of gender into all aspects of our organisation's work. The SPC Land Resources Division has made significant efforts through its DSAP programme - Developing Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific - to integrate women as well as youth in its activities in many different ways, including its recruitment process and its capacity-building activities using gender indicators as a means of measuring women's participation.'



The award is in line with the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) gender policy and demonstrates SPC's commitment to fulfilling the policy's requirements. SPC, 07/11/07.