Australia is granting AUD$18 million to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). The grant is part of Australia’s commitment to its partnership with the Secretariat and the development of South Pacific Island Nations.

The grant was signed on Tuesday 9 April 2013 by the Director-General of the Secretariat, Jimmie Rodgers and the Assistant Director General (Pacific Division) for the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid), Dr Rob Tranter.

Dr  Tranter said the funding would help the Secretariat function and strengthen its core services to Pacific countries across the region.

In a statement the Secretariat said that Australian support is essential for the SPC to continue its activities around the Pacific and help Pacific countries and territories become more resilient to future challenges.

Minister–Counsellor for AusAid (Pacific Division), John Davidson noted that Australia was a founding member of SPC and had been a strong supporter of the organisation since its inception in 1947. "We look forward to working with SPC in building its capacity to meet the priority needs of its members into the 21^st century’".

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community is a regional organisation made up of 22 South Pacific countries and territories (including Tonga). It also includes four non-Pacific Island nations: Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States of America.