Pacific Islands Training Coordination

Lead Agency

NOAA Pacific Services Center (PSC).

Participating Jurisdictions

American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Hawai‘i.

Goal

To build professional competencies of Pacific Island coastal resource managers.

Objectives

• Work with coastal resource agencies to identify training needs.
• Identify training opportunities that meet agency needs.
• Develop partnership with other federal agencies to support training initiatives.
• Coordinate delivery of NOAA Coastal Services Center–provided training workshops.
• Fund, on a cost-sharing basis, training workshops in competencies identified as most important.

Description

Preliminary training needs assessments performed in 2002 and 2003 revealed the top-priority professional development needs for Pacific Island coastal resource management agencies in process skills, content, and technical areas. Communicating existing training opportunities to coastal managers and communicating Pacific Island needs to training providers are two ways to increase partners’ access to training. Additionally, by working with training providers and seeking cooperation with other federal agencies, PSC will provide training as opportunities arise and funding is available. Cost-sharing by host agencies is an important indicator of support and interest and will be tracked and reported.

Specific Responsibilities

• Continue to communicate and meet with coastal managers to stay current with emerging training needs and keep them aware of training opportunities.
• Coordinate with NOAA Coastal Services Center training staff to schedule island trainings.
• Identify, develop partnerships with, and work with other training providers to develop and deliver training in areas not addressed by NOAA Coastal Services Center staff. Possible partners include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School’s Pacific Training Center, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center.
• As requested, assist with coordination, planning, and execution of spatial data and information technology trainings.

Outcome

Increased human capacity of Pacific Island coastal managers.

Project Partners

NOAA Coastal Services Center, University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant, U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.