AGP Executive Report

Emergency Connectivity: Pacific telecom leaders are calling for stronger, disaster-resilient networks as extreme weather threatens infrastructure. A US$1.2 million GSMA grant will help introduce mobile cell-broadcast alerts in nine Pacific countries, including Vanuatu, sending warnings to nearby phones within seconds. Digital Skills: A new Fiji training hub in AI, networking and cybersecurity will connect to learning sites in Vanuatu and Samoa, extending hands-on training across the region. Ocean Protection: Vanuatu has joined an international commitment to protect the ocean’s twilight zone, which supports fisheries, food security and climate stability. A new ocean-data tool developed with work in Vanuatu and Fiji could also make marine mapping easier for researchers.

Telecom Resilience: Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says increasingly frequent and intense disasters are forcing the region to rethink how it protects telecom infrastructure. Emergency Alerts: A US$1.2 million GSMA grant will support mobile cell-broadcast warning systems in nine Pacific countries, including Vanuatu, sending emergency alerts to phones even when networks are congested. Food Technology: Vanuatu will host Pacific food-system talks from November 3 to 6, with sessions on climate resilience, digital tools, data and AI in agriculture. Island Connectivity: Air Vanuatu has added a fifth Twin Otter, expected to improve the reliability and frequency of domestic flights between islands. Ocean Science: Vanuatu has joined an international commitment to protect the ocean’s twilight zone, which supports fisheries, food security and climate stability.

Resilient Networks: Pacific leaders say worsening disasters are putting telecom infrastructure at greater risk, renewing calls for investment and stronger disaster readiness. Emergency Alerts: A US$1.2 million GSMA grant will support cell-broadcast warning systems in nine Pacific countries, including Vanuatu, enabling fast alerts to nearby mobile phones. Island Connectivity: Air Vanuatu has added a fifth Twin Otter, expected to improve the reliability and frequency of domestic air links. Ocean Science: Vanuatu has joined an international commitment to protect the ocean’s twilight zone, vital to fisheries, food security and climate stability. Digital Agriculture: A regional food-systems forum in Vanuatu will discuss using digital technology, data and AI to strengthen farming and fisheries.

Climate Watch: Pacific countries reported El Niño impacts on water, health, farming, tourism and fisheries at a regional climate forum, with officials urging early action as the event intensifies. Emergency Alerts: GSMA secured US$1.2 million to help introduce mobile cell-broadcast warnings in nine Pacific countries, including Vanuatu. The system can send urgent alerts to phones in an affected area within seconds. Food and Farming: Vanuatu will host Pacific leaders, producers and investors from November 3–6 to discuss stronger food systems, including digital technology, data and AI in agriculture. Ocean Protection: Vanuatu joined a voluntary initiative to protect the ocean’s “twilight zone,” which supports tuna fisheries, food security and climate stability. Digital Skills: A new Fiji-based digital skills hub will connect learning sites in Vanuatu and Samoa, offering training in areas including cybersecurity and networking. Ocean Research: A new data tool developed through marine planning work in Vanuatu and Fiji aims to make ocean mapping easier for scientists.

Ocean Science: A new UN report warns that warming and changing ocean chemistry are weakening the sea’s ability to absorb carbon, and calls for better monitoring, sensors and data. That matters for Vanuatu, whose climate and communities depend on healthy oceans. Regional Pressures: The Pacific Community says rising fuel costs, climate risks and limited development funding are intensifying pressure on island nations, strengthening the case for Pacific-led resilience. Marine Protection: Vanuatu has joined an international commitment to protect the ocean’s “twilight zone,” a vast habitat important to fish, food security and climate stability. Island Connectivity: Air Vanuatu has added a fifth Twin Otter, aiming to improve the reliability and frequency of domestic flights between islands. Ocean Data Tools: Researchers have developed free software to bring together ocean datasets for analysis and mapping; its development drew on marine planning work in Vanuatu and Fiji. Digital Skills: A new USP training hub in Fiji will link to learning sites in Vanuatu and Samoa, offering practical training in areas including cybersecurity and networking.

Ocean Conservation: Vanuatu has joined an international commitment to protect the ocean’s “twilight zone,” a vast habitat important to tuna fisheries, food security and climate stability. Technical Skills: Two young Samoans competed in culinary arts and electrical installation at the Vanuatu International Friendly Skills Competition in Port Vila, gaining hands-on experience alongside regional peers. Island Connectivity: Air Vanuatu’s fifth Twin Otter is expected to support more frequent, reliable domestic flights. Marine Research: A new free tool helps scientists combine ocean data for mapping and analysis; researchers developed it partly through marine planning work in Vanuatu and Fiji. Digital Training: A new USP hub in Fiji will connect learning sites in Vanuatu and Samoa, offering training in cybersecurity, networking and digital innovation. Earthquake Alert: Authorities canceled a tsunami warning after a major earthquake near Vanuatu, with no tsunami threat reported.

Ocean Conservation: Vanuatu has joined an international pledge to protect the ocean’s “twilight zone,” which supports marine life, tuna fisheries, food security and climate stability. Regional Skills: Young Samoan competitors put culinary and electrical-installation training to work at the Vanuatu International Friendly Skills Competition in Port Vila. Island Connectivity: Air Vanuatu has added a fifth Twin Otter, boosting the national carrier’s capacity for domestic services across the islands. Ocean Research: A new free tool gathers ocean data for analysis and mapping; its developers worked on marine planning in Vanuatu and Fiji. Digital Training: A new Fiji-based skills hub will connect learning sites in Vanuatu and Samoa, offering training in cybersecurity, networking and digital innovation. Disaster Watch: Authorities canceled a tsunami warning after a powerful earthquake near Vanuatu.

Island Connectivity: Air Vanuatu has added a fifth Twin Otter, boosting the fleet’s capacity for domestic flights. The aircraft was rebuilt for short-field operations, and the airline expects it to support more reliable links between islands. Digital Skills: A new University of the South Pacific hub will offer training in cybersecurity, networking and digital innovation, with learning sites in Vanuatu and Samoa linked to the Fiji centre. Ocean Mapping: Researchers have released free software that helps scientists gather and prepare ocean data for mapping. Its development included marine planning work in Vanuatu and Fiji. Disaster Readiness: A magnitude 7.2 earthquake near Vanuatu prompted a tsunami warning that authorities later canceled. Research focused on Fiji and Vanuatu also highlights the value of combining local knowledge with formal disaster planning.

Ocean Mapping: A new free tool combines ocean datasets for easier analysis and map-making. Its developers worked on marine planning in Vanuatu and Fiji, where the software could help guide conservation and fisheries decisions. Earthquake Alert: A 7.2-magnitude quake off Vanuatu prompted a tsunami warning on October 24, later canceled; the USGS revised the quake to 6.9 and reported a nearby 6.3 tremor. Fisheries Science: Port Vila will host a regional fisheries commission meeting from November 30 to December 5, with tuna management, climate impacts and protection of marine species on the agenda. Digital Skills: A new University of the South Pacific hub in Fiji will connect learning sites in Vanuatu and Samoa, offering training in cybersecurity, networking and digital technology.

Ocean Mapping: Researchers have released oceandatr, a free tool that brings ocean datasets together for analysis and mapping. It grew partly from marine planning work in Vanuatu and Fiji, and could help scientists and conservation teams work with seafloor, habitat and fishing data. Disaster Watch: Authorities canceled a tsunami warning after a powerful earthquake near Vanuatu. The quake was first reported at magnitude 7.2, then revised to 6.9; a second 6.3 tremor was also recorded. Digital Skills: A new University of the South Pacific training hub in Fiji will connect to learning sites in Vanuatu and Samoa, offering practical training in cybersecurity, networking and digital innovation. Fisheries Science: Tuna stocks, marine conservation and climate impacts are on the agenda for a regional fisheries commission meeting in Port Vila from November 30 to December 5.

Earthquake Alert: A 7.2-magnitude quake off Vanuatu triggered a tsunami warning on October 24, later canceled after monitoring found no threat; USGS revised the quake to 6.9 and reported a nearby 6.3 tremor. Fisheries Science: Port Vila will host the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission from November 30, with tuna management, marine conservation and climate impacts on fisheries on the agenda. Disaster Resilience: Research focused on Fiji and Vanuatu finds communities want local knowledge included in disaster planning and stronger collaboration with government. Pacific Digital Skills: A new USP hub in Fiji will train students in cybersecurity, networking and digital innovation, with certifications and internships aimed at building the region’s tech workforce. Climate Data: A Solomon Islands visualisation award-winning project maps six major cyclones affecting Vanuatu and other Pacific nations from 2015 to 2024.

Earthquake Safety: Vanuatu’s tsunami warning was canceled after a major offshore quake; USGS later revised its magnitude from 7.2 to 6.9 and recorded a second 6.3 tremor nearby. Digital Skills: USP’s new hub is training students in cybersecurity, networking and digital innovation, with certifications and internships aimed at Pacific digital jobs. Climate Data: A Solomon Islands data visualisation tracing six major cyclones from 2015 to 2024 includes storms affecting Vanuatu, turning regional climate records into accessible stories. Disaster Readiness: Research focused on Fiji and Vanuatu finds communities want local knowledge used alongside formal disaster planning, with stronger cooperation from government.

Earthquake Alert: Vanuatu’s tsunami warning was canceled after a major offshore quake. USGS later revised the initial 7.2 magnitude to 6.9 and reported a nearby 6.3 tremor. Digital Skills: USP opened a Fiji-based hub for cybersecurity, networking and digital innovation training, with certifications and internships aimed at building the Pacific’s tech workforce. Climate Data: A Solomon Islands winner in the Pacific Dataviz Challenge used cyclone data from Vanuatu and other island nations to make climate impacts easier to understand. Cleaner Shipping: Vanuatu’s climate minister says Pacific efforts to cut shipping emissions need affordable funding, reliable data and technical skills to avoid making essential transport harder to access.

Digital Skills: The University of the South Pacific’s new hub aims to train students in cybersecurity, networking and digital innovation, with industry certifications and internships to help close the region’s skills gap. Digital Finance: Pacific leaders say cheaper digital transfers aren’t enough: people also need trusted services, privacy protections and tools to save and manage financial shocks. Disaster Science: Research focused on Fiji and Vanuatu finds communities want local knowledge integrated into formal disaster planning, with governments working alongside them. Climate Data: A Pacific data-visualisation award-winning project maps the effects of six major cyclones across Vanuatu and other island nations, turning climate data into accessible stories. Cleaner Shipping: Vanuatu Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu warns that cutting emissions must not make vital island transport less affordable; the region needs financing, technical skills and suitable infrastructure. Marine Science: Tuna stocks, climate impacts and ocean conservation will be on the agenda when the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meets in Port Vila from November 30.

Climate and Health: WHO says Pacific health systems face mounting climate risks, workforce shortages and funding gaps; seven island countries have yet to include health in national climate plans. Digital Skills: USP has opened a Fiji hub offering cybersecurity and networking training, certifications and internships—skills needed across the region. Disaster Readiness: Research focused on Fiji and Vanuatu finds communities want local knowledge woven into government disaster planning, not left out of it. Climate Data: A Solomon Islands data storyteller won recognition for a visual project tracing cyclones that hit Vanuatu and other Pacific nations. Fisheries Science: Port Vila will host a regional tuna commission meeting from 30 November, with climate impacts, stock management and protections for marine species on the agenda.

Digital Skills: USP has opened a Fiji-based hub offering cybersecurity and networking training, certifications and internships to help close the Pacific’s digital skills gap. Disaster Resilience: Research focused on Fiji and Vanuatu finds communities want governments to work with local knowledge holders to prepare for disasters, not just respond afterward. Climate Data: A Solomon Islands visualisation of six major cyclones across the Pacific, including Vanuatu, won a regional data storytelling prize, showing how science can make climate impacts easier to understand. Clean Shipping: Vanuatu Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu says Pacific islands need affordable financing, technical skills and suitable technology to cut shipping emissions without making essential transport less accessible.