Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific
The Forum Leaders established the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific, CROP (formerly the South Pacific Organisations Coordinating Committee, SPOCC) in 1988 with the mandate to improve cooperation, coordination, and collaboration among the various intergovernmental regional organisations to work toward achieving the common goal of sustainable development in the Pacific region. CROP comprises the heads of the intergovernmental regional organisations in the Pacific and is governed by the CROP Charter.
The 1995 Forum mandated the Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat to be the permanent chair of CROP, a decision reaffirmed at the Special Leaders’ Retreat in April 2004. Leaders also mandated the ‘coordination role’ of CROP to the Secretary General. The Secretary General reports to Forum Leaders on CROP matters.
CROP functions as a coordination mechanism between the heads of the regional organisations in the Pacific, and as a high-level advisory body, to provide policy advice and may assist in facilitating policy formulation at national, regional and international level. CROP provides a forum to enable CROP heads to collectively review progress with their respective organisations’ contributions on the Framework for Pacific Regionalism.
In September 2018 CROP agencies presented their inaugural Annual Report to Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum.
READ THE CROP CHARTER (2018)
CROP agencies coordinate implementation of Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ decisions through the establishment of theme or issue-based CROP Taskforces. CROP Taskforces are result-orientated, time-bound and bring together CROP agencies as well as relevant representatives from international organisations, civil society, the private sector and academia.
In addition, CROP agencies collaborate through theme or function-based CROP Working Groups which are an on-going mechanism to draw in CROP agency and other expertise to coordinate policy and technical advice, share knowledge, and support project implementation.
A summary of current CROP Taskforces and Working Groups is set out below.
| CROP Taskforce/Working Group | Purpose | Chair & Taskforce/Working Group Members |
| CROP Taskforce on Nuclear Legacy Issues in the Pacific
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The Taskforce will deliver on the Forum Leaders’ decision to address the ongoing impacts and legacy issues of nuclear testing in the Blue Pacific, with a primary focus on Republic of Marshall Islands and Kiribati, through effective CROP collaboration and utilisation of technical expertise and supportive resources.
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Chair:
Republic of Marshall Islands
Members:
Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, PIFS, SPC, SPREP and USP |
| CROP Taskforce for the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent
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This Taskforce is a dedicated mechanism to engage CROP agencies in the development of the 2050 Strategy, particularly for the purpose of providing technical and specialist advice to assist in the discrete steps of the development of the 2050 Strategy.
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Chair:
PIFS
Members: FFA, PASO, PIFS, PPA, SPC, SPREP, SPTO and USP
Members of the FOC Sub-Committee on 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent may participate in the meetings of the Taskforce. |
| CROP Taskforce on International Engagement and Advocacy for Ocean Events in 2020 – 2021
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This Taskforce provides technical advice that will inform strategic engagement and advocacy messaging to Forum Members’ in preparation for, and participation at, the 2nd UN Ocean Conference and other ocean-related events in 2020 and 2021.
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Chair:
OPOC and FFA (co-chairing)
Members: PIFS, SPREP, SPC, FFA, USP, SPTO and OPOC
|
| Socio-economic Impact Assessment Taskforce – COVID- 19
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This Taskforce is overseeing the design and delivery of a region-wide socio-economic impact assessment of COVID-19 pandemic, through a coordinated and collaborative approach, undertaken first and foremost through the CROP mechanism, to inform regional policy mechanisms, and underpinned by the outcomes and decisions of the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting of 11-12 August 2020. | Chair:
PIFS and SPC (co-chairing)
Members: Relevant CROP agencies and Forum Members
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| Pacific Sustainable Development Working Group (PSDWG)
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The PSDWG provides technical advice and support to the Pacific Sustainable Development Steering Committee (PSDSC) in its role to promote the effective implementation of the Pacific Roadmap for Sustainable Development (PRSD). It is responsible for supporting coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting on global sustainable development commitments including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs and the S.A.M.O.A Pathway. | Chair:
PIFS and a nominated agency representative
Members: PSDWG membership is constituted of 4 key representative groups totaling 11 members: a) CROP Agencies (4 – 1 rep each for social, environment, economic and governance) b) UN agencies (3 – 1 rep each pillar) c) Non-State Actors (2 – regional NGO, regional private sector) d) Development partner representatives (2 – bilateral, multi-lateral)
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| Gender Working Group (GWG)
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The GWG encourages greater coordination and collaboration amongst CROP in addressing gender issues, and to identify emerging gender issues and ensure they are brought to the attention of CROP Heads. A key role is to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women in the work of CROP members and intergovernmental processes regionally and internationally.
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Chair:
SPC and PIFS (co-chairing)
Members: FFA, PASO, PIFS, PPA, SPC, SPREP, and USP |
| Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG)
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The HRDWG coordinates regional activities that support national systems in the areas of formal and non-formal education from pre-school to adult, and across the public and private sector. In addition, the HRDWG in collaboration with the PacREF Steering Committee, is responsible for providing oversight and assisting with the facilitation of the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) 2018-2030. | Chair:
USP
Members: USP (PacREF Facilitation Unit), USP (Institute of Education), USP (School of Education), SPC (Educational Quality & Assessment Programme), UNICEF, MFAT, DFAT, PIFS, APTC, UNESCO |
| ICT Working Group (ICTWG)
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The ICTWG provides a common platform through which CROP agencies and other relevant stakeholders can address key emerging and on-going regional priorities in the ICT sector in a collective, collaborative and coordinated manner.
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Chair:
USP
Members: FFA, SPC, PIDP PIFS, PPA, SPREP, SPTO, USP, PITA, ADB, World Bank, DFAT, MFAT, PIPSO, JICA, WFP, Pacific Islands Forum (represented by Forum Troika and SIS).
Observers: Vodafone, Digicel, ITU, CSO Representative, Pacific Island Territories
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| Marine Sector Working Group (MSWG)
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The MSWG shares information on marine sector issues, particularly with regards to ongoing work programmes and projects, to promote synergies and coordination.
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Chair:
FFA and SPC (alternating annually)
Members: SPC (Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division and Geoscience, Energy and Maritime Division), FFA, SPREP, USP, PIFS, OPOC |
| Communications Working Group
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This working group provides a professional network for CROP communications staff and coordinates and implements CROP communication activities.
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Chair:
Rotated per meeting between CROP agencies
Members: FFA, PASO, PIFS, PPA, SPC, SPREP, SPTO and USP |
| Corporate Directors Working Group
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CROP Heads at their meeting in June 2019, agreed to roll the responsibilities of CROP Human Resources Group (comprised of HR staff of CROP agencies) into the CROP Corporate Directors Group, and to formalise this Group through a TOR and regular reporting to CROP Deputies. This working group is to look at CROP harmonisation in all areas and to progress ‘quick wins’ in corporate harmonisation.
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Chair:
PIFS
Members: FFA, PASO, PIFS, PPA, SPC, SPREP, SPTO and USP |
| Energy Technical Working Group
(Details to be confirmed as this working group needs to be formalised) |
To guide and coordinate the implementation of the Framework for Energy Security and Resilience in the Pacific (FESRIP): 2021-2030 | Chair:
SPC
Members: PIFS, PPA, SPREP, USP |