π Tender Overview
A critical element of any decision-making process is the availability and access to relevant information. The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change and Resilience Building (PACRES) Project is working cross fifteen Pacific ACP countries to support regional and national climate change portals to increase access to and reach of climate change and disaster resilience information.
In the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the project is supporting the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency (DECEM) through enhancing the FSM Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Data Portal with the addition of a Climate Change Functionality feature. Working with Eighty Options Pty Ltd, PACRES has consolidated the existing portal into FSMβs INFORM portal, updated information and knowledge management products required for national climate change and disaster planning response and enhance community awareness.
From 16-17 October 2023, PACRES Project Manager, Mr Semi Qamese has been on the ground in FSM, discussing with the national focal points and users on the Climate Change Functionality features and Landing Page on the INFORM portal. The newly added features allow users to search items within climate and disaster risk management topics, navigate the current climate change projects list, search related legislation and policies, and find information and knowledge products.
Mr Qamese highlights the importance of the work that goes into maintaining access to climate change information and resources. He says, βwe must ensure there is adequate support to regional and national climate change data portals, this increases accessibility of climate change and disaster resilience information and is critical for long term sustainabilityβ.
Staff from DECEM competent on the new features of the portal include, Assistant Secretary of the Environment Division, Ms Cynthia H. Ehmes, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Climate Change Division and Adaptation Unit, Mr Correy Abraham, Programme Manager for the Climate Change Division and Adaptation Unit, Kohsak Keller Jr and IT and Communications Officer, Mr Skiis Dewey.
As key users of the FSM Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Data Portal, DECEM staff are now well versed on the utilisation of the newly added features of the portal, through collecting, uploading, and updating spatial and non-spatial datasets and information required for climate change and disaster resilience planning and thus contributing to national decision making.