Kotoni Galu Faasau, Principal Scientific Officer at the Samoa Meteorological Service, is among six officers from National Meteorological Services across the Pacific who have been awarded scholarships to undertake postgraduate studies in Climate Change at The University of the South Pacific (USP).

This is supported through the European Union-funded Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) Pacific Programme.

These scholarships, jointly supported by SPREP through ClimSA and USP’s Centre for Sustainable Futures, are a direct investment in the professionals responsible for producing and delivering climate information across the region daily.

Meteorological services in the Pacific play an essential role in producing the data, forecasts, and climate outlooks that governments, communities, and key sectors such as agriculture and fisheries rely on. However, producing high-quality, well-documented scientific publications within these institutions remains a challenge. Development partners have consistently highlighted a gap in academic capacity within Pacific meteorological services, which limits their contribution to peer-reviewed research that informs policy and government decision-making.

Salesa Nihmei, Director of Climate Science and Information at SPREP, stated, “Investing in our people is investing in the future of Pacific climate services. Through ClimSA, SPREP is proud to support accredited postgraduate qualifications for meteorological officers, a key priority under the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy. We are deeply grateful to the European Union for recognising this critical capacity gap and for supporting selected Pacific countries to strengthen the next generation of climate leaders.”

Strengthening training and academic capabilities within meteorological services enhances the quality and accuracy of data and ensures that Pacific climate knowledge is properly documented in publications recognised at national, regional, and global levels.

The European Union is actively working to address this gap through initiatives such as ClimSA. While initial project funding was intended to support only two Master’s scholarships, collaboration with USP enabled the programme to expand its reach and support six scholars in total: four at Master’s level and two at Postgraduate Diploma level.

Faasau of the Samoa Meteorological Service will study full-time toward a Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s in Climate Change. His studies will directly support Samoa’s increasing demand for skilled climate professionals who understand both scientific processes and local conditions.

“As a Climate Officer at the Samoa Meteorology Office, I aim not only to explore the scientific basis of climate system changes within the Pacific context, but also to better understand how these systems interact with and impact Samoa’s most vulnerable sectors. In this regard, I intend to study the impacts of climate change on the fisheries sector and examine how Climate Early Warning Systems can be used as an effective tool to strengthen resilience to these changes,” said Mr Faasau.

Some of the selected scholars had already commenced self-funded postgraduate studies, and ClimSA funding now allows them to continue their education while remaining in their positions. This approach also helps avoid placing additional strain on the already limited staffing capacity within Pacific meteorological services.

Interest in the scholarships was strong, with 59 applications received from across the region. Of these, 19 were from meteorological service staff, and 13 met USP’s postgraduate admission requirements. A selection committee chaired by Dr Awnesh Singh of USP’s Centre for Sustainable Futures, with representation from SPREP, assessed candidates based on academic background, professional experience, research quality, and their potential contribution to national climate services. Seven additional candidates were placed on a reserve list.

The remaining five successful candidates are Kamaitia Rubetaake from the Kiribati Meteorological Service, Kila Kila from the Papua New Guinea National Weather Service, Sajiva Sharma and Amy McGowan from the Fiji Meteorological Service, and Gary Vite from the Tonga Meteorological Service.

Together, the six scholars represent five Pacific Island countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga. Upon completion of their postgraduate qualifications in climate change, they will return to their respective meteorological services equipped to strengthen the production, interpretation, and application of climate information across the Pacific.

These professionals are the people behind forecasts, climate outlooks, and warnings. Investing in their education is ultimately an investment in the resilience of Pacific communities.