The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the GSM Association (GSMA) Mobile for Development Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration on digital solutions for climate resilience and disaster preparedness in the Pacific region.
Inked on 30 January 2026 by Ms Kimberly Brown and Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, the partnership signals a shared commitment to advance the use of mobile technology, including cell broadcast-based Early Warning Systems, to support communities, governments and responders in preparing for and responding to climate and disaster risks.
Through the MOU, SPREP and GSMA will collaborate to develop regional strategies that enhance the use of mobile technology for early warning systems and climate resilience, build a community of practitioners championing digital innovation for humanitarian and environmental response in the Pacific, and share knowledge, policy insights, and capacity-building efforts to strengthen systems and institutions across the region.
Kimberly Brown, Head of the Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Programme at GSMA said, “Strengthening climate resilience in the Pacific requires solutions that reflect the region’s unique geography, cultures, and communication needs. Through this partnership with SPREP, the GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Programme is committed to working alongside Pacific governments, communities, and mobile operators to expand inclusive, reliable digital tools, including cell broadcast early warning systems, that help protect lives and support locally led preparedness and response.”
The GSMA Mobile for Development programme works globally to accelerate the delivery and impact of digital humanitarian assistance, including through research, partnerships, innovation and enabling policy environments.
“The signing of this MoU is an important step in bringing the private sector closer to the table, strengthening the partnerships we need to deliver climate and early warning solutions to remote communities”, said Mr Nihmei Salesa. “It aligns strongly with the Weather Ready Pacific initiative, where collaboration, innovation, inclusive and coordinated investment are essential to ensure Pacific-led solutions that better protect our people, livelihoods and futures.”
SPREP plays a leading role in the Pacific climate science space by coordinating regional climate action, strengthening national meteorological and hydrological services (NMHSs), and improving access to climate data and early warning systems with its Weather Ready Pacific Initiative. It supports countries through technical assistance, capacity building, climate finance readiness, and regional frameworks such as the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP). SPREP also helps translate climate science into practical tools and services that protect lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems across Pacific Island countries.
By formalising this partnership, both organisations reaffirm their commitment to harnessing digital innovation in support of a more resilient Pacific, where communities are better informed, better prepared and better protected.
To learn more about SPREP’s work in environmental protection and resilience in the Pacific, visit: www.sprep.org
To learn more about the GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation programme, visit their website here.