News - Jun 4, 2025 Facilitation of the 3rd Industry Advisory Committee to develop a Pacific based qualification in Waste Management.

A Pacific Certificate IV in Waste Management to provide an opportunity for workers in the Pacific waste sector to receive formal qualification in the field is in the works.  This is being developed by PacWastePlus and SPC’s Educational Quality and Assessment Programme (EQAP), and representatives from governments and private industry.

The Industry and Advisory Committee (IAC) for the development a Pacific based qualification in Waste Management held their third meeting in April 2025.  This meeting is focussing on developing a Pacific Regional Standards for Waste management (the Standards).

The Standards is intended to guide improvements in waste management through safe waste management practices and infrastructure requirements to implement those practices. It is also intended to guide professional certification, and where applicable, remuneration increases and promotion due to this professional development.

The development of the qualification incorporated pacific island country obligations in waste focused Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEA), Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15, and reflects of Gender Equity Disability and Social Inclusion principle in waste management.

The recent meeting finalised the qualification documents ahead of them being presented to the endorsement committee at the end of April 2025.  Once endorsed, the qualification will be accredited regionally and made ready for delivery by training providers in the region.

Mr Rajen Prasad, Team Leader -Qualification for the EQAP Division of SPC highlighted that “the qualification development process of SPC ensures involvement of industry organisations during the development and approval of qualifications. The engagement by the industry is essential to ensure that the qualification, through its learning outcomes reflect the skill set of occupations in the industry.”