The Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), in partnership with Japan’s Government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has launched a two-week Training of Trainers course titled “Training of Trainers on Skills and Competencies for Conducting Meteorological, Climate, and Hydrology Training in the Pacific.”
The training program is being conducted by expert trainers from Fiji National University (FNU) and gathers participants from various Pacific nations, including the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Fiji itself.
This initiative aims to enhance participants’ abilities in training design, adult learning, facilitation, and assessment. It promotes competency-based training in line with the World Meteorological Organisation’s BIP-M and BIP-MT frameworks. The course is designed to bolster the capacity of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in the Pacific, aiming to ensure the delivery of high-quality training in meteorology, climate services, and hydrology, and to develop a network of qualified trainers for ongoing educational activities in the region.
During the opening ceremony, Amit Singh, Acting Director of the Fiji Meteorological Service, welcomed attendees and underscored the initiative’s significance in enhancing technical skills, encouraging collaboration, and facilitating effective knowledge-sharing throughout the Pacific region. He noted the long-established partnership between Fiji Met and JICA, which dates back to the late 1980s. This collaboration has been instrumental in advancing the capabilities of National Meteorological Services and improving the reliability of weather and climate information in the Pacific.
“JICA’s support has been vital in building the capacity and skills of meteorological personnel across the Pacific. This Training of Trainers workshop is a key component of the ongoing Reinforcing Meteorological Training of FMS project,” Singh stated.
As a Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre and Tropical Cyclone Centre, the Fiji Meteorological Service is crucial in delivering daily weather forecasts and enhancing the skills of meteorological staff across the region to provide accurate and dependable services. The Fiji Meteorological Service expressed gratitude to JICA for its facilitation of the workshop and to the Fiji National University for contributing trainers and expertise in support of regional capacity building.