EPOC
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The United Nations ESCAP Pacific Operations Centre (EPOC) in Suva, Fiji, is ESCAP’s representative office in the Pacific.
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the regional arm of the United Nations. Established in 1947, ESCAP is headquartered in Bangkok and has a membership of 62 Governments. As the largest United Nations body serving the Asian and Pacific region, ESCAP provides an intergovernmental forum to discuss regional issues ranging from statistics, gender and health to technology transfer, trade and transport, for its members. Ms Noeleen Heyzer is the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. The Commission channels part of its assistance for the benefit of Pacific island countries through its Pacific Operations Centre EPOC.
EPOC was established in 1984 in Port Vila by combining the operations of the Pacific Liaison Office based in Nauru and the United Nations Development Advisory Team based in Fiji. EPOC was relocated to Suva in 2005 to enable more effective collaboration with regional partners. The Centre will strengthen its working relations with key development partners of Pacific island developing countries, including donor governments, subregional organizations and United Nations Specialized Agencies and Bodies in the Pacific. EPOC is contributing towards the overall United Nations Pacific Framework for Action for 2008-2012. The mission of the Centre was restated to focus on supporting Pacific island developing countries in their efforts to attain their Millennium Development Goals through the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy.
- Vision: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific makes a major contribution to the capacity of Pacific Countries and territories to develop and implement policies to improve people’s lives.
- Mission: To provide strong support to Pacific island countries and territories in their efforts to attain economic and social development goals.
- Values: Partnership, national ownership, accountability, good governance and respect for human rights including gender equality.
The Centre covers Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, as well as American Samoa, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Niue and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The ESCAP Pacific Operations Centre (EPOC) assists Pacific island developing countries by:
- conducting research on economic and social issues relevant to policy makers;
- promoting regional cooperation and sharing knowledge and good practices;
- providing regional advisory services on economic and social policies;
- building institutional capacity through training workshops;
- assisting policy implementation through pilot projects.
ESCAP Pacific Operations Centre Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji Tel: + 679 331 9669, Fax: + 679 331 9671, Email: epoc@un.org Website : www.unescap.org/EPOC/
