Economics Briefs

The purpose of the economic briefs is as follows:

  • Raise awareness of the SPC’s economics work internally to make SPC technical staff more aware of how SPC’s economists can assist in designing, implementing, and evaluating projects.
  • Communicate the findings of SPC’s economics work to a non-economist audience, including SPC staff, government officials in SPC member countries, representatives of donor countries, and the general public
  • Improve the understanding of the role of economics in improving project design and delivery, and decision making
  • Improve cohesion, communications, and cooperation amongst SPC’s economists.

Economics Brief 04/2016

Adapting agriculture to climate change in Solomon Islands – Analysing the costs and benefits of options

This brief sets out the findings from a cost benefit analysis (CBA) of the options that were considered under a programme to help farmers in Choiseul Province of the Solomon Islands to adapt to climate change by adopting new farming techniques. Climate change is a threat to food security in Choiseul. The Choiseul Integrated Climate Change Programme (CICCP) was implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID), and the Solomon Islands Government. The CBA was conducted in 2014 by AECOM Australia for the Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Program (PACCSAP).

Economics Brief 01/2015

Economics of bio-digesters in the Solomon Islands

The Choiseul Integrated Climate Change Adaptation Programme (CHICCHAP) aims to reduce the vulnerability of the Lauru people of Solomon Islands to natural hazards, food insecurity and climate change threats. To support this aim, the Solomon Islands Government is trialling a swine manure
digester in Choiseul Province. The treated swine manure could be used to fertilise crops, while also providing biogas as an alternative to kerosene and firewood and reducing harmful run-off of pig waste. Drawing on an existing demonstration digester in Honiara, a study was conducted to examine the economic dimensions of adopting digesters in Choiseul.

Economics Brief 02/2015

Implications of Investing in Animal Husbandry in Kiribati

The Government of Kiribati has been examining options to increase food security through its chicken and pig breeding centre in Tanaea, Tarawa. In its present state of disrepair, the facility is able to rear only a small number of piglets and mainly focuses on chicken production. A preliminary economic analysis of renovating the breeding centre and extending its pig production operations was conducted as part of an activity under the SPC/USAID project and the SPC/GIZ programme, Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region (CCCPIR).

Economics Brief 03/2015

Certified Coconuts - The economics of establishing a participatory guarantee system for organic certification in Cicia, Fiji

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), in partnership with the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom), completed a two year pilot project in December 2014 to set up a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) for organic virgin coconut oil (VCO) producers on Cicia, in Fiji’s Lau Group. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) funded the project.

The Resource Economist of SPC’s Land Resources Division (LRD) conducted a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of the project in January 2015 in order to evaluate its likely overall impact and estimate the benefits the project needs to deliver to offset its costs. This brief presents the key findings and recommendations from this CBA.

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