The announcement in June of the agreement between the European Union (EU) and the South
Pacific Applied Geosciences Commission (SOPAC) regarding funding of the Pacific-HYCOS
project represents the culmination of a long period of planning and advocacy for strengthening
of the human and technical capacity of National Hydrological Services (NHSs) in Pacific
Island Countries. The Pacific-HYCOS project was developed under the framework of the
World Meteorological Organisation’s (WMO) World Hydrological Cycle Observing System
(WHYCOS). The WHYCOS programme, which has the ultimate objective to “promote and
facilitate the collection, exchange, dissemination and use of water-related information, using
modern information technologies”, is being implemented in the form of regional HYCOS
projects.