Singapore-Pacific Resilience and Knowledge Sharing (SPARKS)
SPARKS focuses on supporting the capacity building efforts of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) members in the priority areas of climate resilience, cybersecurity and international law.
Last updated 9 February 2026
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Launched by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) the 52nd Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in November 2023 in the Cook Islands, the Singapore-Pacific Resilience and Knowledge Sharing (SPARKS) package, which runs from 2024 to 2026, focuses on supporting the capacity building efforts of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) members in the priority areas of climate resilience, cybersecurity and international law to address challenges identified in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. CLC developed a 3-year modular programme, titled “Towards Climate Resilience & Urban Sustainability for the Pacific”, for city leaders and senior officials from Member States of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) to enhance capacity building in urban governance, planning, and development to achieve climate resilience.
The programme offers a practitioner-based curriculum that connects policy with practical applications based on Singapore’s development experiences, centred on the following key focuses:
Climate change impacts on urban areas
Policy frameworks for climate resilience and sustainable development
Urban Governance and Integrated Master-planning for Sustainable and Resilient Development
The first module completed in May 2024, focused on the broad frameworks of Singapore’s approach geared towards a sustainable and resilience future with the fulfilment of not just the Sustainable Development Goals, but also in mitigating the threat of climate change with the aim of achieving net-zero emissions. CLC’s expert speakers delved into the fundamentals, including integrated master-planning and building climate-resilient infrastructure to community engagement and green transportation. While Singapore’s urban landscape may vary from other Pacific Island States, participants were inspired to apply nature-based solutions as well as green building strategies for upcoming development projects in their respective states.
The second module of the SPARKS programme was held in May 2025. Taking into consideration the needs of the PIF Member States, Module 2 dived deeper on the more specific domains, namely, on water resource management, coastal protection, inland flood management and developmental integration with nature to draw more practical insights to build up climate resilience for the long-term.
In preparing for the small Pacific Islands’ conceptualisation of their respective city action plans, the participants also underwent the Action-planning segment based on their learnings from the first two modules. The third and last module will be held in June 2026 with each PIF Member State presenting their Action Plan in the presence of the private sector and financial institutions who may potentially be able to take the projects further towards implementation with enabling support.
We warmly invite such solution providers and supporters to reach out to CLC at MND_capdev@mnd.gov.sg.
Participants’ Testimonials
Each session met their objectives comprehensively and were delivered by knowledgeable and engaging resource persons. The tours, including the Singapore City Gallery and Singapore River Cruise, provided valuable insights into urban planning and development. The content was not only informative but also directly applicable to my current projects, particularly in sustainable planning and critical infrastructure resilience. I strongly recommend retaining all these sessions for future programs due to their practical relevance and the quality of delivery.— Mr Taaniela Kula, Chief Executive Officer, National Spatial Planning Authority, Ministry of Lands, Survey, Planning and Natural Resources, Kingdom of Tonga
The presentations and information sharing amongst participants really fits my work back home and it can also help with our developments and capacity building back in Samoa.— Ms Julie David Simi Selu, Senior Strategic Planning Officer, Planning and Urban Management Agency (PUMA), Ministry of Works Transport and Infrastructure (MWTI), Samoa
The programme was exceptionally well-organized and delivered, providing valuable insights and practical knowledge across various key areas of urban planning, sustainability, and climate resilience. The opportunity to learn from experts and network with peers was invaluable, and I am grateful for the enriching experience.— Mr Avio Niki Roberts, Deputy Town Clerk, Luganville Municipal Council, Vanuatu