Pacific Community 181d ago

What does it mean to do MEL our way? Host Eroni Wavu is joined by Pacific MEL leaders Frances C. Koya Vaka'uta, Ruth Matela, Charlene Mersai, and Christina Hazelman for a powerful talanoa on what makes Pacific MEL distinct, and why it matters. They unpack how MEL rooted in Pacific identity, culture, and relationships offers not just a method, but a movement. They explore the evolution of MEL in the region and what it teaches us about accountability, care, contradictions, and courage. This episode discusses “Navigating tensions between imposed frameworks and inherited values”, “The role of silence and relationships in how we learn”, “What’s gained when we don’t ignore context and culture”. This podcast was made possible through SPC’s Funding with Intent initiative, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Please provide us feedback here: https://forms.office.com/r/yHK0eDhrex Guests: Charlene Mersai, Ministry of Finance, Palau Charlene serves as the Secretariat of the National Environmental Protection Council (NEPC), Palau’s lead coordinator for the 2030 Agenda for SDGs and one of Palau’s Focal Points for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Previously, Ms. Mersai served as the Micronesia Challenge Regional Coordinator, Palau’s GEF Operational Focal Point and was among the first Board Members for the Palau Protected Areas Network Fund. Today she serves on the board the Palau Public Utilities Corporation. Charlene has a BA in Anthropology and Biology from University of Hawaii-Hilo, a Post-graduate Diploma in Ocean Resources Management from USP and an MA in Education from San Diego State University.  Christina Hazelman, SPC  Christina is the Knowledge Integration and Learning Officer at SPC and has been part of the Pacific MEL journey since its inception in 2019. With over a decade of experience working in the Pacific development regional space, Christina is an enthusiastic champion of Pacific MEL and will shares her observations on the evolution of MEL within the Pacific throughout the years and its impact on her own career. Christina holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the USP.  Frances C. Koya Vaka’uta, SPC  Associate Professor Frances C. Koya Vaka‘uta is Team Leader Culture for Development at SPC in Suva, Fiji. Before joining SPC, she was Director of the Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies, USP. Frances spent the last two decades teaching and researching in the areas of teacher education, curriculum studies, Pacific approaches to research, Pacific methodologies, Pacific studies and Pacific arts and culture. She is passionate about Pacific arts and artists, the cultural and creative industries and is an advocate for contextual education, development and research. She believes that contextual social policy is critical if we are to realise the potential of culture for resilience building and sustainable development in the islands.  Ruth Maetala, Pacific Feminist Fund Ruth is an indigenous Solomon Islander and currently Co-Lead Programmes and Innovation at the Pacific Feminist Fund. Ruth has done studies in population and statistics at USP and has a BA women’s Studies, BA Social Anthropology from Massey University. She gained her professional training in Economic Reform from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and later gained a Diploma in Christian Education from Texas Bible College. Ruth has over 20 years of experience in social research, MEL and accountability. Ruth has several published works on women and matrilineal land, gender and natural resource ownership, women’s economic empowerment and women’s participation in peacemaking in Solomon Islands. She has contributed to the Solomon Islands Women First history chapter and contributed to the Pacific MEL Diploma curriculum. Ruth is married with 5 children and 3 grandchildren.   Links Pacific MEL (PacMEL) https://spc.int/updates/blog/2022/03/continuously-improving-monitoring-evaluation-and-learning-systems-key-for The Pacific MEL Capacity Strengthening Rebblib www.spc.int/DigitalLibrary/Get/vpukq  Pacific MEL Diploma https://www.spc.int/DigitalLibrary/SPC/Collection/Pacific_MEL  Kakala Research Framework (PDF) Kakala Research Framework  Kakala_Research.pdf  Kakala Research Framework | SpringerLink  The Pacific Pause/Silence  Babasiga: A study on silence  silence | Southern Perspectives  (PDF) RESEARCHING THE PACIFIC INDIGE Issues and Perspectives Thp ' Okusitmo amna Researching Pacific and Indigenous Peoples: Issues and Perspectives  Pacific Frameworks and Relationality Koya, C.F. (2017). Rethinking Research as Relational Space in the Pacific Pedagogy and Praxis  Palau Voluntary National Review https://hlpf.un.org/sites/default/files/statement/2021/palau-2.pdf   Cultural etiquette handbook https://www.spc.int/digitallibrary/get/sz6zkSPC