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Privacy Policy

Effective Date: [Date]

Last Updated: [Date]

A Legal Disclaimer

The explanations and information provided on this page are only general and high-level explanations on how the Small Island Developing States Science (SIDSCI) Initiative manages privacy on this website.

 

You should not rely on this document as legal advice or as recommendations regarding what you should actually do, because we cannot know in advance the specific privacy obligations or requirements that may apply to you.

If you are seeking to create your own Privacy Policy, we recommend obtaining independent legal advice to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.

Privacy Policy

Having said that, a Privacy Policy is a statement that explains how a website collects, uses, discloses, processes, and manages the data of its visitors and users. It also expresses the website’s commitment to protecting the privacy of its visitors and outlines the mechanisms in place to ensure such protection.

 

The SIDSCI Initiative is a collaborative, noncommercial platform led by Emory University (United States) and the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) (Vanuatu and Fiji). This website serves as an information and outreach portal for SIDSCI’s activities, events, and partnerships.

 

Different jurisdictions have different legal obligations for privacy protection. As a cross-regional initiative, SIDSCI strives to follow recognized international standards of data protection and transparency, while respecting local requirements that may apply to our users.

What This Policy Covers

This Privacy Policy explains:

 

  • The types of information we collect and how it is collected;

  • Why we collect and use that information;

  • How we store, share, and protect information;

  • Your rights and choices regarding your data; and

  • Our policies regarding minors and external links.

1. Information We Collect

SIDSCI collects only the information necessary to manage communications, event participation, and collaboration within our programs.

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This may include:

 

  • Personal Information such as name, email address, organization, country, or professional role (when you voluntarily provide it through forms or correspondence);

  • Technical Information such as IP address, browser type, device information, and site usage statistics (collected automatically through cookies or analytics tools).

2. How We Use Information

SIDSCI uses collected information for the following purposes:

 

  • To manage event registration, mailing lists, and program participation;

  • To communicate with users about SIDSCI initiatives, opportunities, and updates;

  • To analyze website traffic and improve functionality; and

  • To fulfill reporting requirements to partners and funders using aggregated, non-identifiable data.

 

SIDSCI does not sell or rent personal data to third parties for commercial purposes.

3. Information Sharing

Information may be shared only with:

 

  • Partner institutions, namely Emory University and PICAN, for coordination of SIDSCI activities;

  • Service providers that support website hosting, form submissions, or communications, under confidentiality agreements; and

  • Funders or collaborators, only in aggregated or anonymized form for reporting purposes.

 

SIDSCI requires all partners and vendors to follow data protection standards consistent with this policy.

4. Data Retention

SIDSCI retains personal data only for as long as necessary to achieve the purposes described above or as required by Emory University’s and PICAN’s institutional data management policies.

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When data is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymized.

5. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

 

  • Access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data;

  • Withdraw consent to communications at any time;

  • Request a copy of the information we hold about you.

 

To exercise these rights, please contact us at secretariat@pican.org.

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We will respond to all reasonable requests in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

6. Cookies and Analytics

This website may use cookies or analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) to understand visitor behavior and improve the user experience.

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Cookies do not store personal information. You may disable cookies in your browser settings, though this may affect certain site functions.

7. Data Security

SIDSCI implements reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, misuse, or loss.

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While we strive for high security standards, no online platform is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection.

8. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party or partner websites.

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SIDSCI is not responsible for the content, security, or privacy practices of external websites. Users are encouraged to review external privacy policies before providing personal information.

9. Children's Privacy

This website is not intended for use by children under the age of 16.

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We do not knowingly collect or store personal information from minors. If we become aware that data has been provided by a minor, it will be promptly deleted.

10. Updates to This Policy

SIDSCI may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in practices or compliance requirements.

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The “Last Updated” date at the top of this page indicates the most recent revision. Continued use of this website after updates signifies acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or data-related requests, please contact:

 

SIDSCI Secretariat

 

Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN)

Port Vila, Vanuatu / Suva, Fiji

Email: secretariat@pican.org

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