Seaqaqa Township redevelopment: a model for risk informing development in Fiji
On the island of Vanua Levu, in Fiji’s Northern Division, the Fiji government is taking an innovative approach to redeveloping a local township to bolster economic growth in the region. As they plan new infrastructure for the town of Seaqaqa, and consider potential risks to their investment, they have found that disaster prevention is not
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Enhanced Food Security for Disaster Prone Communities in Vanuatu
Partnerships to enhance community resilience through enhanced food security in Vanuatu Background Vanuatu is an agriculture-based economy, with 80% of the population depending entirely on subsistence agriculture for both their daily sustenance and well-being, and collectively the sector accounting for at least 20% of GDP (MALFFB, 2014). A number of partners, led by the Vanuatu
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Food Banks: Public-Private Partnerships for More Resilient Outer Islands, Yasawas, Fiji
Brokering of a public private partnership to support the development of Food Banks and savings clubs in remote communities in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji Background Fiji is ranked as the 14th most exposed country in the world to natural disasters. Remote communities in the Yasawa islands have are particularly exposed to both climate change and
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More Resilient farming systems and practices, Niu Birao, Solomon Islands
Partnerships to improve agriculture resilience in Niu Birao Village, Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands Background Subsistence agriculture is the main livelihood for most of the rural households in Solomon Islands, which make up 85% percent of the population (Jansen et al., 2006). Small-scale semi-subsistence farming and fishing is the norm, with approximately 40 percent of GDP
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Enhanced income security through a risk informed farm road, Nasolo Village, Fiji
Piloting risk screening of public sector projects in the Nadi District, Bua, Northern Division, Fiji Background Improved access to food markets and health facilities are priorities under the risk informed Nasolo village development plan. Two pregnant women have been forced to give birth in the village during periods of flooding, putting them and their unborn
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Long term solutions for water security in Lulunga District,Tonga
Resource mobilisation from the Tonga Climate Change Trust Fund for implementing water security initiatives Background Lack of water is a priority issue in the district of Lulunga, in Tonga’s remote Ha’apai island group. The 17 island archipelago has a population of over 500 people within six communities, who are mostly situated in the district centre
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A New Resilient Community, Tukuraki
Working towards a resilient community, Western Division, Fiji Background In 2012, tons of rock and mud swept down the steep incline above the Tukuraki village, burying one house and a family of four as they slept inside. More than 50 percent of the village area was buried beneath the mud and debris. Villagers were requested
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How to program for uncertain results? The innovation journey of the Pacific Risk Resilience Programme
Innovations are driven by risk-takers. Part of UNDP’s role in innovation is to provide the space for risk-takers to develop and test their ideas. And it turns out that sometimes these are not individuals, but entire programmes! The Pacific Risk Resilience Programme (PRRP) covers the Pacific countries of Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, and
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Risk-informing development is key to achieving the new Pacific regional framework for resilient development
Suva, Fiji – The Pacific region continues to lead the way in efforts to make development more resilient to climate change and disasters. In the first meeting of the newly established Pacific Resilience Platform, climate change, disaster management and development practitioners met recently in Suva, Fiji to operationalise the new regional framework for resilient development.
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Transforming private sector engagement to build business and community resilience
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, Germany – Business leaders, government officials, representatives from the United Nations and Pacific regional agencies gathered in Bonn for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23), showcased successful examples of new private sector networks in improving coordination of resilience and humanitarian activities in the Pacific region. “Countries cannot afford not to engage the private sector
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Gender and Protection Must be ‘Central’ to Climate Change Adaptation for Sustainable Development in the Pacific
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, Germany – Reducing the risks from climate change and disasters would be futile if it does not reduce the risks to those who are most disproportionately impacted. Therefore, climate change and disaster risk reduction (CCDRR) must ensure that the protection of life, security, and dignity of all people are at the center
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Businesses help build more resilient communities through combined efforts
Port Vila, Vanuatu – Tropical Cyclone experiences in Vanuatu have proven the need to have partnerships at all levels in managing the impacts of disasters. Businesses and partners met recently to launch the Vanuatu Business Resilience Committee (VBRC) that will coordinate government and partners to work with the private sectors in helping communities prepare, respond
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Local Government Resilient Development Network to Boost Risk Informed Development
With the adoption of the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and increased commitment to resilient development, the local government plays an important role in localising and contextualising these global goals and turning them into pragmatic solutions. However, the critical role of local government in administering services and facilitating community development priorities is often overlooked, especially in
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Risk Informed Development a Priority for Fiji’s Western Division
A recently launched Geographical Information System (GIS) web-interface will allow the Office of the Commissioner Western Division to effectively make development decisions based on the risks that communities face as a result of disasters and climate change. The GIS web-interface will ensure that people are not only better prepared for a disaster but they also
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Protection of human rights should be at the center of climate actions
The linkages between climate change, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development needs to be strongly emphasized in order to facilitate an integrated and holistic approach to climate action. The Protection in the Pacific (ProPa) Network which include national government actors working for Ministries responsible for issues related to gender, human rights and protection from Fiji,
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