Japan helps Vava'u with solid waste management project [1]
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 - 22:01. Updated on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 09:54.
Japan's technical cooperation to Vava'u on solid waste management has shifted into full swing. With the assistance of a JICA Expert for the Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries (J-PRISM), the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of the Kingdom of Tonga held the first workshop on solid waste management plan for stakeholders in Vava'u on October 11, 2011. In addition, members of the Okinawa Citizens Recycling Movement (OCRM), a non-governmental organization of Japan, have arrived in Tonga to commence their Great Vava'u and Okinawa "Mottainai" Movement Project, which is funded under JICA-NGO Partnership Program, and also attended this workshop.
The primary objective of the J-PRISM project in Tonga is to strengthen human and institutional capabilities for sustainable solid waste management in Vava'u. The J-PRISM in Tonga addresses the improvement of the existing solid waste disposal facility and operation as well as solid waste collection service and the establishment of a framework and system for long-term solid waste management. Meanwhile, the "Mottainai" Movement Project, whose activities are indispensable part for the J-PRISM's mission, aims at improving the awareness of the communities and re-vitalizing the existing recycling system in Vava'u. In addition, JICA is sending a volunteer focusing on rural development to Vava'u so as to support the series of activities to be held for these two projects. The Embassy of Japan and JICA envisage that these assistances will catalyze the efforts of the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga on environmental sustainability.
The J-PRISM project targets eleven Pacific Island countries, which requested technical cooperation for solid waste management to support the implementation of the Pacific Regional Solid Waste Management Strategy (2010-2015). In Tonga, the project has been implemented in Vava'u. Meanwhile, the OCRM and the JICA volunteer solely focus on Vava'u. Embassy of Japan, 14/10/11.