A Pacific Resilience Program (PREP), which comprises of a number of projects aimed to strengthen Pacific Island countries resilience to natural disasters and climate change was launched today, 21 June in Fiji, during a three-day workshop.

Participants from around the Pacific, including Tonga, as well as regional bodies and project staff, received training to support the start of the program.

PREP will include initiatives and activities for early warning tooks, risk reduction investments and financial planning for disasters.

Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni said PREP allowed them to work together with Pacific neighbours to take pro-active approach to managing natural disasters in the region.

“We are committed to strengthening Tonga against future natural disasters and being a partner in this initiative is an important part of that strategy.”

Colin Tukuitonga, Director-General of the Pacific Community said as the region’s principal scientific organization, they understand how valuable it is to share knowledge and tools to better manage disasters and reduce their impact.

“We are proud to be a part of this initiative with the World Bank and others, and to further support our region to withstand disasters."

Denis Jordy, a Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank said all countries at today’s launch have felt the impact of natural disasters in recent years, highlighting the regional need for action.

PREP which uses a regional approach to disaster risk management to share expertise and increase economies of scale, is a partnership between Tonga, Samoa, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, the Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the World Bank.

The Pacific Resilience Program is funded through US$32.29 million in grants and credits from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the world’s poorest countries. The Global Environment Facility Special Climate Change Fund to Tonga and PIFS have provided US$5.48 million; the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience to the Pacific Community (SPC) has provided US$5.79 million in grant funding; and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery to Tonga has provided $US1.5 million in grant funding.