The Tonga Rural Innovation Project II, a $24 million pa’anga project for rural community development in Tonga 2018-23, was launched during a stakeholders workshop on September 25 in Nuku’alofa.

This project also known as TRIP II, is a product of a strategic partnership between the Tongan Government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation Trust Tonga (MORDI TT).

It is expected to benefit 122 rural communities, or close to 7300 mostly poor households, identified in 2009 House Income and Expenditure Survey in all of the islands. Communities will be supported to develop climate resilient agriculture and infrastructure that contributes towards improving their livelihoods.

During the launch, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. Losaline Ma’asi and Dr Vili Fuavao, a Trustee at MORDI TT.

The Minister said this project demonstrated Government’s commitment to building resilient and prosperous communities in Tonga.

It was important to build community planning capacity, while acknowledging the extensive work already done by MORDI TT including Tonga Rural Innovation Project (TRIP I), learn lessons from the past and scale up support to all islands, she said.

Tawfiq El-Zabri, IFAD Country Program Manager for the Pacific said the goal of TRIP II is to contribute to improved and resilient livelihoods for Tonga’s rural population, to be achieved through building the capacity of communities to plan and managing resilient infrastructure and livelihood activities. 

It also placef significant emphasis on climate resilient infrastructure and support to climate-smart agriculture and livelihood development.

TRIP I had benefited around 150 communities through community planning and building sustainable livelihoods, and 60 through community investments. They were now ready to grow into a new phase of support: implementing food, crop and handicraft production activities included in their Community Development Plans, which will improve household incomes. 

"TRIP II thus builds on the success of TRIP I and supports these communities in pursuing livelihood opportunities that the communities have selected."

Stakeholders included district and town officers from throughout Tongatapu are attending the three-days workshop to ensure common understanding of roles and responsibilities, expectations, legal and financial framework, at Tanoa Hotel.

MORDI TT is an organization that works towards assisting rural isolated communities in Tonga fight against poverty.