Tonga was the first country to complete its disaster risk survey out of 13 Pacific islands countries. The results of the survey under the PCRAFI II project were presented at a half-day workshop yesterday, 15 February, 2023.

The workshop presentations included an overview of the evaluation process from stakeholder consultations, and group discussions about their way forward.

The program was initiated by NEMO and the Ministry of Finance with South Pacific Community (SPC) as its implementing agency and the project is funded by the PCRAFI multi-donor Trust Fund (MDTF) administered by the World Bank.  

The project consists of seven committed Ministries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Land and Natural Resources, Statistics Department, Public Enterprises and NEMO (MEIDECC).

Co-ordinator Lucy Fa’anunu said that although the PCRAFI II project had gone through the challenges of the eruption and the changing times caused by COVID-19 pandemic, Tonga was still the first country to complete the survey compared to the other engaging Pacific Island Countries.  

 “Only five pacific Islands responded to the program including Tonga when it should’ve been all 13 pacific islands,” she said.

 Results have been inputted to update Tonga’s exposure data which will benefit in strengthening Tonga’s disaster risk reduction and disaster risk finance.

The Capacity Building and Update of the Hazard and Exposure Database for the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment Financing Initiative PCRAFI II under the SPC funded by the multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank.