LocationsNew Footcrossing Provides Resilient Lifeline for the People of Tavuya
October 16, 2023
ASG and RD for Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja, accompanying Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka (left).
Rewa, Fiji - The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management (MRMDDM) – in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – has commissioned a new footcrossing, jetty and shelter in the village of Tavuya.
This community-led initiative has taken a risk informed approach to its work in furthering local resilience to the impacts of climate change, building upon ancestral knowledge and a can-do spirit to withstand the wrath of an ever-changing environment.
Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka, and the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja, officiated the commissioning of the footcrossing, which serves as a vital link between the village and water-based transportation.
Minister Ditoka stressed that if climate and disaster risks are not at the forefront of development, then development itself is unsustainable.
“Our Ministry’s commitment to integrating climate change and disaster risk across our portfolio demonstrates a paradigm shift towards more inclusive, efficient and sustainable development. The model of co-financing existing government investments by UNDP has not only lifted the standard of project implementation, but also provides an efficient and effective method of channelling needed climate, disaster and inclusive financing to support our development mandate”.
Ms. Wignaraja acknowledged that with thanks to support from the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Korea, and the United Kingdom, the Government of Fiji has increased its efforts across 89 communities – including Tavuya – to ensure that local populations are focused on climate adaptation and resilience.
“As Fijian communities are being impacted rising food and energy prices, inflation, and frequent disaster events, we congratulate the Ministry on driving a risk informed approach to all development. We can see that this is resulting in a more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable development, and a more programmatic approach to coordinating donor support,” Ms. Wignaraja said.
The footcrossing in Tavuya (pictured) is part of 89 risk-informed community development projects across Fiji.
She also noted her appreciation for the strong and enduring partnership with the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, adding that ambitious adaptation financing was needed now more than ever before to address the impacts of climate change and disaster.
To date, the MRMDDM and UNDP have co-financed 89 risk-informed community development projects to a value of FJ$3.2 million. About 14,200 people in rural communities are estimated to have benefitted from these projects.
The partnership with MRMDDM has been established through the UNDP's Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific Gov4Res project, with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Korea International Cooperation Agency, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Background:
The Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Gov4Res) project works with Pacific Island governments to ensure that countries adapt their decision-making and governance systems towards more resilient development. The project theory of change rests on a core assumption that Pacific Island people will be more resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters if countries manage all development through a 'risk-informed' approach.
For further media enquiries please contact:
Ashna Kumar, Communications Associate, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji - ashna.kumar@undp.org
Aqela Susu, Senior Media Officer, Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management - susuaqela@gmail.com
