About DPCC
This project aims is to increase resilience of the targeted communities in Hihifo-Ha'apai & Neiafu-Vava'u (Funded by FON), Lifuka District in Ha'apai & Koloa and Holeva in Vava'u (Funded by NZaid) to better respond to the impacts of a disaster by enabling them to revive, apply and share traditional methods and where necessary merging these practices with modern scientific and technical knowledge.
Ha'apai and Vava'u are the two major outer islands of Tonga which are of vulnerable to impacts of natural disasters such as cyclone and floods. The frequency and intensity of these disasters especially flooding is reported to have increased over the recent years due to climate change and have caused serious damage to communities that live along the coastline.
Experience has shown that after massive floods and cyclones, island communities are isolated for several weeks due to a suite of factors. As a consequence these communities are not able to receive food assistance resulting in food crisis which can last for several weeks depending upon the severity of a disaster. Most residents continue to be entrapped in the cycle of poverty after the loss of their crops, houses and other sources of livelihood as a result of reoccurring disasters.
Aim
NZaid Project Goal - to reduce the social, economic and environmental impacts of disasters on the Pacific Island communities and economy and prornote the achievement of associated MDGs
FON Project Goal - To increase the resilience of Communities towards natural disasters in selected communities (Hihifo-Ha'apai & Neiafu-Vava'u)
Activities Undertaken
The activities of the project will address three major areas as follows:
• Research, documentation and public education from community through national to regional levels
• Training at regional, national and community levels
• Strengthening of institutional linkages for sustainability.
Expected Outcomes
The main objectives of the NZAid project are:
•To document through participatory research and disseminate widely the traditional and modern vulnerability reduction methods, social conditions and skills that effectively contribute to community resilience.
•To facilitate community self organization to prepare for and manage disasters and to build risk reduction measures into daily development activities.
•To forge linkages with key stakeholders at both national and regional levels to promote sustainability of community activities and to spread advocacy for community based vulnerability reduction
The main objectives of the FON project are:
• Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (ORR) plans is devised and adopted.
• Pilot project on traditional coping strategies implemented
• Traditional coping mechanisms are promoted and socialized {promotions and Traditional coping strategies for ORR)
• Traditional coping strategies are supported by other organizations and stakeholders (advocacy to support investment in traditional DRR)
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