Tonga: Technical Assistance for Recovery and Reconstruction Planning, Post Tropical Cyclone Ian

Building back climate-resilient homes in Tonga following Tropical Cyclone Ian. Source

Context and Objectives 
The primary objective of this activity was to promote resilient reconstruction through support to the development of a housing reconstruction policy framework and strategy.

Main Activities and results

The main activities of the project were:

• Assist in developing a Housing Reconstruction Policy and Strategy by:
  • Refining the needs assessment;
  • Establishing the context of reconstruction
  • Outlining the institutional and financial strategy and principles of community participation;
  • Detailing the reconstruction approach, including eligibility criteria, grievance redressal, relocation and changes in land-use policy required for enhanced disaster resilience, and "Build back better" principles for housing reconstruction; and
  • Identifying appropriate risk management measures for environmental and social safeguards, disaster risk reduction, and M&E. The Reconstruction Policy would feed in the Tonga national resilient recovery program.
• Support the Government’s recovery and reconstruction planning through providing technical support to the Government for the mapping of post-disaster building damage and needs, by:
  • Utilizing remote sensing, geo-information and global positioning systems; and
  • Compiling available hazard and risk information to produce adequate mapping products.
• Provide training and capacity building to the Ministry of Infrastructure Policy and Planning Division.

The project supported the Government of Tonga in the following areas:

• Promoted and supervised safer reconstruction following cyclone Ian that struck Tonga in 2014,
• Develop the Haapai island Housing Reconstruction Policy (HRP) and a strategy that supports the government’s recovery and reconstruction planning.

Partnerships and Coordination
Technical assistance was conducted jointly with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning.