Building the resilience of vulnerable homes through Ala Tonu

Focal Areas: Disaster Response/Risk Reduction
About the Project
​The inverse impacts of climate change and natural disasters are felt more severely in Tonga, especially by communities located in low lying areas and along the coast. The proposed project has selected the villages of ‘Ananaa/’Umusii, Ngele’ia/Mataika and Pahu in Tongatapu because they are low lying and coastal communities in the outskirts of Nuku’alofa. Most households in these villages are further disadvantaged by the low level of income and lack of access to farming land to grow their own food.  At the same time, their vulnerability is escalated by the degraded environment they are living in. TCDT, over the years, through the Amatakiloa women’s network group, implemented a program called “Ala Tonu” (lit: harvest your own) which empowered women in the outer islands to have a small organic garden at home, where they can plant different crops and vegetables for their family consumption. During the national emergency response to Tropical Cyclone Gita in February 2018, TCDT received requests from women’s groups in many villages to participate in the “Ala Tonu” program.
Location 
​Tongatapu: ‘Ananaa/’Umusii, Ngele’ia/Mataika and Pahu
Outcome
Participating communities are more resilient to climate change with improved food and nutrition security for vulnerable community members
Activities
·  Conduct 3 Participatory Awareness Workshops, one in each village targeting a maximum of 15 participants from each village.
·  Set up a total of 45 home garden by providing crushed rocks, topsoil and vegetable seedlings to each participating household and to cater for short term family’s needs for food.
·  Distribute and plant 125 fruit trees (3 in each participating household) to contribute to long term food security.
·  Train participating household on composting of organic waste and set up home composting to help improve and sustain soil fertility.
·  Conduct public awareness program on local television and radio.
Timeframe: 24 December 2021 – 24 December 2022
Donor/Development Partner: