The Tonga Community Development Trust (TCDT) is an indigenous, non-governmental development organization operating in the Kingdom of Tonga. TCDT’s focus is on capacity building with special attention on the less developed, more disadvantaged communities of Tonga including the poorest of the poor. Our projects cover the following focal areas: Family and Community Health; Rural Water Supply and Sanitation; Sustainable Development; Environmental Conservation; Disaster Preparedness; Women’s in Development; Human Rights; Good Governance, Civic Education and Voter Education.
Brief Historical Background
Tonga Trust started from the work of the Catholic Village Womens Development Program (VWD) in 1978. The organisation was formally registered at the Tonga’s Magistrates Court in November 17, 1983 under the name Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific/Tonga (FSP Tonga). Two years later, the name of the organisation was changed to Tonga Community Development Trust in November 17, 1985. Its mandate continued to focus on alleviation of poverty in Tongan families and communities and fostering self reliance and sustainable community development. Since its inception, TCDT has been governed by a Board of Directors and managed daily by an Executive Director.
TCDT's headquarters is on the main island of Tongatapu. A field office was opened in Neiafu, Vava’u in April 1999. Since then we have also established field offices in Ha’apai and ‘Eua. It is envisaged that a field office will be open in Niuafo’ou in 2009.
TCDT's headquarters is on the main island of Tongatapu. A field office was opened in Neiafu, Vava’u in April 1999. Since then we have also established field offices in Ha’apai and ‘Eua. It is envisaged that a field office will be open in Niuafo’ou in 2009.
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Mission
Tonga Trust is working in partnership with development partners to foster self reliance and sustainable community development in Tonga.
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Vision
Families and Communities in Tonga are empowered to be self-reliant and active agents of their own sustainable development.
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Values/Principles
• SELF-RELIANCE – Tonga Trust is guided by the principle of helping the poor families and communities to help themselves
• EMPOWERMENT – we actively promote empowering communities to understand and actively participate in taking action to meet their needs sustainably
• PARTNERSHIP – we encourage forming partnership with and/or from local to international communities while addressing local community’s needs and aspirations
• EQUITABLE RIGHTS – we believe that everyone has equitable rights to access development opportunities, disregarding social and economic background and geographical location •
• SUSTAINABILITY – we support community’s ownership of problems and cost-effective solutions to ensure sustainability of benefits
• EMPOWERMENT – we actively promote empowering communities to understand and actively participate in taking action to meet their needs sustainably
• PARTNERSHIP – we encourage forming partnership with and/or from local to international communities while addressing local community’s needs and aspirations
• EQUITABLE RIGHTS – we believe that everyone has equitable rights to access development opportunities, disregarding social and economic background and geographical location •
• SUSTAINABILITY – we support community’s ownership of problems and cost-effective solutions to ensure sustainability of benefits
Roles of TCDT
To work with poor and disadvantaged families and communities to improve their living standard
To build the capacity and confidence of families and communities, especially women through technical training in specific skills that are relevant and useful for home and community development
To provide linkages and pathways between families and communities with other development sources of assistance, such as government, local and foreign donors
To increase people's understanding of their basic rights
To facilitate and empower communities governance structure as a strong foundation for charging their own development and self-reliance
To build the capacity and confidence of families and communities, especially women through technical training in specific skills that are relevant and useful for home and community development
To provide linkages and pathways between families and communities with other development sources of assistance, such as government, local and foreign donors
To increase people's understanding of their basic rights
To facilitate and empower communities governance structure as a strong foundation for charging their own development and self-reliance
FOCAL AREAS, PROGRAMS, STRATEGIES and OUTCOMES
In order to achieve TCDT visions and missions, the Strategic Plan identified 4 key focal areas, breaking them down into concrete programs, strategies and measurable outcomes:
Focal Area1. Program Development and Implementation
- Program 1: Good Governance - People and Policies
- Program 2: Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management
- Program 3: Women in Development
- Program 4: Water, Health and Sanitation
- Program 5: Family, Cultures and Traditional Values
Focal Area 2. Information and Communication
Focal Area 3. Training and Institutional Development
Focal Area 4. Capacity Building
Focal Area 3. Training and Institutional Development
Focal Area 4. Capacity Building
Relevance to the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-25.
The Tonga Community Development Trust Strategic Plan is developed to play an integrated roles with the Tongan Government 10-year Strategic Development Framework 2015-25.
National Impact – A more progressive Tonga supporting a higher quality of life
National Impact – A more progressive Tonga supporting a higher quality of life
National Outcomes |
Organisational Outcomes |
Targets |
B. …balanced urban and rural development across island groups |
1). Improved collaboration with civil society organizations and community groups |
District offices/Councils, growth committees establish Constituency plans implemented |
C. …empowering human development with gender equality |
1). Closer partnership between government & stakeholders for community development 6). Better care & support for vulnerable people, in particular the disabled 8). Improved use of research & development focusing on priority needs 9). Improved resilience to natural disasters and impact of climate change |
Support for the vulnerabilities Improvement in the coverage of social scheme to outer islands …promote active participation of the community groups and villages |
F. ...effective land & environment management & resilience to climate & risk |
2). Improved use of natural resources for long term flow of benefits 4). Cleaner environment with improved waste recycling 5). Improved resilience to natural disasters and impact of climate change |
100% National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plans (NBSAP) project implemented 100% Ridge to Reef (R2R) project implemented |