Empowering the Amatakiloa ‘a Fafine Tonga women’s group network to actively participate in decision-making and building Disaster and Climate Resilience in their local community
Focal Are : Governance, Women Empowerment and Disaster Risk Reduction
About the Project
Tonga is ranked as the second most vulnerable island state in the world to natural disaster. This places the communities in Tonga on the frontline. Women, children, girls, boys, elderly, and persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable. The reason for their vulnerability is due to the conditions of their physical and mental well-being, age, poor living standard at home and access to social services. They are often not consulted nor included in important processes and decisions that affect their life. It makes them feel helpless not knowing how they will be supported during and after natural disasters. It is very important for the conditions of those that are vulnerable to be understood by those involved in making decisions. One of the ways to reduce the vulnerability and build the resilience of women, children and the marginalized groups is to actively engage them, listen to their concerns and include them in the process of making decisions at the community level.
Location : Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Ha’apai, Vava’u and ‘Eua
Outcome
Improved participation of women and marginalized groups in decision making at the Village Disaster Committee and better access to information and services have reduced their vulnerability to the effects of climate change and natural disaster
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Activities
· Conduct 16 Community Awareness and Participatory Workshops targeting 560 participants. Government policies and plans related to disasters will be presented and followed by a participatory survey to map out the extent in which marginalized groups participate in decision making in the village committees.
· Select 16 Village Committees and conduct capacity building on the importance of inclusiveness in developing and reviewing village disaster management plans.
· Update information on a booklet produced by TCDT about traditional knowledge related to Disaster Risk Reduction
· Support home gardening as a way that women can work in groups to build their resilience to disasters.
· Develop a sustainability strategy with recommendations and present it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs
· Select 16 Village Committees and conduct capacity building on the importance of inclusiveness in developing and reviewing village disaster management plans.
· Update information on a booklet produced by TCDT about traditional knowledge related to Disaster Risk Reduction
· Support home gardening as a way that women can work in groups to build their resilience to disasters.
· Develop a sustainability strategy with recommendations and present it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs