MAKING COMMUNITIES THE FOCUS OF CLIMATE CHANGE RELOCATION

Ministry-of-Foreign-Affairs-Acting-Permanent-Secretary-Mr-Esala-Nayasi-during-his-speech-at-the-official-opening-of-the-Consultation-Workshop-on-Draft-Relocation-Guideline-at-Holi.jpg

Caption:Ministry of Foreign Affairs Acting Permanent Secretary Mr Esala Nayasi during his speech at the official opening of the Consultation Workshop on Draft Relocation Guideline at Holiday Inn.Photo:SUPPLIED.

Successful relocations of villages affected by climate change have been the result of strong political will and inclusive and participatory processes.

During the one and half day workshop tackling “Development of a Relocation Guideline for Fiji” held in Suva today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acting permanent secretary, Mr Esala Nayasi said the three communities relocated in the country have become lessons learnt for Fiji.

“The Climate Change Division under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the assistance of the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, National Disaster Management Office and our civil society partners have conducted a mapping and profiling of climate change and disaster impacted communities in Fiji,” he said.

“From this exercise, we have been able to identify around 800 communities to have been impacted. Out of this, 45 have the potential to be relocated in the next 5 to 10 years.

“The experiences and lessons learnt from the relocation of these communities have been used as case studies in the development of the Relocation Guideline.”

The communities that have been relocated are the Vunidogoloa in Vanua Levu, Narikoso in Kadavu and Denimanu village on Yadua Island in Bua.

One of the lessons, Mr Nayasi said, was that the local communities should form primary focus of action and attention as consultations, training and capacity building at this level will only serve to enhance local ownership and sustainability.

The workshop, which is jointly organised by the Climate Change Division and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community / GIZ, has seen the participation of representatives from the various provinces and other ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Mineral Resources Department.

 

DEPTFO

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