Resilient development in Vanuatu has been given a boost with available and tailored climate information services (or CIS), tools and institutional strengthening developed by the Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong Redy, Adapt mo Protekt project (Van-KIRAP) to better prepare Vanuatu’s policy makers and public for a changing climate.Resilient development in Vanuatu has been given a boost with available and tailored climate information services (or CIS), tools and institutional strengthening developed by the Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong Redy, Adapt mo Protekt project (Van-KIRAP) to better prepare Vanuatu’s policy makers and public for a changing climate.
The newly established Van-KIRAP Technical Working Group held its first meeting (TWG-1) this week with the Project Management Unit giving an update on what has been happening in the first 12 months of implementation.
“The Van-KIRAP is a complex project that involves a number of agencies, components, and moving parts that is dependent on prerequisite activities and milestones; and therefore coordination is key to ensure smooth implementation – hence the role of the TWG is paramount” said Moirah Yerta, Van-KIRAP Project Manager/VMGD.
“The first TWG-1 is an excellent opportunity for the members to get organise to familiarise themselves with duties and understand the scope of their responsibilities and they represent a large segment of the Vanuatu community” she added.
Present at the TWG-1 meeting were representatives from the Government of Vanuatu through Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department (VMGD), Sectors (Department of Agriculture, Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Public Works Department, Department of Tourism Department of Local Affairs, Department of Water Resources and Vanuatu Umbrella for Non-Government Organisations), and the delivery partners representatives from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Pacific Community (SPC).
The Van-KIRAP TWG serves as an advisory body and will support the project as an expert panel that represents the full range of expertise, sector knowledge, end users, stakeholders and delivery partners for the project. Its primary role will be to provide technical guidance and direction for the project.
TWG-1 reviewed and endorsed at least 5 sector case studies in Agriculture, Fisheries, Infrastructure, Tourism and Water sectors that will better inform decision making through mainstreamed use of CIS. Such CIS will meet priority climate adaptation, climate-related disaster risk reduction policy and planning and associated development needs of stakeholders (Next/End-Users) at national, provincial and local community levels.
TWG-1 also discussed strengthening collaboration between national agencies starting with open sharing of data and information and leveraging against existing projects (national and regional level) to ensure the benefits for the Vanuatu people (Ni-Vanuatu) is maximised to the fullest.
“To address existing climate impacts, and to prepare for predicted increases in climate change and disaster risks, Vanuatu has prioritised the development of institutional frameworks and build capacity which support practical application of long-term ‘climate smart’ (climate mainstreamed, climate sensitive) policy and planning recommended by the Vanuatu Framework for Climate Services and now realised through the Van-KIRAP project” said Sunny Seuseu, Climate Information Services Officer, Van-KIRAP/SPREP.
The TWG-2 meeting is scheduled to take place in late October 2019.