BY LORETTA B MANELE
This week, at the 54th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Side Event “Unpacking Resilience-Strengthening Systems, Capacities and Practical Solutions”, panelists briefly spoke about different aspects relating to climate resilience.
The session was opened with a few remarks from Rex Ramofafia, Minister for the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC).
He expressed that the region must move on from financing resilience in theory to building it in concrete reality, especially in rural areas.
“Mainstream resilience is not a choice, it is a necessity. Our national and sectoral planning and budget cycle are the most critical windows for this integration,” said Ramofafia.
A panel discussion was held with three panelists namely; Amelia Kinahoi Siamomua, Adviser to Tongan PM, Agnetha Vave Karamui, Deputy Secretary Technical, MECDM and Roy Mae, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Planning.
Siamomua, who is the advisor to the Tongan Prime Minister Aisake Eke, highlighted that it is important to hold governments accountable to ensure that every penny meant for climate resilience is actually spent on climate resilience.
She their government is working on what they call “tracking the money” to ensure that money is allocated to the right tasks in terms of agencies budget.
Agnetha Vave Karamui, Deputy Secretary Technical spoke about community-based disaster tools.
She said they have been working with communities to help them develop their disaster management plans.
Karamui mentioned that this work involves technical training and improving the capacity of rolling out the plans.
The third panelist was Roy Mae, the Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Planning, who spoke about climate budgeting.
He pointed out that the progress of climate budgeting is linked to Solomon Islands national and environmental systems.
Mae also stated that there is ongoing reform on climate budget at country level to strengthen coordination between the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, the Ministry of National Planning, as well as the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
The session allowed discussions centered on the importance of tracking funding for climate resilience, the roll out of community-based disaster tools and climate budget reform.
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