Preparatory work is now currently underway to re-establish the Meteorological Station in Kirakira after many years of closure.
The provincial Secretary for Makira Ulawa Province, Christopher Waiwori in a statement welcomed the re-establishment of the Met-Station in Kirakira as it is vital that such service is available in the province to provide reliable and effective meteorological services.
These included early warnings, accurate and timely weather forecasts, and climate monitoring and information to protect communities, sustain livelihoods and to build long-term resilience.
Mr Waiwori said that this initiative to re-establish the Met Station is made possible through the collaboration between the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government, through the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service, the MECCDMM and UNDP Solomon Islands under its AMOS – RD Flagship Project (Advancing Meteorological Observations Systems for Resilient Development).
Provincial Secretary Waiwori said that as part of the preparatory work, consultation exercise was undertaken recently in Kirakira by a consultant from the UNDP and have met with the Officials of the Makira Provincial Government, Community Leaders, including women and Youth Groups.
He said the Consultation exercise is a mandatory requirement to fulfil compliance with UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards, basically to conduct gender analysis and to develop gender and social inclusion (GESI) action plan and safeguarding tools for the AMOS-RD Project.
The Provincial Secretary stated that such action plans are necessary in order to develop social safety tools that will be used when the actual construction of the Met Station and staff facility is implemented in Kirakira.
He said that establishing safety tools, as guiding principles for the contractors is very important because it sets guidelines on how contractors conduct themselves during their course of duty in the Province as well as informing the community members, especially youths and women about their responsibilities and to strengthen their sense of awareness.
The Project is expected to commence this year, once all the necessary formalities are in place and tenders are successfully concluded.
Mr Waiwori, thanked the National Government, through the MECDM, and UNDP Solomon Islands for the initiative taken to address one of the much needed services which has been absent for some years in Makira Ulawa Province.
– MUP Press
