Pacific regional environment and natural disasters

2009/2010 Allocation: NZ$6.0 million

Snapshot

The Pacific is a region of vast oceans and small islands. The natural environment and resources of the region are varied and there is a diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions. The long period of settlement of many societies reflects a generally high level of environmental sustainability and resilience.

However, the natural resources of the Pacific region are increasingly susceptible to threats of over-exploitation, long-term environmental change, and natural disasters. In turn, communities that rely on local natural resources for their day-to-day livelihoods are vulnerable. Protecting the environment and sustaining the well-being and livelihoods of people are therefore intertwined and are best achieved if pursued together.

The Pacific Regional Environment and Natural Disasters Programme currently allocates NZ$6.0 million a year for regional programmes designed to protect and enhance the Pacific region's natural resource base for sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Separate assistance is provided to Pacific regional organisations that also deliver on sustainable natural resource management, disaster risk reduction, renewable energy, and climate change.

NZAID priorities

The programme’s current priorities include:

enhancing the capacity of communities to manage their environment, through co-funding support to the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme
supporting the establishment and operation of regional partnerships for environment and development in water resources, invasive species, disaster preparedness and response, waste management, biodiversity and climate change (the World Summit on Sustainable Development Type II partnerships)
providing coordinated disaster relief immediately following natural disaster events
a range of additional initiatives including the Kiribati Climate Change Adaptation Programme and a regional environmental education initiative.

In 2006 NZAID released its Environment Policy which guides the future structure and focus of the agency's Pacific Regional Environment programme.

Community level environmental management

The aim of the Small Grants Programme (SGP) is to help secure global environmental benefits through environmental protection, poverty reduction and community empowerment. Specifically, the SGP supports the activities of non-governmental and community-based organisations in developing countries, with funding decisions made by national committees made up of government, NGO, civil society, and community representatives.

The objective of NZAID's partnership with Global Environment Facility SGP is to provide cost effective support for community development initiatives promoting environmental protection, poverty reduction, and sustainable livelihoods, and to strengthen the capacity of those organisations undertaking these initiatives.

Under the partnership, NZAID resources align with existing SGP systems, focal areas, and processes wherever possible. An exception is that NZAID's contribution to each SGP country programme will also be eligible to government agencies (national, provincial, and local) as well as non-government and community-based organisations.

NZAID provides separate support to national committees through extra human, financial, and training assistance. The partnership is managed primarily through twice-yearly UNDP Global Environment Facility - NZAID Partnership Steering Committee meetings.

The SGP operates in Samoa, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Marshall Islands, and the Cook Islands. Programmes are expected to be established in Niue, Papua New Guinea, Tokelau, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga, Nauru, and Solomon Islands over the coming year.

Enquires from the Pacific on the Global Environment Facility SGP - NZAID Pacific Environment Fund should be directed to the relevant national contact point. For contact details see the link below. It is also possible to contact NZAID's Regional Coordinator for the SGP, Leanne Harrison.

Regional partnerships for environment and development (the World Summit on Sustainable Development Type II partnerships)

NZAID supports the development and implementation of 'Type II' partnership initiatives in the Pacific. The Type II concept was established at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002.

The partnerships provide for better collaboration between national, regional, and international stakeholders in the implementation of development activities. These partnerships are being developed and facilitated by Pacific regional agencies on behalf of their member countries. They aim to provide a single strategy as a mechanism for coordinating activities so that lessons can be shared and gaps identified. They also allow alignment of donor support in the interests of all members.

Current NZAID support to regional partnerships includes water and sanitation (coordinated by the SOPAC), mainstreaming conservation and biodiversity protection (coordinated by South Pacific Regional Environment Programme), and invasive species management (coordinated by the Pacific Invasives Initiative).

NZAID has also supported, through South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, the development of new regional strategies for climate change and waste management.

Climate change

New Zealand acknowledges the vulnerability of Pacific island countries to the effects of climate change. Climate change can exacerbate a range of issues that are already challenges in the region, Including greater cyclone intensity, compromised water resources, and negative impacts on coral reefs, fisheries, agriculture, tourism, and human health.

These issues are likely to pose significant challenges to sustainable development and will affect the region's environment, society, and economy.

Given Pacific island countries' high vulnerability and low emissions, it makes sense for New Zealand to support work that will help our partners adapt to the effects of climate change while providing for the livelihoods and basic needs of local people.

NZAID is focused on addressing issues that are already development challenges that could be exacerbated by climate change, including food and water security, health, and the capacity to deal with extreme events such as tropical cyclones, flooding, and droughts. This is intended to provide an efficient way of simultaneously supporting adaptation as well as sustainable development aims.

NZAID has also participated in other approaches, such as the Kiribati Adaptation Programme. NZAID is providing NZ$1.5m towards this programme which assists the Government of Kiribati’s own priorities to strengthen coastal defences, protect its freshwater, and storm-proof the local hospital. As well as strengthening resilience to the effects of climate change, these initiatives also support improvements in other areas, such as health.

Emergency management and disaster response in the Pacific

NZAID responds to the immediate humanitarian needs after disasters and supports and promotes longer-term disaster management, preparedness, and risk mitigation in Pacific communities.

The aim following a disaster is to assist with immediate humanitarian needs and to help empower affected communities to rebuild their lives. Once a request for immediate assistance has been received from the government of the country affected, NZAID is able to provide relief supplies or technical assistance and to assist through funding partner governments, multilateral organisations, or NGOs.

NZAID is committed to supporting disaster risk reduction, mitigation and preparedness, both regionally and through bilateral programmes. For example, NZAID supports the Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, which was endorsed by Forum Leaders in 2005. This identifies six themes for building resilience, including governance, public awareness, hazard analysis, preparedness, and mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and management into national development planning, policies and programmes.

NZAID also supports a range of disaster risk management and preparedness initiatives across the Pacific. Including support to the Foundation of the Peopless of the South Pacific International for its community-based disaster preparedness programme.

NZAID also has multi-year funding arrangements with SOPAC, the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, the New Zealand Meteorological Service (weather forecasting, cyclone tracking and some risk mitigation work in the Pacific), and Radio New Zealand International (24 hour radio coverage in the event of a natural disaster).

NZAID on the ground

Case study: Managing the urban water supply in the Pacific

NZAID supports activities under the regional Type II partnership on water and sanitation, coordinated by SOPAC. Under the partnership, many Pacific countries have identified environmental pressure caused by urban water supply systems as a priority concern. Many countries have problems with losing more water through leakage and wastage than is able to be delivered to the tap. This in turn can put unnecessary pressure on limited local water supplies and natural ecosystems.

With NZAID support of NZ$740,000 over three years, SOPAC and the regional Type II partners are helping Pacific countries to develop urban water management plans, and to repair and maintain reticulation systems over the long-term.

Related support

NZAID provides separate assistance of approximately of NZ$10 million to Pacific regional organisations that also deliver on sustainable natural resource management, disaster risk reduction, renewable energy and climate change.

New Zealand is a member of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), and Pacific Regional Environment Programme.

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