he Pacific Resilience Program (PREP) is a series of projects with a national and regional component that will benefit not only participating countries but also the region. The Program therefore comprise of nationally implemented activities and regionally implemented activities.

Participating countries in Phase I include the Governments of Samoa, Tonga, Republic of Marshall Islands and Vanuatu with technical support by PIFS and SPC. The national project activities and the regional program are funded through the respective countries IDA allocation (national and regional) and various other grants.

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to strengthen early warning, resilient investments and financial protection of Tonga. 

PREP has four main components:

Component 1:  Strengthening Early Warning and Preparedness (estimated cost including contingencies: US $11.5 million)

Nationally implemented Sub-Component 1.1: Investments in Early Warning and Preparedness

Regionally implemented Sub-Component 1.2: Regional TA to strengthen impact forecasting and preparedness

Component 2: Risk Reduction and Resilient Investments (estimated cost including contingencies: US $15.5 million)

Nationally implemented Sub-component 2.1: Risk Reduction and Resilient Investments - 

Regionally implemented Sub-Component 2.2: Regional Platform to Support Risk Reduction and Resilient Investment Planning

Component 3: Disaster Risk Financing (estimated cost including contingencies: US $ 5.4 million)

Nationally implemented Sub-component 3.1: Disaster risk financing instruments

Regionally implemented Sub-component 3.2: Development of Mutual Insurance Fund 

Component 4: Project and Program Management (estimated cost including contingencies: US $1.5 million)

Nationally implemented Sub-component 4.1: Project Management

Regionally implemented Sub-component 4.2: Regional Program Management and Coordination

PREP Financing

The original PREP budget was $16.759 m USD. After TC Gita, the GoT applied for Additional Financing and approved by the Bank. The AF amounted to $17.31m USD. The PREP total Budget is therefore $34.069m USD. 

The PREP is aligned with the following government documents for Tonga: The Government of Tonga (GoT) current Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (2018-2028) and the National Infrastructure Investment Plan (under the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility). In addition, PREP complements and builds on the themes in Tonga’s Strategic Development Framework (TSDF) and the Tonga Climate Resilience Sector Project (CRSP) for PPCR, including mainstreaming of climate resilience in key strategies, policies and infrastructure, as well as strengthening civil society and community engagement.

Implementation Agencies (IA´s)

The PREP Tonga institutional arrangements is made up of the National Steering Committee (NSC), a Technical Committee (TC) and a Project Management Unit (PMU). The PREP in Tonga is implemented by the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) – also responsible for overall coordination of the Project - and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning (MFNP). 

The MEIDECC is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and implementation of Components 1, 2 and 4. The Ministry of Finance and National Planning (MFNP) is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and implementation of Component 3 

 A National Steering Committee has been created and will be maintained throughout the Project implementation period to provide general oversight and policy direction for the PREP and chaired by the  Minister of MEIDECC and the members are the CEOs from Health, Lands and Natural Resources, Finance and National Planning, Education and Training, MAFFF, MIA and MEIDECC CEO MEIDECC is the vice Chairman and The National Coordinator (NC).PMU provide secretariat supports to the (NSC) and is  responsible for  coordination at the national level and the national focal point for condition with the RCU and PSU at the regional level. 

The NSC provides the strategic vision (on resilience in particular), guidance and oversight for the Project. Additional NSC members could be co-opted by the chair based on needs of project activities. 

Project Management Unit (PMU)

The PMU is housed in MEIDECC and entrusted with the overall coordination functions for the PREP, under the guidance of the national Coordinator (NC) which is CEO MEIDECC. The PMU is responsible for day to day implementation of the Project.

The PMU includes a Project Manager, Project Accountant, Project Procurement Officer, Project Engineer, Safeguards Officer, Communication and Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, National Telecommunication Specialist, and an Implementation Support Specialist and Administration Officer.

Technical Committee (TEC)

The Technical Committee (TEC) has been created and is responsible for the technical oversight of Component 1 and 2. The TEC includes representatives from the line agencies, including the Tonga Meteorology Department (TMD), the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) and the Natural Resources Division (NRD).

The line agencies support MEIDECC with the technical development and implementation of sub-components and specific activities under Component 1 and Component 2.  The primary agencies have been identified at this stage to include the NEMO, the TMD, and the NRD. Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Infrastructure and Ministry of Education also join the TEC as needed with regards to activities under Component 2.