LocationsResilience in the Heart of the Pacific: Lessons from Tonga
June 6, 2025
Students of the Free Wesleyan Church Kindergarten, benefits of the water tanks, that extends to the Utulau community.
At first glance, it was just a water tank.
But as Principal Viniseni Tupou of the Free Wesleyan Church Kindergarten in ‘Utulau stood before us with tears in his eyes, it became clear: this was much more than infrastructure—it was dignity, security, and hope for his entire community.
"For the first time in my life,” he said, “we know where to go when there is no water. When the tanks run dry in our homes, we come here. The school is our shelter. Our source. Our pride.”
The water tanks, installed through the Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific project—with support from the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Korea International Cooperation Agency, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency—now services not only 51 young students but over 650 residents in the wider ‘Utulau village.
It may seem like a small intervention to some, but in a country where climate change is intensifying droughts, this tank is a lifeline.
And so is the school itself.
Like many across the Pacific, this school is not just a place of learning—it is the heart of the community. Ceremonies, celebrations, and crises all unfold on its grounds. Now, with reliable water access, it plays an even greater role in protecting and uniting the people it serves.
In that moment with Mr. Tupou, I was reminded that resilience isn’t always built with grand gestures. Sometimes, it starts with one tank, one leader, one village.
Principal Viniseni Tupou shares a moment with UNDP Deputy Regional Director, Mr Christophe Bahuet as UNDP Pacific Office Resident Representative Ms Munkhtuya Altangerel looks on.
The Tongan Way: Community-Led Resilience
Resilience in Tonga here is not abstract. It is woven into the social fabric, grounded in culture, land, and the kāinga - the extended family.
During a recent mission led by our Deputy Regional Director for UNDP Asia and the Pacific, and UNDP Director Bangkok Regional Hub. Bangkok, Christophe Bahuet, we had the privilege of visiting project sites across Tongatapu and Ha’apai. We witnessed firsthand how Tongans are adapting with determination, vision, and a deep sense of collective responsibility.
From integrated conservation efforts to nature-based solutions, Tonga is showing that resilience is rooted in relationships
From the Ridge to the Reef: Rebuilding Natural Defences
At the Royal Estate of Tufumahina in Pea, we stood beside Fanga’uta Lagoon, where the Ridge to Reef (R2R) project is helping restore degraded mangrove ecosystems. This work protects not only biodiversity, but people—especially in the 33 communities across Vava’u and Tongatapu that are vulnerable to flooding and environmental degradation.
Local elders shared their observations of how deforestation upstream was affecting fishing and water quality downstream. With Ridge to Reef, communities are now engaging in integrated land and marine conservation—honouring ancient knowledge while working with modern science.
This is resilience that begins at the roots. Literally.
Preparing for Tomorrow: The Tonga Coastal Resilience Project
In Hahake District, we visited the proposed sites of the Tonga Coastal Resilience Project —where homes lie dangerously close to the encroaching sea. This project, with support from the Green Climate Fund, aims to strengthen coastal defences, enhance early warning systems, and develop nature-based solutions that can hold back the tide.
Designed to align with Tonga’s national development priorities, the project will contribute to long-term resilience by addressing both physical vulnerabilities and the systems that support community preparedness. Its focus on nature-based approaches recognises the value of working with ecosystems, rather than against them, to safeguard livelihoods and infrastructure.
From Dialogue to Action: A Pacific Vision for the Future
The lessons from Tonga echo the powerful messages we heard during the recent Pasifika Futures Forum, that was hosted in Fiji, co-convened by UNDP and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and made possible through the Government of Australia, with leaders, thinkers, and practitioners from across the region. A consistent call emerged: development must be rooted in our cultures, led by our communities, and shaped by traditional knowledge.
What we saw in ‘Utulau, Pea, and the Hahake District brought that vision to life. Tongan communities are already integrating ancestral wisdom into water management, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation. They are not passive recipients of aid; they are demonstrating what a whole-of-society approach truly means.
If we are serious about building resilience in the Pacific, we must recognise that the answers often lie not in imported models, but in local practices honed over generations. The Forum reminded us that valuing tradition is not about looking backwards, it’s about strengthening our collective footing for the future.
Why It Matters
The Pacific is often spoken about in terms of vulnerability. And yes, rising sea levels, intensifying storms, and economic challenges are real. But too often, the world misses the other half of the story.
It misses the innovation within tradition. The strength within smallness. The leadership within community.
Tonga is not waiting to be saved. Tonga is saving itself, with help from partners who respect its sovereignty, understand its systems, and walk alongside its people.
As for UNDP, we are proud to be such a partner. Our work is guided not just by metrics and budgets, but by voices like Mr. Tupou’s, voices that remind us why we do what we do.
And as we stood at the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui, Tonga’s enduring stone trilithon, we were reminded that resilience is not new to this land. It is carved into history, passed through generations, and still shapes how communities face the future: grounded in tradition, united in purpose, and strong in spirit.
A Message of Gratitude
To His Majesty King Tupou VI, the Government of Tonga, and the resilient people of this proud island nation—mālō ‘aupito for your leadership and trust.
You continue to show that resilience in the Pacific is not just about surviving climate threats, or that it is built with concrete and policy, but with care, culture, and community.