LocationsPreparedness is our game as Vanuatu begins its Post Disaster Needs Assessment
April 11, 2023
Port Vila, Vanuatu - The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Pacific Community (SPC) in collaboration with the Government of Vanuatu on the Tropical Cyclone (TC) Judy/Kevin recovery support will conduct a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). To kick-start the PDNA process, a Refresher Training was conducted for Vanuatu government officials and development partners in Port Vila, this week on 11 - 12 April 2023.
The PDNA Refresher Training was opened on 11 April 2023 at the Ramada Hotel, Port Vila. In his opening address, Mr. Peter Korisa deputising on behalf of the Director-General Prime Minister’s Office mentioned that “The needs identified by the PDNA will likely go beyond our national capacity and will be used, along with the PDNA methodology, as evidence for the mobilisation of further international resources to support our recovery objectives,” he said.
“The quality of the information that goes into making a PDNA determines how well we are able to accurately identify and prioritise Vanuatu’s recovery strategies,” added Mr. Korisa.
The UNDP Resident Representative, a.i, Ms. Dawn Del Rio is also in Vanuatu on her inaugural visit since assuming office a month ago in Suva, Fiji. Having earlier met the Director-General Prime Minister’s Office, Ms. Cherol Ala, Ms. Del Rio also officiated the opening of the PDNA Refresher Training.
Representatives at the refresher training on the Post Disaster Needs Assessment.
In her opening remarks, she placed emphasis on resilient development and mentioned, “for a resilient and effectual recovery to take place, recovery institutions must have strong management, coordination and technical capacities, financing and enabling policies in place.
“With a greater frequency of disasters occurring annually, post disaster recovery becomes more crucial so that those affected can restore their lives and livelihoods as soon as possible,” added Ms. Del Rio.
In her opening remarks, SPC Disaster Resilience Team Leader, Ms. Litea Biukoto said, “Post disaster assessments informs both economic recovery as well as social recovery, it works within existing institutional processes and aims to prioritise recovery interventions that enhance resilience in Vanuatu.”
“We are here to listen to you,” she added.
Participants attending the refresher training included government officials from the Vanuatu Government departments and development partners. The refresher training will be followed by the PDNA sector assessment templates discussion with the respective line agencies on 13-14 April 2023 to inform the extent of damage and loss quantification for the purposes of completeness for the PDNA process.
UNDP Resident Representative, a.i, Ms. Dawn Del Rio.
The workshop was attended by 41 participants, 13 of whom are women.
The PDNA process was conducted in collaboration with the Vanuatu Government and will be closely coordinated with UNDP, SPC, World Bank, UN agencies and other development partners. The process is intended to run for a period of five weeks beginning from 11 April 2023.
The findings of the PDNA for TC Judy and TC Kevin will inform the programming focus of Vanuatu medium-long term recovery/reconstruction needs in a specific Recovery Plan moving forward in alignment with the Vanuatu National Sustainable Development Plan 2016-2030.
For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Paula Cirikiyasawa, Country Project Coordinator, EDCR Project Office in the Republic of Palau, Tel: +(691) 320 4456, Email: paula.cirikiyasawa@undp.org
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