TCAP hosts 5th Project Board Meeting in Funafuti and via Zoom, November 2020
20 Nov 2020
Credit: Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project/UNDP
November 20 – On 12 November 2020, TCAP conducted its 5th Board Meeting in Funafuti with some members of the TCAP team including technical specialists joining online via Zoom.
The Minister for Finance, Hon Seve Paeniu, who is also Tuvalu's National Designated Authority (NDA) and Chairman of the Board, opened the proceedings.
In attendance were the Director of the Department for Marine & Port Services, Taasi Pitoi; Coordinator of Tuvalu’s National Council of Women, Pulafagu Toafa; Coordinator of UN Resident in Tuvalu, Puara Tanei; Coordinator of the Tuvalu Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, Teresa Lifuka; Director of Climate Change and Disasters, Pepetua E Latasi; Director of the Environment, Soseala Tinilau; Director of Land and Survey, Faatasi Malologa; Director of Public Works, Malofou Sopoaga; representative from the Department for Local Government, Lopati Samasoni; Acting Director of Education, Kaai Fanoiga; Acting Director of the Central Procurement Unit at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Frank Fiapati; representative from the Ministry of Finance, Emelisa Tuilagi, and the two island representatives to the Board, Launiu Pelosi (from Nanumea), and Penehuro Hauma (from Nanumaga).
Following adoption of the minutes of the previous Board Meeting (held in October 2019), Project Manager Alan Resture presented the progress related to each of the three project outputs, noting the following key developments since the last Board Meeting:
Completion of national LIDAR (land height data) survey, spanning all islands of Tuvalu
National coastal vulnerability assessments initiated with SPC
Development of a national coastal monitoring platform has begun
Progress on environmental and social safeguards, including appointment of a new Safeguards Specialist; development of safeguards risk register; and updates to the Environmental Social Management Plan and as well as Grievance Redress Mechanism
Completion of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments for each island (Funafuti, Nanumea and Nanumaga) and submission to Department of Environment for approval
Completion of Gender Strategy and Action Plan for the project
Completion of Island Strategy Plans, with climate-risks specific to their island, by three island communities -- Nanumea, Nanumaga, Niutao (to be made available in English as well as Tuvaluan)
Kaupule staff on Nanumea, Nanumaga and Funafuti trained on Performance-Based Climate Resilient Grants
Ongoing consultation with communities on coastal protection designs
Project Manager Alan Resture presents an update on the project. Credit: Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project/UNDP
With regards to TCAP’s capacity-building component, the scholarships programme will support five candidates in 2021 – one for undergraduate studies and four for post-graduate/Masters studies. There will also be short-term trainings for government partners, facilitated by the Pacific Community (SPC) over a three-year period, 2021 to 2023, aimed at strengthening national capacity in coastal monitoring processes, hazard and risk assessment, data collection and analysis to support long term strategic planning and investment. There will also be training, conducted by Fugro, for partners and selected government officers on the use of LIDAR data.
The meeting focused primarily on the coastal protection designs for the islands covered by the project -- Funafuti, Nanumea and Nanumaga. Designs are expected to be completed, submitted to the Government, and shared with communities in the coming weeks. Chief Technical Advisor for the project, Dr Arthur Webb, stated groundwork activities are due to commence in the 3rd quarter of 2021. (Hon. Seve Paeniu raised that cyclone season usually begins during the 3rd-4th quarter of the year which may cause complications and delays and enquired whether work might commence in the 2nd quarter.)
Joint decision was made by the Nanumea community on the relocation of their Community Fishing Center, allowing for coastal protection measures to be more effective along that area.
The Board also discussed risks and challenges for the project in its implementation, including travel restrictions due to COVID-19. Concerns about the challenges associated with outer island travel, due to the unavailability of boats, were again raised and Government support was sought to secure improved access and transportation options.
Three key decisions were made by the Board:
1. Agreement to amend the current Letter of Agreement with the Pacific Community (SPC) to include training of government partners on coastal monitoring processes (2021 - 2023)
2. Reprogramming of US$3.5million to cater for capacity development for Tuvalu Survival Fund (TSF) board members ($100,000) and revised coastal protection measures on Nanumea ($3.4million)
3. Endorsement of the revised Annual Work Plan for 2020 and Annual Work Plan for 2021
The Mid-Term Evaluation for the project will be completed by the end of February 2021.
For more information, please contact TCAP Communications Officer, Puanita Ewekia puanita.ewekia@undp.org
Meeting minutes will be made available to the public soon.