Solomon Islands Joins Pacific DRM Ministers Meeting

By Eliza Kukutu in Koror, Palau

The 2nd Pacific Disaster Risk Management Ministers Meeting is underway in Koror, Palau, with the Solomon Islands delegation set to share the country’s progress in implementing the Nadi Declaration.

Representing the Solomon Islands at the meeting are the Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Hon. Polycarp Paea, and the Director of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Jonathan Tafiariki.

A key agenda item of the meeting includes reviewing the progress made in implementing the Nadi Declaration.

The Nadi Declaration was endorsed by Pacific Ministers during the inaugural Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Ministerial Meeting in Nadi, Fiji, in 2022.

It aims to strengthen disaster risk management across the region in response to increasing climate and disaster risks.

The declaration outlines 12 commitments, including improving regional coordination, establishing a regional humanitarian response mechanism, and integrating disaster risk financing into national plans.

Director Tafiariki said the Solomon Islands has been actively pursuing the commitments outlined under the declaration.

“Some of these requirements include strengthening data collection and information management in the country. Through this declaration, we are also focusing on strengthening disaster risk financing,” Tafiariki said.

“We are also very fortunate that this year we launched the National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy for the Solomon Islands, which is a key outcome under the Nadi Declaration. We have pursued the disaster management agenda for quite some time and have gained rich experience in managing disasters.”

In addition to reviewing progress from previous declarations, another main agenda of the meeting is the Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program (PHWP).

The PHWP is a Pacific-led, multi-donor initiative supporting 14 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience by strengthening national humanitarian warehousing capabilities.

Kiribati became the first country in the region to launch its humanitarian warehouse following a groundbreaking ceremony held last year.

Meanwhile, Palau is set to launch its humanitarian warehouse this week.

The Ministerial Meeting will conclude tomorrow.

[ENDS]