The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) has appointed former Finance Minister Tiofilusi Tiueti to lead development of Tonga’s national contingency plan, funded by GSSP and Frankfurt School.
Tiueti will design a structured blueprint detailing how, when and where pre-arranged funds are accessed to ensure PCRIC insurance payouts reach vulnerable communities quickly.
The initiative is backed by a €2.5 million grant from the Global Shield Solutions Platform, managed by Frankfurt School, aimed at strengthening Pacific disaster risk finance plans.
PCRIC CEO Aholotu Palu praised Tiueti’s “deep understanding of Tonga’s financial and governance systems,” noting his previous roles in public sector reform and as Finance and Planning chief. Palu said that institutional knowledge will ensure the plan is “technically robust and nationally grounded.”
GSSP Head Dr Annette Detken welcomed the appointment as “an excellent addition,” noting that investment in contingency planning demonstrates “strong leadership in disaster preparedness” and commitment to swift, targeted support.
Tonga’s contingency plan will align with national priorities, donor requirements and international payout protocols, and be developed through consultations with domestic stakeholders.
This complements Tonga’s broader resilience agenda that emphasises proactive preparedness and recovery.
Building on PCRIC’s regional work, comparable plans will roll out in Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue and Vanuatu in the coming months.
