Tonga is shifting disaster response power to its villages.
The National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) has launched its first consultation to decentralise disaster risk management across Tonga.
The initiative aims to establish Village Disaster Risk Management Committees (VDRMCs) and develop tailored Village Disaster Risk Management Plans (VDRMPs), in line with the Disaster Risk Management Act 2021.
The inaugural session brought together District Officers and more than 40 representatives from civil society, including NGOs, faith-based groups, and community organisations.
“This is the beginning of a community-led approach that ensures no one is left behind,” said an NDRMO spokesperson during the event.
The consultation is the first of many planned for island communities across the country. The goal is to build resilience from the ground up, placing leadership and decision-making in the hands of local villagers.
Participants voiced strong support for the initiative, signalling a united effort to build safer, more prepared communities.
The decentralised DRM model is expected to boost preparedness and speed up recovery following disasters, a critical step for a nation frequently facing cyclones, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.
