Women in Lapaha, Tongatapu, have launched their first initiative to enhance disaster preparedness through the Pacific Women-Led Early Warning Systems Impact Assessment.
Led by the Talitha Project, the assessment focused on integrating women’s insights into disaster response strategies. Community consultations revealed critical gaps and highlighted the major role women play in disaster scenarios.
The findings will inform the Tonga Women’s Information Network for Disaster (Tonga WIND), aiming to create a more effective, community-driven early warning system. The initiative received support from the University of Technology Sydney and the Shifting the Power Coalition.
Member of Parliament for Lapaha, Mr. Kapeli Lanumata, was acknowledged for championing resilience and community-driven actions. Collaborations with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tonga Meteorological Services, National Disaster Risk Management Office, and UNFPA were instrumental in the project’s success.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts to enhance early warning systems in Tonga. Recently, Tonga partnered with Everbridge to implement a multi-hazard early warning system, expected to be tested this year, as part of the UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative.
