Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu officially opened the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Post Disaster Needs Assessment Training (PDNA) this week, highlighting the need for civil servants participating in the training to make good use of the opportunity it offered.
He conveyed this when addressing participants of the virtual training.
The PDNA training will focus on the Water Sector PDNA in the next two weeks.
“I am no stranger to PDNA having officially taken the PDNA concept to Cabinet way back in 2013 after Tropical Cyclone (TC) Evan and also officiated in the opening of the inaugural PDNA Training on the same year. 2016 necessitated the 2nd PDNA process after TC Winston, I again officiated in the refresher training before the assessment proper. Here in 2021, the context is quite similar, however with a somewhat COVID-19 adapted flavour,” Hon. Seruiratu said.
Given the turnover within the civil service, Minister Seruiratu said trainings such as PDNAs were critical given the frequency and extent of natural hazards affecting Pacific Island Countries (PICs).
“I take this opportunity to commend the Pacific Community (SPC) for its partnership with UNDP over the years in collaborating to facilitate PDNA trainings around the Pacific and now, you’ve brought it home again to Fiji. These proven partnerships, now with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the mix will be instrumental in the on-going quest to build resilient recovery capacities in the Pacific.”
Minister Seruiratu reiterated that the PDNA training was crucial enough to ensure that the fundamentals of post-disaster assessments were embedded for recovery planning, feeding into Government’s overarching national development agenda.
“We intend to build on these achievements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the way we deal with national emergencies.”
“Your presence here today is no mere coincidence. You have been carefully selected ahead of your peers to gain first-hand knowledge and exposure on the PDNA methodology in the hope that Government will be relying on your expertise, if we happen to conduct a PDNA should disaster strike in the not –too distant future. Please make good use of every opportunity it has to offer.”
He added the PDNA not only gave us the opportunity to better position our collective capacity to respond when disaster occurred, but it also encompassed a long-term strategic approach on how best to mitigate, adapt and minimise the risk from future disasters which have become regular than ever before.
“Previously, the approach used is based on estimate of damages for emergency response and short-term rehabilitation without any long-term Strategic approach. Despite our vulnerability, the regular occurrence of natural disaster will continue as usual.”
“The PDNA provides the necessary information for government, development partners and all stakeholders to respond effectively to short, medium and long-term needs and priorities. It strives to provide the necessary strategy to address needs in a more targeted approach to ensure that limited resources available are used effectively. It is my hope that you will have a sense of appreciation and put in that extra effort to fully grasp the PDNA concepts during the trainings.”
Minister Seruiratu also launched the UNDP-ADB Partnership Project on Building Disaster Resilient Infrastructure through Enhanced Knowledge during this week’s meeting.
Under the project, four countries, including Fiji will be assisted.
Under this technical assistance by ADB, the capacity of the water sector will be supported through improving baseline data and asset inventories, putting in place contingency and recovery tools and plans, as well as providing the sector with specific post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) training and materials to support ongoing learning.
It is envisaged that through this work by the ADB and the UNDP, Fiji’s water sector would be better positioned to collect and analyse the damage and loss sustained from a disaster, and have a greater capacity to develop responsive disaster recovery strategies that could contribute to a more sustainable and resilient sector as it rebuilds and rejuvenates.
“I am pleased that the partnership project between UNDP and ADB has endeavoured to revive PDNA training in Fiji particularly as an integral component of the Project.”
“My Ministry, through the Permanent Secretary and the Director NDMO stands ready to facilitate the effective implementation of the Project and ensure it delivers its intended outcomes in Fiji and as the project beneficiary, we will work with ADB and UNDP as part of our collective undertaking,” Hon. Seruiratu added.
The virtual event was also attended by UNDP’s Resident Representative Mr. Levan Bouadez, ADB Regional Director for the Pacific Mr. Masayuki Tachiiri, Pacific Community’s (SPC) Deputy Director-General Science and Capability Dr. Paula Vivili, Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, David Kolitagane and Director National Disaster Management, Vasiti Soko.