Project Name: National Surveys for Infrastructure Resilience Geospatial Databases to Support Exposure and Hazard Modelling for Kiribati, Tonga, and Vanuatu
This multi-country project initiative aims to empower Vanuatu, Kiribati, and Tonga by centralizing and updating hazard and infrastructure data to improve early warning systems, protect lives and investments, and enhance climate resilience.
Local experts will leverage these datasets to conduct risk modelling, enabling them to design infrastructure capable of withstanding diverse climate threats.
The project will cultivate a regional network of geo-spatial professionals, with a focus on inclusivity, actively engaging women and Indigenous Pacific Islanders.
Lead Agencies: Department of Urban Affairs and Planning – Vanuatu
National Emergency Management Office – Tonga
Impact
1
In Kiribati, asset surveys and sea level rise mapping will inform evacuation planning and climate adaptation efforts, directly benefiting approximately 118,749 residents living within 1 km of the coast.
2
In Tonga, risk data collection and sea level rise mapping will enhance cross-ministry decision-making, bolster GIS capacity for over 20 staff members, and promote infrastructure resilience through data-driven advocacy for loss and damage mitigation.
3
In Vanuatu, the development of a national infrastructure database, GIS training for over 20 staff, and post-disaster data analysis will advance spatial planning, cyclone recovery strategies, and long-term risk-informed policy creation, benefiting 256,000 individuals affected by disasters.
