Safe Haven launched at Falefa

12 December 2017, 12:00AM

A Safe Haven project in the village of Falefa has been officially launched. 

The project was funded through the Civil Society Support Programme (C.S.S.P.) under the Adaptation Fund Project currently being implemented by C.S.S.P., M.N.R.E. and U.N.D.P.

Through the scheme, communities are encouraged to apply for funding to implement small –scale adaptation initiatives and programmes, such as projects that enhance the resilience of communities towards the impact of climate change by. 

The administering of these funds to village-based communities is coordinated by the Civil Society Support Program (C.S.S.P).

Falefa is one of the successful applicants from the pre-selected districts under the Adaptation Funds Project who attended the Call for Proposal Awareness Workshop organised by the Government of Samoa in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (U.N.D.P.) through C.S.S.P. in May this year. 

With 41 applications received, only 21 were approved for funding and implementation.

The project proposal was to construct a hall building as a safe haven for not only the village, but for neighbouring communities in times of natural disasters. Previously, the school building was used as an evacuation shelter during cyclones and other natural disasters. 

With the growing population of Falefa village, the Ali’i and Faipule committee saw that the existing school building would no longer accommodate the villagers during disasters therefore immediate action was imperative. The committee saw the A.F. Programme as a good opportunity for extension of their safe haven

Theresa Masoe-Taimalelagi, Programme Manager C.S.S.P. in her remarks at the opening of the safe haven said, “This project is a fruit of your strong collaboration between the government and the communities to utilise funding opportunities from our Development Partners. 

“Your perseverance during the application and implementation stages of the project has resulted in this building that will provide safety to the children who are the future of this village, but also to the community as a whole in the event of a natural disaster.”

Fanualelei Tominiko Purcell, Sui o le Nuu, Falefa, stated, “Falefa is very grateful to both U.N.D.P. and C.S.S.P. for this opportunity, in which we have been awarded with this funding to implement this community development project. At the same time contributing to help build community resilience to climate change impact.”

There was a great turnout from the village committees including the Member of Parliament, Alai’asa Sepulona Moananu, who shared words of gratitude as well for an amazing project for his community.

This project is one of the 33 projects approved for implementation that are supported by U.N.D.P. under the Adaptation Fund Project Small Sub-Project component. 

This component is implemented under a partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and C.S.S.P. 

12 December 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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