Stakeholder meeting on climate change and disaster displacement in the Pacific

March 20, 2019
Events

Background

In 2018 leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum endorsed the Boe Declaration, which recognizes climate change as the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific. The Framework for Resilience Development in the Pacific (FRDP) outlines strategic objectives reiterated in the Boe Declaration, specifically as it intends to improve the capacity of Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT) to prepare for emergencies and disasters as well as to build resilience in order to successfully manage and address disaster risk and the adverse effects of climate change.

In response to such grave concerns and in support of the strategic objectives outlined by the Pacific Governments, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD), and the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are supporting the governments in the Pacific in building capacity to understand, prepare, and respond to disaster-related human mobility.

As part of these efforts IOM, IDMC, PDD, and UNHCR will be hosting a stakeholder consultation on the action document and project proposal on Understanding and enhancing preparedness and response to risks of disaster displacement in the Pacific from 27-28 March in Suva, Fiji. The proposed project – funded by the European Union – aims to reduce the risk and impact of disaster displacement on persons at risk of being displaced in small island developing states in the Pacific, so that targeted populations would not be displaced at all, less affected, or better assisted and protected when displaced and compelled to move in the context of disasters and the adverse effects of climate change.

The two-day stakeholder meeting will engage leading government and non-government organizations, regional organisations, civil society, UN agencies, donors, and others in the Pacific in support of the strategic objectives outlined in the FRDP so as to respond to the threats posed by climate change and disasters linked to natural hazards in the Pacific.

Expected Results

Validation of the proposed action and of its relevance to the Pacific region
Refinement of geographic scope of action and scope of work (e.g. activities)
Identification of partner countries and partner organisations, and commitment to engage and coordinate in project implementation (e.g. develop letter of intent/expressed interest)
Establishment of stakeholder groups/reference group
Strengthened synergies and reduced risks of duplication or overlap of action with other development initiatives in region
Establishment and agreement of coordination with relevant programs and initiatives at regional and national level
Strengthened prospect for sustainability (institutional and policy) and increased national ownership of the project

Partners

The meeting will be held back to back with the launch of the project, Enhancing Protection and Empowerment of Migrants and Communities Affected by Climate Change and Disasters in the Pacific region on 26 March 2019.

The Stakeholder Meeting will be organised by PDD, IDMC, UNHCR and IOM.