Integration in Samoa - 2021 Advisory Visit

It was a successful virtual Advisory Visit to Samoa for 2021, thanks to the enthusiastic participation of the Samoa Post staff and the great coordination by the Climate Change Focal Point, Tuileva Tuileva, Program Manager for Infrastructure, Cyber Cooperation and Program Performance and Quality. The Support Unit’s Climate Change Adviser and Samoa Focal Point, Clare White was joined by Jeong Park, Disaster Risk Reduction Adviser for the visit with additional staff supporting sector meetings. 

There has been a lot of progress towards integration of climate and disaster resilience in the DFAT programs in Samoa, for example the resilient development of the Samoa Parliament House Complex. This continues to be strengthened through collaboration between the Support Unit and the Samoa DFAT Post. The Advisory Visit solidified this collaboration and identified a number of new opportunities for integration. 

For example, support for the Education Sector Support Program that is developing their Climate Change and Disaster Resilience Strategy.  Advice on energy efficiency and renewable energy options for the Samoa Parliament House Complex. A Samoa National Facilitator to coordinate events, professional development and networking for the Climate Alumni Network. The Shifting the Power Coalition is continuing their support to young women to build knowledge and skills to influence policy and decision making in climate and disaster issues.  The Support Unit is aiming to support a climate change workshop for the stakeholders from the agriculture and export sectors with the PHAMA Plus program this year as well as research on the impacts of climate and disasters on mental health in Samoa. 

The Support Unit looks forward to continued collaboration with the Samoa Post.