A hundred representatives from four districts; Gagaemauga 2 & 3 and Gagaifomauga 1 & 2 convened at the Bayview Resort, Sale’aula, Savaii for a two-day workshop to review the Coastal Infrastructure Management Plans, first developed in 2007. The workshops are implemented and delivered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (through PUMA) together with key government agencies such as MWCSD, MWTI, LTA, SWA, EPC, MoH, MAF and MoF, and is funded by the Adaptation Fund through UNDP. 

 The participatory workshops not only bring together representatives from the districts and villages to update their CIM Plans, but it also provides an opportunity for the participants to directly discuss their issues with authorities and government ministries responsible for the planning and implementation of various activities in the villages.

The CIM Plans help communities and government by identifying problems exacerbated by climate change as well as identifying possible solutions and alternatives that will build the resilience of communities and its people from the long term impacts of climate change.  

Solutions such as improvement to water supply; improvement to alternative inland routes, improved coastal roads (but outside  hazard zones) and soft options such as village and government management of watershed areas and coastal resources were discussed.

The review ended with the CIM Team conducting village to village site assessments to reaffirm and/or verify the needs identified by the community during the district/village workshops.

With the understanding that all proposed solutions are dependent on financial resources and technical feasibility studies, the updated CIM Plans will help government and communities secure sustainable funding sources for implementation purposes over a long term period.