Fiji has established a robust framework for disaster risk management, anchored by the recently enacted National Disaster Risk Management Act 2024. This Act lays out comprehensive rules and structures necessary for effective disaster management, which includes budgeting for preparedness, establishing a disaster fund, and developing early warning systems. A key component of this legislation mandates that the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) collaborates with various agencies to uphold “a people-centered, multi-hazard warning system.”
This proactive system entails monitoring potential hazards, forecasting their impacts, and implementing predefined actions aimed at minimizing damage in accordance with anticipated hazard effects. Importantly, the Act empowers authorities to declare a State of Disaster even when a hazard poses only a “likely” threat of significant damage. This anticipatory legal framework is crucial as it facilitates timely interventions before disasters strike.
Various supportive national policies, including the 2018-2030 National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), further emphasize the importance of enhancing preparedness, early warnings, and responsive measures to climate-related hazards such as tropical cyclones. At the community level, Fiji’s strategy recognizes that effective disaster preparedness begins locally, guided by the Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) Policy. This approach encourages the development of triggers and pre-agreed plans that initiate funding and preparedness actions before disasters occur, reinforcing public awareness through initiatives like National Disaster Awareness Week.
While community engagement is vital, ensuring financing for these early actions is equally important. Fiji is currently working on a National Disaster Risk Financing (DRF) Strategy aimed at bolstering financial resilience in the face of disasters. This strategy seeks to guarantee “timely and predictable access to funds before and after disasters,” helping to mitigate fiscal shocks and facilitate faster recovery. It will integrate existing resources such as the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) and the World Bank’s Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option, along with tailored micro-insurance options for households, businesses, and the agriculture sector.
Inclusivity is a central tenet of Fiji’s disaster preparedness framework. Guided by the Sendai Gender Action Plan, efforts are underway to incorporate gender-responsive strategies into disaster risk reduction initiatives. A related policy brief emphasizes the need to address sexual and reproductive health (SRH) as well as gender-based violence (GBV) in disaster planning. It outlines four essential steps, including institutionalizing SRH and GBV considerations in disaster policies, fostering community leadership, enhancing flexible financing, and promoting inter-organizational coordination.
At the helm of this framework, the NDRMO leads efforts under the supervision of the National Disaster Risk Management Council and the Fijian Cabinet. Collaboration with the Fiji Meteorological Service is crucial for determining action triggers, with implementation carried out by various ministries and humanitarian partners. The systematic validation of plans by the NDRMO ensures a sense of national ownership, while the national cluster system coordinates humanitarian activities and prepares for timely responses across different sectors.
The approach in Fiji combines national leadership with grassroots participation, encouraging an inclusive and decentralized method to disaster risk management. This layered strategy not only bolsters preparedness but also enhances the overall resilience of communities, positioning Fiji to better weather future challenges. As global climate change escalates the frequency of severe weather events, the country’s proactive stance serves as a model for others aiming to enhance their disaster response capabilities.
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