UNOPS and the World Bank are partnering with the government of Tonga to strengthen the resilience and quality of health services across the country.
Nuku’alofa, Tonga. ― UNOPS, in partnership with the Government of Tonga and fi nanced by the World Bank, has offi cially launched a new technical assistance project to support the development of the Prince Wellington Ngu Hospital. The three-year project, with a total budget of USD 1.05 million, marks a signifi cant milestone in strengthening the resilience and quality of health services across the Kingdom of Tonga.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) currently account for over 70 percent of all deaths in Tonga, posing one of the country’s most pressing health challenges. This project responds directly to this burden by strengthening the national health system’s ability to prevent, detect, and manage NCDs—helping reduce avoidable deaths and long-term health impacts across the population.
UNOPS will provide advisory support and capacity building to the Ministry of Health’s Project Management Unit (PMU) to improve the management of NCDs, expand access to climate-resilient health services in the Northern Islands, and strengthen emergency response readiness.
“This initiative reflects UNOPS’ commitment to supporting small island developing states like Tonga in building resilient and inclusive health systems,” said Samina Kadwani, UNOPS East Asia and Pacific Director. “By working closely with national counterparts and leveraging global best practices, we aim to ensure that the people of Tonga are better protected against both chronic health threats and acute emergencies.”
UNOPS will support the PMU with project planning and coordination, procurement advisory (including market access, cost estimation, and technical input for TORs and bidding documents), and guidance throughout the bidding and contracting process. It will also assist in contract management, quality assurance, risk analysis and mitigation (including ESCP and SEP compliance), monitoring and reporting, and capacity building—particularly in asset management.
The development of the Prince Wellington Ngu Hospital is a cornerstone of Tonga’s broader eff ort to enhance its healthcare infrastructure, particularly for remote and vulnerable populations in the outer islands., “This project strengthens local capacity to deliver lasting impact. We're proud to support Tonga in building resilient health infrastructure that serves all communities,” said Ali Salha, Infrastructure Programme Management Advisor, UNOPS East Asia and Pacifi c Multi-Country Offi ce. This project reaffirms UNOPS’ ongoing commitment to building sustainable, resilient, and inclusive public services in the Pacific.
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Notes to the editors:
Press Contacts:
Yadhu Acharya, UNOPS Communications and Partnerships Offi cer for South East Asia and the Pacific
yadhua@unops.org