Attachments
Highlights
• The WFP-led Emergency Telecommunications Cluster conducted an ICT Capacity Assessment for Samoa in coordination with relevant government counterparts
• With support from the SDG Fund, FAO and WFP have begun discussions for the rollout of a project to support Samoa's National Food System Transformation Agenda, aiming to address critical food system elements and promoting local traditional foods through a holistic food systems approach.
• WFP published the 2023 Fiji Market and Price Monitoring Bulletin – a snapshot of the trends in inflation, exchange rates, remittances as well as staple food prices in Fiji in 2023.
Operational Updates
Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC)
• From 4 to 14 June, the WFP-led Pacific ETC conducted the ICT Capacity Assessment for Samoa, co-led by the Disaster Management Office (DMO) and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The assessment included an evaluation of policies, strategies, and capacities, providing an overview of the ICT landscape and insights into how communications technologies are leveraged in response to sudden-onset shocks, as well as to mitigate the impact of such shocks.
• The ETC supported the Samoa DMO with two satellite phones to be utilized by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Apia and future EOC in Savai’i. This will ensure reliable communication between the two operational hubs during and in the aftermath of emergencies. The DMO acknowledged how these devices would significantly strengthen their ability to coordinate relief efforts swiftly and effectively during emergencies.
• The ETC is analyzing the organizational technical training needs across the 14 PICTs where it operates. The analysis aims to identify existing competencies, gaps in performance, and lay a foundation for the delivery of ‘fit for purpose’ ICT and essential skills training solutions. Based on the responses, reports have been compiled and disseminated to relevant authorities and stakeholders in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
• From 3 to 7 June, the ETC provided technical assistance to the Fiji National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) as part of a joint assessment of the Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) across Viti Levu to understand their capabilities and preparedness. Assessments were completed for 22 EOCs and focused on a range of components, including infrastructure, computing system, audiovisual, information management, communications, logistics and human resources.