Outline of the process used to engage remote villages in Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands on their needs in relation to climate change and disaster risk management in order to help build resilience.
Ward Development Committees (WDCs) along with the Indigenous Peoples of their villages are being consulted by Western Provincial Government (WPG) staff as part of the Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience (IEDCR) Project. The consultations include training on the Integrated Risk-Informed Planning Tool (I-RIPLANT) methodology, a participatory appraisal process used to assess village vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks, as well as community adaptive capacity. Through this process, community projects can be assessed and prioritised for funding from the Solomon Islands Government, World Bank, and United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
Working with their WDCs, communities identify and rank development priorities using I-RIPLANT. The tool combines quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to develop village profiles and improve understanding of local needs, climate-related risks, and disaster vulnerabilities.
The I-RIPLANT process consists of six steps:
Community Interviews and Discussions
Hazard Listing Exercise
Community Mapping Exercise
Vulnerability Analysis Exercise
Risk Statement Writing Exercise
Risk Prioritisation Exercise
The tool supports the identification of priority projects and contributes to strategic planning and evidence-based decision-making for resilient community development.
Projects are prioritised through pairwise ranking and anonymous ("blind") voting. Observations from recent workshops in the Marovo Lagoon wards showed that many communities prioritised water supply infrastructure
Maree is a Technical Director, Planning and Environment, with WSP NZ. She is currently working in Gizo, Solomon Islands as an environmental advisor to the Western provincial Government