NAP and Cost Benefit Analysis training for Tonga

 

Mr. Andrew To’imoana, acting CEO for Tonga's Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), opened the CBA workshop at the National Emergency Management Office Conference Room, MEIDECC Headquarters. Mr. To’imoana stated that a cost benefit analysis is a systematic process for calculating and comparing benefits and costs of a decision, policy or a project.

 

“Given the adverse impacts on climate change in Tonga and the numerous attempts at adapting to the changes, it is befitting to have this workshop to ensure that we have the skills and knowledge, not only to inform the decision makers on the economic efficiency of climate change projects, but also to efficiently and effectively allocate resources to where they are mostly needed.”

 

Mr. To'imoana outlined the NAP process, saying, “The NAP is a country-owned and driven initiative to come up with an optimal strategy [for long term climate change adaptation]."  He said that the role of the NAP-GSP to support countries to advance their NAP, which in Tonga included support with training on CBA, training on impact evaluation and looking at the budget analysis and supporting the Ministry of Climate Change and Development.

 

The workshop provided participants with essential skills on CBA. Two experts from UNDP - Economist in Climate Change Adaptation Mr. Babatunde Abiodoye and Regional focal point for NAP-GSP Ms. Yvette Kerslake - facilitated the two-day workshop. 

 

Mr. To’imoana concluded, “I believe this workshop will provide essential skills for the participants on CBA, and that this will enable them to not only identify necessary data information required to carry out a CBA but also to conduct CBAs whenever it is needed.”

 

Participants at the workshop were representatives from Government Ministries in Tonga.