Minister Rina Opens National Climate Resilience Training for Provincial Officers

TULAGI, Central Province – Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), Hon. Lazarus Rina, has officially opened a week-long Training of Trainers (TOT) Workshop on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management in Tulagi, calling on provincial officers to become champions of climate resilience in their respective provinces.

The seven-day workshop that started today has brought together provincial planners, climate change officers, disaster management personnel, and technical specialists from all nine provinces to strengthen their capacity on how to integrate climate change adaptation and disaster risk management into provincial, ward, and community development planning.

Officially opening the workshop, Minister Rina said the training marks an important milestone in the Government’s efforts to strengthen provincial institutions and prepare communities for the growing impacts of climate change.

“This is the first workshop I have been opening since assuming office as Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, and I am deeply encouraged to see such a strong gathering of provincial officers, planners, climate officers, and technical specialists from across our nine provinces,” he said.

He said the participants’ presence demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening resilience, improving planning systems, and protecting the lives and livelihoods of Solomon Islanders.

Minister Rina noted that the Solomon Islands remains one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with rising sea levels, coastal erosion, flooding, extreme weather events, and changing weather patterns posing increasing threats to communities, infrastructure, food security, and economic development.

“These risks are not abstract; they are lived realities for our people in villages, wards, and provinces across the country,” he said.

He stressed that strengthening the capacity of provincial governments and local leaders to understand climate risks and incorporate adaptation measures into development planning is essential to achieving sustainable development.

“Strengthening the capacity of our provincial institutions, ward committees, and local leaders to understand climate risks and integrate climate change adaptation and disaster risk management into planning processes is not optional. It is a national priority.”

The workshop forms part of the Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience (IEDCR) Project, funded by the World Bank, together with the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) and United Nations Children, Education Children Fund (UNICEF), which focuses on strengthening institutional and community capacity for climate-resilient planning and decision-making.

Throughout the training, participants will gain practical knowledge on climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, climate-resilient planning, community engagement, facilitation techniques, and evidence-based decision-making. They are expected to return to their provinces as certified trainers, capable of delivering similar training and supporting climate-resilient planning at the ward and community levels.

Minister Rina urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity, reminding them that workshops of this scale require considerable resources and are not held frequently.The Ministry expects every participant to leave this workshop with a strong understanding of the materials and the confidence to deliver training at the community level. ‘’You will be certified as trainers, and we expect you to uphold that responsibility with professionalism and dedication,” he said.

He also encouraged participants to use the workshop to exchange ideas and learn from one another’s experiences, saying stronger collaboration between provinces would improve the country’s overall resilience to climate and disaster risks.

The Minister acknowledged the Anglican Church of Melanesia for providing the training venue and thanked curriculum development specialist and Dr. Kristina Fidali for leading the development of the training modules. He also expressed appreciation to Central Province Premier Hon. Kenneth Sagupari and the Central Provincial Government for hosting the workshop, as well as development partners including the World Bank funded IEDCR, and UNCDF funded LoCAL for their continued investment in strengthening provincial governance and service delivery.

The Training of Trainers workshop is expected to build a network of qualified provincial facilitators who will support climate awareness, disaster preparedness, and resilient development planning across the Solomon Islands, ensuring communities are better equipped to respond to the increasing impacts of climate change.

In his official remarks, CIP Premier Kennedy Sagupari welcomed officers to the shores of CIP. He added that while the officers are here in Tulagi to learn, they should also take a time to explore the beauty and other areas of significance in Tulagi. He said this training is essential as it prepares grounds for mainstreaming risk-informed development planning and community resilience.

The TOT is facilitated by Dr. Kristina Fidali who is also engaged as curriculum development specialist developing the seven modules to be covered in the training.  The Minister of MPGIS was accompanied by Mr Nelson Ari, DS Operations of MPGIS, whilst the training is being chaired by Mr Emmanuel Butafa, Deputy PS of Central Province. The training participants include: Officials of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), Officials of the Ministry of Environment Climate-change & Disaster Management (MECDM), Provincial Capacity Development Advisors from the nine provinces, Provincial Planning Coordinators, Provincial Program Coordinators, Climate Change Adaptation and Risk Reduction Officers and Provincial Planning Specialists. END///

Minister for MPGIS, Hon. Alfred Lazarus Rina (MP), making his remarks during the official opening of the Training of the Trainers on Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Response Management into Development Planning at Diocese of Central Conference room at Tulagi on 30th June 2026

Premier for Central Province, Hon. Kenneth Sagupari (MPA) making his remarks during the official opening of the TOT.

DPS for Central Province, Emmanuel Butafa, MC of the TOT, and CTA-PGSP/PM IEDCR, Momodou Lamin Sawaneh during the official opening of the training

The Facilitator of the TOT, Curriculum Development Specialist, IEDCR, Dr. Christina Fidali

The Facilitator, Dr, Christina Fidali checking on participants putting up their portrays in an activity called ‘self portraits’

Participants; Nixon Qurusu, Planning Specialist Western, Joseph Haga, IT Assistant Western, Miligan Pina, Provincial Program Coordinator Western and Everlyn Fikimanu, Snr Engineer IEDCR

Fore front of picture (L-) Baddeley Nukumuna, Communications PGSP, Dr. Christina Fidali, CDS IEDCR, and Wilfred Leon, Principal Capacity Development Officer, MPGIS

Fore front of picture (L-R) Cecilia Waokahi, Provincial Planning Coordinator Makira Ulawa, Elizabeth Pepena, Planning Specialist Makira Ulawa, and Julienne Leinga, Provincial Planning Coordinator Temotu

(L-R) Edmond Kiva, Snr GIS Officer MECDM, Malachi Bate’e, CRO CCD MECDM, Inesha Mazini, GIS Officer IEDCR, Bervis Kimisi, Patrina Millie, CCARRO Isabel, CCARRO Choiseul, Bernard Ratu, CCARRO Temotu, Naghelyn Sogote’e, CCARRO Western, Patrick Wasiraro, Procurement Rennell Bellona, and Peter Ramohia, CCARRO Central

Fore front of picture (L-R) Willie Jefferey, Principal M& E Officer MPGIS, Bryan Thomas, IT Specialist IEDCR, and Charles Konai, Planning Specialist Central