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The Pacific is acknowledged as being among the most threatened regions in the world, with the continuing presence of natural, human induced, technological and environmental hazards. While the threats presented by these hazards may be seasonal or differ from country to country in respect to type, frequency or intensity, no country is immune to their devastating impacts.

The challenge of achieving sustainable development goals, including poverty alleviation and protection of the environment, cannot be achieved unless the impacts of disasters on vulnerable communities is taken into account. While not all risks to development result from the impact of disasters, the reduction of the potential for such events needs to be central to any programmes designed to achieve and maintain sustainable development. This potential can only be effectively reduced, in the context of the development process, by adopting a broader ‘all hazards’ and more integrated approach to disaster risk reduction and disaster management as outlined in the regional framework for action 2005-2015.

The SOPAC Community Risk Programme supports the national implementation of the regional framework for action by targeting three key areas: strengthening the resilience to disasters, mitigating the effects of hazards and mainstreaming disaster risk management as part of the national development planning process. Through a High Level Advocacy strategy the Community Risk Programme is encouraging national commitment to the regional framework for action and the adoption of a whole of government approach to mainstreaming disaster risk management in order to build safer and more resilient communities and improve national development planning processes in member countries.

Past Interventions

Past intervention in Samoa has been in a variety of ways. The interventions include:

• The production of a preliminary seismic microzonation map of Apia produced during an earthquake hazard quantification visit. The earthquake hazard quantification was the preliminary data-gathering step for the Pacific Cities Project on Samoa.
• Data on Samoa was gathered and collated where existing data was available, for the Pacific Cities Project - Samoa. This included the incorporation of existing database of roads, physical features and the water reticulation network, a detailed seismic micro zonation of the city and the survey of the structure of all buildings in the greater city area the assembly of the borehole database, production of a coarse digital terrain model, and the flying of aerial photography and survey of control points in preparation for the production of a fine-scale working digital terrain model. The data is available with SOPAC.
• The Global Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI) project team worked closely with the Samoan Government in August 1999 to provide expert assistance and training in the identification, gathering and collation of environmental information required for the calculation of Samoa’s EVI country profile. The EVI has since been developed and is now operational. Countries are now invited to trial the EVI to test it under various national conditions and determine how well it defines their vulnerability and meets their national objectives. The Samoa EVI country profile is accessible from the SOPAC website.
• A two-week project commissioned by SOPAC to review and evaluate the causes and effects of the April 2001 Flood in Samoa. The results were detailed recommendations to enhance the levels of resistance for future floods provided in a report and made available to Samoa.
• A visit by the High Level Advocacy Team to promote the mainstreaming of disaster risk management and the strengthening of the disaster management arrangements in 2002
• A Public Safety and Disaster Risk Management planning workshop in Savaii with participation by Tokelau and Samoa participants to strengthen national capacity in 2002
• The provision of funds (jointly funded by CRP and Emergency Management Australia) to the Samoa National Disaster Management Office for their 2004 Public Awareness Campaign on Disaster Reduction. Linkages between the Community Risk Programme and the Samoa national disaster management capacity building support from the World Bank was also discussed and identified in a visit in 2004.
• A review of the capacity of the Samoa Fire Service and the provision of ongoing institutional strengthening and training support to improve public safety in Apia Participation in the implementation planning phase of the World Bank disaster management capacity building support initiative in 2005

Current Issues for Samoa

The critical issues faced by Samoa as mentioned in the country’s National Assessment Report, which relate to the Community Risk Programme and are interrelated with the other programmes of SOPAC are:

• Vulnerability to natural disasters such as cyclones and flooding is particularly significant given the concentration of settlements in Samoa that are located in exposed coastal areas.
• Vulnerability to the potential impacts of climate change and progressive sea level rise.
• Need to identify cost effective and adaptive management approaches and national disaster response strategies and incorporate them into national strategic plans.

Samoa also highlighted at the 2004 SOPAC Governing Council Meeting the need for more disaster management training for Samoa.

Programme Response

A comprehensive and strategic response is in place for the Community Risk Programme to address the needs of the Samoa Islands in relation to the sustainable development issues mentioned above.

• Provision of regional support to the strengthening of National Disaster Management Arrangements in collaboration with other stakeholders such as the World Bank in the case of Samoa.
• Provision of support for the development of a national action plans to support the implementation of the regional framework for action 2005-2015
• Strengthening of emergency response and coordination capability, particularly the role and responsibility of the Samoa Fire Service, to ensure improved levels of emergency response and community preparedness.
• Provision of support where appropriate for Samoa Islands’ representation at international training programmes, workshops and conferences.
• Provision of high-level advocacy to promote the mainstreaming of disaster risk management through the application of CHARM.
• Conducting CHARM national training courses and workshops
• Provision of post disaster technical or institutional support following the impact of disasters.