Tonga Launches TRIP III to Strengthen Rural Livelihoods, Food Security and Climate Resilience

27 Jul Tonga Launches TRIP III to Strengthen Rural Livelihoods, Food Security and Climate Resilience

The Government of Tonga, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD) and MORDI Tonga Trust, today officially launched the Tonga Rural
Innovation Project – Phase III (TRIP III), marking a significant milestone in the
Kingdom’s commitment to empowering rural communities and building a more resilient
future. 

The project was officially launched by the Honourable Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord
Fakafanua, alongside IFAD Associate Vice-President Dr Donal Brown, in the presence of
government ministers, church leaders, development partners, members of the diplomatic
corps, community representatives and stakeholders from across the country. 

Over the next five years, TRIP III will invest approximately US$19.3 million to improve
rural livelihoods, strengthen food and nutrition security, promote climate-resilient agriculture
and expand sustainable economic opportunities in 128 rural communities across Tonga’s
five island groups. The initiative will support community-led development through stronger
local institutions, improved market access, natural resource management and inclusive
livelihood programmes that prioritise women, young people, persons with disabilities and
vulnerable households. 

Speaking during the launch, Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua described TRIP III as a
reflection of the Government’s vision to ensure development reaches every rural community
throughout the Kingdom.

“TRIP III demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring that national development
reaches rural communities throughout Tonga. It brings Government, development partners,
civil society and communities together in a partnership founded on trust, respect and shared
accountability,” he said. 

The Prime Minister emphasised that rural communities remain central to Tonga’s social,
cultural and economic future. While they continue to face increasing pressures from climate
change, natural disasters, limited market access and rising production costs, TRIP III has
been designed to strengthen community resilience while creating opportunities for sustainable
livelihoods and long-term prosperity. 

Representing IFAD, Associate Vice-President Dr Donal Brown reaffirmed the organisation’s
long-standing commitment to Tonga, highlighting a partnership that has spanned more than
four decades.

“IFAD is proud to continue its long-standing partnership with the Government and people of
Tonga. Our commitment extends beyond financing. We will work alongside Government,
MORDI Tonga Trust and rural communities to ensure that TRIP III delivers inclusive,
sustainable and lasting results,” Dr Brown said. 

Dr Brown noted that TRIP III builds upon the achievements of the previous phases while
responding to new challenges facing rural communities, including climate change,
biodiversity loss, food security and disaster preparedness. The project will promote climate-
smart agriculture, diversified farming systems, rural enterprises and improved community
planning, while incorporating a disaster response mechanism that enables resources to be
redirected to recovery efforts following major natural disasters. 

The project aligns closely with the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2035,
the Tonga Agriculture Sector Plan II (2025–2034) and the country’s climate change and
disaster risk management priorities. Through this alignment, national policies will be
translated into practical investments that directly benefit rural families across the Kingdom. 
Implementation will be led by MORDI Tonga Trust, working in partnership with the
Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests, the Prime Minister’s
Office – Local Government Division and MEIDECC. Together, these organisations will
combine government leadership, technical expertise and community-driven approaches to
deliver lasting development outcomes. 

Chairman of MORDI Tonga Trust, Dr Vili A. Fuavao, said the organisation was honoured by
the confidence placed in it to lead implementation at the community level.

“Government provides leadership, IFAD and GEF provide financing and technical support,
MORDI Tonga Trust provides community-delivery capacity, and rural communities provide
the knowledge, leadership and ownership needed for lasting results,” he said. 

TRIP III places communities at the centre of development. Rather than delivering
predetermined solutions, the project will support communities to identify their own priorities,
strengthen local leadership and develop sustainable solutions that reflect local knowledge,
aspirations and traditions. Women, youth and vulnerable groups will be actively supported to
participate in planning, decision-making and livelihood opportunities. 

The official launch marks the beginning of a new chapter in Tonga’s rural development
journey, reinforcing a shared commitment between Government, development partners, civil
society organisations and communities to build a more food-secure, climate-resilient and
prosperous future for rural Tonga. 

As implementation begins, TRIP III is expected to build on the successes of earlier phases by
empowering communities to strengthen livelihoods, protect natural resources and create
sustainable opportunities for generations to come.