06th October 2016 In the year 2011 the Department for Local Government was transferred from the Prime Minister’s Office to the Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth, and Sports (MOTEYS) which is now the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) with an added task of Community Development.
Since then the division is now known as Local Government and Community Development. This has set the discourse of the administration of local and community affairs into further incorporation of development into local governance. Today and although a work in progress the people in communities are taking an active role in their own development priorities.
Subsequently, a community development program was designed through the collaboration between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and MORDI Tonga Trust, building on the relevant community development projects already began by MORDI Tonga Trust. The approach to community development by MORDI was recognized by the Ministry as a way forward for an integrated approach towards community development aiming to not only assist the local communities in Tonga, to identify their own development priorities and to formulate their own Community Development Plans but also building their capacities at the same time. Hence, the Community Development Plans aims to merge a variety of community development priorities that is determined to guide government, development partners, donor agencies, non- government organizations, and agencies with policies, plans, activities, programs, and proper allocation of resources. This program further demonstrates the Ministry of Internal Affairs contribution to National Development priorities by ensuring equitable distribution of the benefits of growth.
The community development program has evolved over the years and guided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the support from its relevant partners sought to incorporate important government priorities such as climate change and disaster risk management, gender and social inclusion into the community development program. The attributions made in the program consolidate Tonga’s approach to resilient development and commitments to the global landmarks of 2015 and 2016 such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the World Humanitarian Summit, the Conference of the Party and the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs led the team in partnership and collaboration with MORDI Tonga Trust and other partner ministries and organizations to operate the Community Participatory Planning process with intensive field work and consultations hence compiled these resources and information for communities to formulate now 136 community development plans.
The work is yet to be completed and the program will continue until all communities in Tonga have a development plan. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will continue to work with line ministries, development partners, donor agencies, non- government organizations, and communities to achieve a common goal of a more progressive Tonga supporting a higher quality of life for all.
The Community Development Program is supported and funded by the Government of Tonga, the International Federation for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia), UNDP and in partnership with Live and Learn in the Pacific Risk Resilience Program, UNWomen, and collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and MORDI Tonga Trust.
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Issued by the: Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for: Culture & Youth Development; Sports Development; Women’s Affairs; Employment Services, Local Government and Community Development, Social Protection and Disability.