Open Geospatial Data for Disaster Recovery/Response

Fiji is a small island developing state and has been and continues to be severely affected by the obvious impacts of climate change, i.e. increase in sea level causing coastal erosion, water shortages due to salt water intrusion and the more apparent impact of the increased occurrence of extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, storms, floods, droughts etc. Having personally experienced some of the worst tropical cyclones that has ever made landfall in Fiji, the project has been developed in light of the after effects of these extreme events. It takes time, resources and finance to begin rebuilding after a tropical cyclone hits and many are ill-prepared for this recovery process. For years, many Fijian communities have been all too aware of and much too dependent on the disaster relief packages they receive post disaster occurrence from the Fijian government, FRCS, NGOs and even international aids. However, it should be made known that there are alternative forms of assistance available for individuals, businesses etc. in regards to disaster relief/rehabilitation packages. The aim of this legacy project was to map and update points of interests entailing locations and relevant information relating to financial institutions/bodies that offer or have in the past offered disaster recovery/relief packages to members of Fijian communities within the Northern and Central divisions.

Area of study

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Data Collection

A survey was undertaken to gauge respondents various level of awareness of current, available disaster recovery/response packages in Fiji. In addition, certain financial institutions were also contacted via face to face office visits and through email. The financial institutions targeted are as follows; (i) Sugar Cane Grower’s Fund (ii) Tower Insurance (iii) Fiji National Provident Fund (iv) Home Finance Company Ltd

Results

The general survey and face-to-face visits had yielded several deliverables/discovered the following; (i) Some financial institutions for instance Home Finance Company & Fiji Development Bank do not offer parametric insurance or natural disaster aid/assistance all throughout the year. They do, however offer these assistance when/after disasters occur hence it is only available on an as at basis. (ii) Parametric insurance is a new concept in Fiji having just been introduced to the country in 2021. (iii) Some financial institutions do offer disaster assistance/aid, for instance, Sugar Cane Grower’s Fund, Fiji Care, etc.

POIs had been mapped for various branches of these financial institutions in Suva & Labasa, i.e. central & northern divisions respectively.

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Conclusion

The legacy project was aimed to collect much needed data/information that otherwise would not have been commonly known by members of the local Fijian communities. The survey conducted to gauge people’s awareness through this project proved this with a significant 67.3% of the respondents regarding information pertaining to disaster recovery/rehabilitation packages as unavailable/not easily accessible which raises the need to address this informational gap. The legacy project has begun with mapping of point of interests and editing information relevant to the objectives in the scope of the central and northern parts of Fiji. Projects as such or in close similarity to this one can further expand towards other sub-regions within the country and may also include other relevant information.