Project Title Bringing Keyhole Garden to Tokelau: A Youth Climate Change Adaptation Initiative

Project Duration 1 Year, commencing 01 Jan 2016-01 Jan 2017

Project Location 3 villages: Fakaofo, Nukunonu, Atafu

Proposed Budget USD47,400(SGP-CBA) / USD12,000 (contributions)
Beneficiaries 30 Households with 60 youth involved in leading the initiative
3 schools, primary and secondary students benefiting from the garden demonstration plots as part of nutrition and science classes (50-100 average students per school)
Fatupaepae (women?s groups) receiving technical support from youth outreach activities

Project Teams Fakaofo: Lakia Poufau Malaelu Pue
Janeta Teao

Nukunonu: Litia Maiava
Suega Detlef Isaia
Hiokave Ineleo

Atafu: Joanne Theresa O?Brien
Saniata Semisi
Reupena Mikaele Sale

Project Mentors Malcolm Hazelman
Mikaele Maiava

Collaborating Agencies EDNRE, Department of Education, Department of Health, Village Taupulega (Fakaofo, Nukunonu and Atafu)

Summary Tokelau lies north of Samoa and east of Tuvalu in the South Pacific. The nation consists of three island atolls: Atafu in the north, Nukunonu in the centre and Fakaofo in the south. Because of the country?s geographical isolation, Tokelau can only be reached through sea transportation via Samoa. Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand, receiving 80% of its recurrent budget from New Zealand.

As an atoll nation, Tokelau is as prone to the adverse impacts of extreme weather conditions (particularly tropical cyclones), climate variability (particularly drought), climate change and sea-level rise. The most significant climate change impacts on Tokelau?s communities will be on water and food security, community assets and infrastructure, and reef and lagoon ecology.

The project proposed will address potential severe impact of climate change on food security by engaging youth in establishing keyhole gardens in the three villages of Tokelau as a climate change adaptation initiative.

60 young people and 30 keyhole gardens at household levels and three school demonstration plots will be delivered through this project. In addition, the project will facilitate capacity development of young people on managing projects, leadership skills and technical skills focused on maintaining and managing the keyhole gardens. Supportive supervision visits from technical mentors and regular knowledge, skills and learning exchanges amongst youth will ensure that the initiative is sustained and strengthened.

The keyhole gardening project in Tokelau will result in strengthened resilience of the villages to climate change i.e. improving water and soil management, improving food growing technologies which are suitable to Tokelau conditions and diversification of food/ vegetable varieties. Overall, this will contribute towards achieving quality of life for the Tokelauans.

Project is well aligned with the Community Based Adaptation (CBA) outcome area 1: Enhanced adaptive capacity allows communities to reduce their vulnerability to adverse impacts of future climate hazards and criteria 8.1 Agriculture and Food Security, 8.2 Water Resources Management and 8.5 Sustainable Land Management.

It also delivers on the Tokelau National Youth Policy, The Village Development Plans on food security and climate change and the overall Tokelau National Strategic Plan.

Update June 2018: The project was delayed due to institutional changes and turnover of staff who were looking after the project. A MOA Amendment was done to ensure it coincided with revised activities of the project. Refer to project file for more details