On September 18, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Grant Aid agreement with the Government of Papua New Guinea in the capital, Port Moresby. The project covers the sections of the coastal highway linking Kokopo and Rabaul where landslides occur repeatedly.
The plan includes building sediment basins (2 sites) and bridges (2), improving drainage ditches and cross culverts, and carrying out slope protection and road rehabilitation. Consulting services, such as support for detailed design and bidding and construction supervision, will also be provided. The implementing agency is the country's Department of Works.
This section had been designated a priority project in the infrastructure development plan that Japan helped prepare. Another aim of the project is to draw on Japan's experience and technology in disaster risk reduction and landslide response to prepare for the growing risk of natural disasters driven by climate change.
Key points
- Countermeasures on landslide-prone sections, aiming for a road that can be used year-round
- A comprehensive set of measures combining sediment basins, bridges, drainage facilities and slope protection
- Japanese disaster risk reduction technology is used to prepare for disaster risks that are increasing with climate change
Why this news is worth your attention
In island nations, a single highway does a great deal to support the movement of people and goods. When that road is blocked by landslides, it can affect the transport of food and daily necessities, as well as trips to hospitals and schools. Building disaster-resilient roads is also a way of protecting people's daily lives.
The project is positioned as contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), and it is a helpful concrete example of climate change "adaptation."
Editor's comment
Talk of roads and bridges may sound a little technical, but being able to use the road even when it rains brings people who live there a sense of security that matters more than almost anything. It is good to see Japan's disaster-prevention know-how put to use in a Pacific country.
You can find the details of the project in JICA's news release and the ex-ante evaluation document. If you are interested in climate change, disaster risk reduction and ties with Pacific island countries, please give them a read.