In May 2025, the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) in the Pacific, led by the World Food Programme (WFP), kicked off a series of intensive, week-long training sessions to strengthen national disaster response capabilities across the region. With proud support from France, this initiative is helping Pacific nations stay better connected and prepared when emergencies strike.

The programme officially launched on 10 June in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, with a focus on radio communications and mobile satellite services. Delivered in collaboration with Tonga’s Department of Communications under the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), the training targets members of the national emergency telecommunications cluster.

Running through 13 June, the training aims to build foundational emergency response skills and includes a Training of Trainers (ToT) component to support wider knowledge sharing across the cluster.

Next, the ETC Pacific team will head to Samoa (16–20 June) and the Solomon Islands (30 June–04 July), continuing to build local expertise that ensures governments can communicate quickly and effectively during crises.

By investing in preparedness today, the ETC is helping create a more resilient Pacific for tomorrow.