Tonga | Documents & Reports | World Bank

Tonga - Gender and investment climate reform assessment in partnership with AusAID

2013-06-14T04:00:00.000Z

This report is one of six gender and investment climate reform assessments undertaken in six Pacific nations including Tonga. The report analyses gender-based investment climate barriers which constrain private sector development, and identifies solutions to address them. Four key investment climate areas are considered: public private dialogue; starting and licensing a business; access to justice, the courts and mediation; and access to and enforcement of rights over registered land. In each area the report considers legal, regulatory and administrative barriers to private sector development with a gender perspective. It asks whether women face different or additional constraints to those faced by men. And it makes recommendations aimed at ensuring that women benefit from on-going efforts to improve Tonga's investment climate on the same basis as their male counterparts. This report does not aim to cover all gender issues in the Tonga, or all gender issues in private sector development or investment climate reform. Gender constraints in the Solomon Islands are wide ranging and deeply entrenched in cultural and historical factors. All targets and activities recommended in this report only relate to reducing gender constraints through the investment climate reforms that International Finance Corporation (IFC) is undertaking as part of the regulatory simplification and investment policy and promotion program. Any further recommendations made that are not linked to targets or activities are for the Government, and its development partners to consider and advance as appropriate. By IFC taking action to reduce or remove gender constraints in key aspects of the investment climate, it is anticipated that this will help to improve the Tonga's attractiveness for local and international investment and business growth. It is hoped that these reforms could be part of broader reform in the Tonga to create equal opportunities for women and men.

Tonga - Tonga Post Tsunami Reconstruction : P120595 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 03

2013-06-12T04:00:00.000Z

Tonga - Tonga Transport Sector Consolidation Project : P096931 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 08

2013-06-08T04:00:00.000Z

Environmental management plan

2013-06-04T04:00:00.000Z

The objective of the Transport Sector Consolidation Project for Tonga is to assist the Government of Tonga to advance ongoing transport sector reforms and initiatives so that the sector can better respond to both current and future national needs in a safe, secure and sustainable manner. The project environmental negative impacts are as follows: adequate drainage of surface storm water, contamination of land and or water bodies with oils in run-off water when loading and off loading oils, fuel and trucks, and noise. The project mitigation measures are following: (i) run-off water channeled through oil-separator before final drainage into sea, design, construct, operate and maintain adequate size, location, and number oil separator; (ii) regular collection of oil waste from oil separator and disposal in approved landfills; (iii) provide bunded area which drains into an oil separator; (iv) construction of secure storage area to facilitate transport, handling and placement; and (v) fire engines are to be serviced and maintained at existing airport workshop.

Tonga - Pacific Aviation Investment - Tonga : P128939 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 03

2013-05-29T04:00:00.000Z

Tonga - Post Tsunami Reconstruction Project : resettlement plan

2013-03-08T05:00:00.000Z

The objective of the Post Tsunami Reconstruction Project is to assist the Government of Tonga to implement its Niuatoputapu priority Tsunami recovery program aimed at recovering the living standard of the population living in the island affected by the Tsunami of September 30, 2009, through the reconstruction of residential houses with auxiliary water facilities in Niuatoputapu, and strengthening Tonga's capacity to address future natural disasters. Negative impacts include: loss of land acquisition, loss of asset, loss of crops and trees, loss of income, and loss of livelihood. Mitigation measures include: a) crop owners are entitled to cash compensation at market value for cash crops; b) trees owners are entitled to cash compensation at market values for trees or alternatively replacement trees; c) compensation for loss of income from the tree (for fruit trees) should also be made available; d) landowners losing less than 20 percent of their land where the remaining assets are viable for continued use are entitled to cash compensation; e) the amount of compensation to be paid will be determined by valuation of the assets at market value or replacement value, whichever is the higher; and f) assist displaced persons in improving their former living standards, earning capacity and production levels or at least restoring them.

Trade brief

2013-02-07T05:00:00.000Z

This country level trade brief summarizes insights from the world trade indicators database as well as analyzes national impacts and responses to the food crisis and global recession. The trade at a glance tables for Tonga provide a snapshot of key aspects of trade policy and performance.

Trade at a glance

2013-02-07T05:00:00.000Z

Tonga - Pacific Aviation Investment - Tonga : P128939 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 02

2012-12-08T05:00:00.000Z

Tonga - Tonga Transport Sector Consolidation Project : P096931 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 07

2012-12-06T05:00:00.000Z

Environmental impact assessment

2012-12-04T05:00:00.000Z

The objective of the Post Tsunami Reconstruction Project is to ensure that activities under the reconstruction operations will address the: 1) enhance positive and sustainable environmental and social outcomes; 2) support the integration of environmental and social aspects of subprojects into the decision making process; 3) minimize environmental degradation as a result of either individual subprojects or their cumulative effects; and 4) protect human health. The project is anticipated to have minor and localized environmental impacts coming mainly from civil works activities related to the construction of cyclone-resistant housing units and retrofitting of partially damaged housing and buildings. The types of environmental issues that may arise relate to land clearing for site preparation, movement of workers, and materials to and from project sites, and proper disposal of waste and debris. The reconstruction of the housing units will take place within the existing village boundaries and the units are designed to be low-cost but cyclone resistant. They are to be constructed mainly of legally imported timber and materials, requiring only light civil works. Some construction of the housing will occur in newly prepared sites and will involve some clearance of bush and vegetation for foundation preparation. Land has been identified and is primarily a plantation land of mixed use.

Tonga - Second Economic Recovery Operation Program

2012-10-26T04:00:00.000Z

The development objective of the Second Economic Recovery Operation Program is to assist the Government of Tonga (GoT) to implement key aspects of its medium-term reform agenda, while providing a predictable flow of resources in a challenging fiscal environment. The operation is the second in a programmatic series of two development policy operations. The operation will be financed by International Development Association (IDA) resources of US$1.8 million and Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is expected to provide associated sector budget support of AUD 5.0 million (US$5.3 million) for the same policy actions and dependent on the Bank's operation being approved. The operation will help the Government of Tonga manage severe economic challenges that have coincided with historic political reforms. It supports a focused program of Government reform priorities in public financial management, fiscal policy, and business environment reforms while providing a vital fiscal buffer in the context of sustained revenue contraction. The series of operations coincide with the term in office of Tonga's first Government to be selected by a majority-elected parliament and provide an opportunity for the Bank to support Tonga at a critical juncture in its development process. The programmatic series of economic recovery operations focuses on three reform areas. Areas of focus reflect Government's concern to support short-term recovery and mitigate continuing impacts of the crisis on the poorest households while maintaining progress against longer-term structural reforms to deal with ongoing fiscal and economic challenges. Areas of focus include: i) strengthening public financial management; ii) strengthening fiscal policy; and iii) promoting structural reforms relating to the business regulatory environment. The first Tonga Economic recovery operation also supported reforms to strengthen social protection. The Second Tonga economic recovery operation will build on the gains achieved to date. In the area of public financial management, priorities reflect the importance of embedding transparency and solid Public Financial Management (PFM) foundations following recent political reforms. Actions in this area include introduction of a treasury single account, publication of in-year budget reports, and the tabling in Parliament of audited Annual Financial Statements of Government. Under fiscal policy, the agenda focuses on strengthening revenue effort to maintain delivery of public services following substantial revenue declines. Actions in this area include policy decisions to introduce small business and natural resource tax regimes and measures to increase transparency of the costs of tax exemptions.

Tonga - Second Economic Recovery Operation Project

2012-10-16T04:00:00.000Z

Official Documents- Amendment to the Grant Agreement for TF099585

2012-10-15T04:00:00.000Z

Official Documents- Amendment to the Financing Agreement for IDA Grant H416-TO

2012-10-12T04:00:00.000Z

Tonga - Tonga Post Tsunami Reconstruction : P120595 - Implementation Status Results Report : Sequence 02

2012-10-12T04:00:00.000Z

Official Documents- Amendment to the Grant Agreement for TF099585

2012-10-01T04:00:00.000Z

Official Documents- Letter of Amendment to the Financing Agreement for IDA Grant H416-TO

2012-10-01T04:00:00.000Z

Official Documents- Amendment to the Financing Agreement for IDA Grant H628-TO

2012-09-20T04:00:00.000Z

Tonga summary

2012-09-07T04:00:00.000Z

As part of the Government of Tonga's effort to improve reading levels, an early grade reading baseline assessment was conducted in November, 2009 with support from regional education partners. Survey results are cause for concern. While most students develop some fundamental skills in grades classes' one, two and three, only three in ten students at the end of class three are able to develop fluency in reading, ability strongly related to reading comprehension. Factors that are shown to be predictors of better reading performance in the early grades include: having literate parents and/or siblings, having books at home, and receiving help from a family member to do homework. Among teachers, having and using the recommended Tongan reading texts demonstrated a statistically significant association to better reading performance. In regards to teacher instructional methods, from the seven reading instructional activities, only frequent story retelling associated to better reading outcomes. Finally, in terms of teacher expectations, having high expectations-i.e., above median value- about student reading outcomes did not render significant results; however, if a teacher had low expectations-i.e., below median-about when a student should demonstrate a given skill, low expectations appeared to negatively affect student performance at statistically significant levels. Based on the analysis presented in this report, it is recommended that Tongan educators address reading deficits through interventions that provide additional support to teachers to improve their practice, increase the exposure of children to books and other reading materials beyond the classroom, and promote greater parental involvement in the reading development of their children.