By working with village leaders through education and support rather than regulations, Beca's strategy and plans were welcomed and implemented with total support.
As part of a World Bank initiative, the Government of Samoa commissioned Beca Planning to lead the team developing a two stage national Coastal Infrastructure Management strategy.
Management of land and resources in Samoa is very complex, and there is a delicate balance between the jurisdiction of central government and the autonomous rights of local villages which are protected in the national Constitution.
Beca's strategy focused on consultation and raising awareness in village communities. The team presented an easy-to-read strategy that showed the importance of managing infrastructure and resources to improve coastal hazard resilience; the emphasis was on support, education and a common vision.
The second stage of the strategy involved Beca helping local village leaders and government representatives to prepare local Coastal Infrastructure Management Plans (known as CIM Plans). These guided the implementation of the strategy at the local level with an emphasis upon a 'partnership' arrangement between Government and the local village.
The project was completed over two stages. The first produced plans for 15 political districts covering 92 villages, and the second the remaining 26 districts, 191 villages. In total more than 6,000 people, 8% of the resident adult population of the country were directly consulted.
Working with village leaders through education and support rather than regulations helped streamline relations between parties; as a result the strategy and plans were welcomed and implemented with total support.
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