Tonga National Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-2030: Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai Volcanic Eruption and Tsunami update

This report presents an updated version of the Tonga National Infrastructure Investment Plan (NIIP) 2021–2030, developed to reflect the impacts of the January 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcanic eruption, tsunami, and ashfall. The disaster caused widespread damage to housing, coastal protection, transport, utilities, telecommunications, and public facilities across Tongatapu, Haʻapai, and ʻEua. The update responds to the need to align infrastructure planning with post-disaster recovery, resilience building, and evolving national priorities.

The document integrates infrastructure needs identified through post-disaster assessments and the government’s HTHH Recovery and Resilience Building Plan (2022–2025) into the existing NIIP framework. Using a standardized multi-criteria analysis methodology, the report evaluates and prioritizes new and existing projects based on disaster risk management, climate change considerations, economic benefits, and implementation readiness. In total, 99 priority infrastructure projects are assessed and grouped into high, medium, and lower priority categories to guide funding and sequencing over the coming decade.

Overall, the updated plan provides a strategic, evidence-based roadmap for mobilizing resources and coordinating investments to rebuild damaged infrastructure while strengthening resilience to future hazards. It emphasizes “recovery with greater resilience,” encouraging risk-informed planning, climate adaptation, and disaster preparedness across all infrastructure sectors. The report supports government decision-making and development partner coordination to ensure that reconstruction contributes to long-term sustainability and disaster risk reduction in Tonga.