Alana Fiafia Rex
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: NGO Coalition Building and Progressing Community Prosperity with GovernmentNiue
Alana “Fiafia” Rex is President of the NGO Oma Tafua, meaning “to treasure whales” in Niuean, and is a marine affairs and geography graduate from the University of the South Pacific. Fiafia founded the NGO while working as a fisheries officer for the government department of her university, realizing that there was little knowledge about the local whale population, even though they are endangered and highly valued in the Niue economy.
Fiafia contributed to the first genetic match of humpback whales between French Polynesia and Niue. She has extensive experience in both marine and terrestrial research and has worked with National Geographic, New Zealand Geographic, United States Geologic Service and UNDP experts concerning bird and reptile research. Fiafia discovered a rare skink that was thought to be extinct in 2018 and was featured in a UNDP press release. She has recently founded Oma Niue to protect biodiversity preservation on islands. Fiafia is also a volunteer with the community group “Aliutu ma e Atuhau Anoiha,” which focuses on disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. Fiafia is also the director of Niue Entrepreneurial Women, a champion for women's empowerment and prosperity in Niue.
IVLP Impact Award Project: NGO Coalition Building and Progressing Community Prosperity with Government
This project strengthened capacities of NGOs in Niue and built a network among the organizations to further support their work. Community groups were invited to speak about their organizations at an initial symposium. Capacity-building workshops were organized focused on how to formalize and run an NGO. Topics included development of a constitution, government expectations, and report writing, monitoring and evaluation.
IVLP Exchange Experience
Fiafia participated in the IVLP Project NGO Management - Joint Project for EAP and SCA, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Mississippi Consortium for International Development in partnership with the International Institute of Wisconsin, WorldDenver, San Antonio Council for International Visitors and World Affairs Council - Seattle.
Fiafia's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "IVLP is empowering. My project is inspired by my participation in the IVLP 2021: sharing inter alia experiences, knowledge, lessons learned, innovation and creativity. The IVLP enables, amplifies and reminds us that the rewards of our work are beyond any price tag."
U.S. Communities Visited Virtually
Denver, CO; Washington, DC; San Antonio, TX; Seattle, WA, Madison, WI