A Cook Islands organisation supporting pregnant women, families, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence has partnered with the Government to keep providing its services through a national emergency.

Two days into cyclone season, the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) – on behalf of Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) – on Thursday afternoon.

The document was signed by CIFWA acting president Marina Andersen-Rima and OPM chief of staff Ben Ponia, in the presence of EMCI director John Strickland and CIFWA executive director Rongo File.

CIFWA humanitarian focal point Dean Tangata said the memorandum meant the non-government organisation would be better-resourced to continue providing its services of ante-natal care, family planning, counselling, first aid, and protecting those at risk of sexual or gender-based violence during a crisis.

“Pregnancies tend to spike in countries where there has been a disaster, as does sexual and gender-based violence, so we need to ensure that support continues,” Tangata said.

“We’re working towards becoming more flexible in how we provide services.”

File said the memorandum would not only allow CIFWA volunteers to team up with those from EMCI, but also grant access to the Punas at the community level.

The partnership would also give CIFWA’s donors more confidence, File said.

EMCI director John Strickland said the services provided by CIFWA would be a “key component” of the Government’s disaster response.

While the two organisations had been partnering for about a year, signing the memorandum made the relationship official, Strickland said.

“I have been waiting for this for quite some time,” he said.

“We will be working together as a team. That’s my pledge, and I look forward to our close collaboration as we go through the years.”

OPM chief of staff Ben Ponia said the memorandum would go towards making sure “no one in the tribe is left behind” during an emergency.

“Still, an MOU is just a formality. We know, in reality, we always work together and we work within and beyond the needs of the community.”

The cyclone season lasts from November to April.