A transformative climate adaptation project developed with support from the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) has secured approval from the Global Environment Facility's Special Climate Change Fund, unlocking US$2.89 million in climate finance to help safeguard Fiji's vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
Photo credit:@fijitimes
The investment marks a significant milestone in strengthening the country's resilience to the growing impacts of climate change while demonstrating the power of strategic partnerships to turn ambitious climate priorities into tangible action.
The Climate Adaptation in the Rewa Delta (CARE) Project will strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity of communities in Fiji's Rewa River Catchment through climate-resilient infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, community engagement, and institutional strengthening. The project received concept approval from the GEF in June 2026 and will be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with Fiji's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
The CARE concept originated during a Commonwealth-supported climate finance writeshop held in Fiji in August 2024, which brought together government officials and development partners to develop investment-ready climate finance proposals. The proposal development was led by Dr Deepa Pullanikkatil, then Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser to Fiji, working with relevant Ministries and stakeholders. The proposal was submitted by UNDP to GEF.
Dr Deepa Pullanikkatil, now Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser to the Kingdom of Eswatini, said:
"During my time in Fiji, I had the privilege of visiting communities across the Rewa Delta and witnessing both their vulnerability and resilience. I saw farmland affected by saltwater intrusion, heard stories of recurring floods, and met people who were adapting every day to a changing climate.
“These experiences made the challenges of climate change very real and very personal. That is why it is especially meaningful to see the CARE project receive approval. It represents more than funding. It represents hope, practical solutions, and recognition of the needs of communities living on the frontlines of climate change."
Through a combination of flood management resilient infrastructure investments, and strengthened local capacity, the project seeks to deliver long-term resilience benefits for vulnerable communities across the Rewa Delta and surrounding catchment areas.
This milestone demonstrates the value of sustained, demand-driven technical assistance to countries in turning national climate priorities into credible, bankable funding proposals. Through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, working alongside member countries, capacity is strengthened to develop investment-ready projects and improve access to international climate finance.
The CARE project contributes to Fiji's implementation of its National Adaptation Plan and broader climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The project also builds on the Commonwealth's broader support for community-based adaptation in Fiji.
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