The Rotary Pacific Water for Life Foundation (RPW) was granted 600,000 Euro ($F1,474,165) for the commencement of their Inclusive Climate Action for Fiji (ICAF) Project.
The project was funded by the European Union and co-financed by Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation.
“As the lead applicants of the Inclusive Climate Action for Fiji (ICAF) project, RPW are embarking on a transformative journey aimed at bolstering resilience and sustainability in Fiji’s rural communities,” foundation executive officer Neil Maharaj.
“This initiative spans 30 months and aims to address the adverse effects of climate change while promoting resilience and sustainable development.”
He said the project focuses on four primary areas of intervention.
Firstly, it aims to implement climate-smart agricultural practices, emphasising biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management to enhance agricultural resilience.
Secondly, a substantial portion of the project will be dedicated to constructing resilient infrastructure solutions.
“These include sustainable waterways and other critical infrastructure designed to withstand environmental stresses and improve community resilience,” said Mr Maharaj.
He said the community-driven approach of the project, noting extensive consultations with rural communities that emphasised infrastructure as a top priority.
“Ninety per cent of this project will focus on infrastructure solutions.
“This is because we have done a lot of talking and dialogue between communities and they all wanted infrastructure to be a priority.
“What we need to ensure is that there are tangible solutions for the communities in the rural areas.
“And so that’s what this project will focus on mostly.”
Additionally, Mr Maharaj said the ICAF project incorporated advocacy efforts aimed at promoting inclusive development and amplifying local voices in decision-making processes.
“Inclusivity is fundamental to our strategy.
“Through collaboration and community empowerment, we aim to build resilience and drive sustainable development in rural Fiji.”
