FIJI has secured a $27million investment to back projects that restore the environment while creating new livelihood opportunities.
The Government says the plan will help rural and coastal communities build strength and stability as they face the mounting effects of climate change.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Mosese Bulitavu told Parliament the funding, known as the Nature, People and Climate (NPC) Investment Plan, is designed to strengthen the country’s resilience by restoring ecosystems, creating sustainable jobs, and improving food security.
He said the plan, introduced under the Climate Investment Fund (CIF), recognised that land use, climate mitigation, and livelihoods were interlinked.
“The intention of this investment program is to support the deployment of nature-based solutions through an approach that recognises the interdependencies which exist between land use, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and improving the sources of livelihoods of rural communities and the indigenous peoples,” Mr Bulitavu said.
Global backing
Fiji’s NPC proposal was selected from 48 applications worldwide. Only nine countries were chosen for further development and among small island states, only Fiji and the Dominican Republic made the list.
“In August 2022, the Government of Fiji, through the Department of Climate Change, submitted an expression of interest led by the World Bank,” Mr Bulitavu said.
“In December 2022, from 48 applications globally, Fiji’s expression of interest was selected for progression alongside eight other EOIs for further development.”
The World Bank has since supported the development of Fiji’s plan between 2023 and 2025, working with the ministries of Environment and Climate Change, Finance, Forestry, Fisheries, Agriculture, iTaukei Affairs, and Rural and Maritime Development.
Policy foundation
The NPC plan aligns with Fiji’s Nationally Determined Contributions, the National Climate Change Policy (2018-2030), the National Development Plan (2025-2029), and Vision 2050. Its goal is to strengthen ecosystem management for climate resilience through three key components.
The first component focuses on building policy and institutional capacity for nature-based solutions.
“This component tackles the enabling conditions required for Fiji to scale up and sustain Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) investment,” Mr Bulitavu said.
In practice, this includes:
-Reviewing national policies and the Environment Management Act to better integrate NBS into planning and building permit systems;
-Establishing a blue carbon readiness framework to enable Fiji’s entry into international carbon markets, using mangroves and seagrasses as baselines;
-Developing spatial data and mapping tools to identify vulnerable ecosystems;
-Training more than 800 officials and community practitioners in sustainable land management, coastal governance and blue-economy value chains; and
-Creating a national curriculum for nature-based solutions and community resilience through partnerships with the Women in Fisheries Network and the University of the South Pacific.
“These efforts will remove policy fragmentation, strengthen institutions, and ensure future projects operate under a coordinated, evidence-based framework,” Mr Builtavu said.
Restoring the land and sea
The second component, described by Mr Bulitavu as the ‘heart’ of the plan, deals with integrated mountain-to-ocean management – linking forest and river ecosystems to the health of coral reefs and fisheries.
Key projects include:
-Reforestation and land restoration in the Sigatoka and Navua basins to reduce erosion and improve water quality;
-Mangrove rehabilitation and community-led monitoring of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs);
-Restoration of seagrass meadows and coral reefs to strengthen coastal protection and fisheries productivity; and
-Integrated water management plans and the introduction of nature-based wastewater treatment systems, such as constructed wetlands in rural areas.
“Overall, these components will improve the management of about 400,000 hectares or approximately 22 per cent of Fiji’s land area while enhancing the health of critical river basins, forests, and coral systems,” Mr Bulitavu said.
Communities at the centre
The final component focuses on strengthening community livelihoods, ensuring climate action directly benefits people on the ground.
“This component will invest directly in people and communities,” he said. “It will support over 10,000 people directly and 80,000 indirectly through livelihoods and value chain development.”
Planned initiatives include scaling up sustainable aquaculture and coastal fisheries, improving market access, and investing in post-harvest facilities. The plan will also support women-led blue businesses, organic agriculture, agroforestry, and circular-economy ventures.
“The focus is to diversify income streams, particularly for women and youth, so communities can adapt to climate shocks while improving living standards,” he said.
Funding breakdown
The $27million CIF package is divided into two parts — half of it is a grant, and the other half is a low-interest loan. On top of that, another $US20million will come from the World Bank’s International Development Association and two global funds: PROGREEN, which helps protect forests and land, and PROBLUE, which supports ocean and coastal conservation.
“These complementary programs reinforce our goal of transforming Fiji’s natural resource management into a climate-resilient and inclusive system,” Mr Bulitavu said
An additional $4m grant has been endorsed specifically for indigenous peoples and local communities, he confirmed.
Indigenous inclusion and concessional terms
Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya asked whether the plan included funding for indigenous businesses and stakeholders.
Mr Bulitavu replied, “Yes, there is a portion of the fund that I have announced, which is for indigenous people as well as other communities, there is a specific allocation.”
He also confirmed the concessional loan would be spread over 40 years at 1 per cent interest, following tough negotiations with the CIF board.
“This took a long journey over 12 months to 34 months whereby the honourable Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs (Lenora Qereqeretabua) and the permanent secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Sivendra Michael, pushed for a pricing policy change,” he said.
“It was only because of this negotiation that the pricing policy mix has been changed to account for Fiji’s case.”
He said the change recognised Fiji’s climate vulnerability and demonstrated “Fiji’s leadership in the region on behalf of the Pacific Island Countries on climate”.
Accessing the funds
Responding to Mr Koya’s supplementary question on how communities could access funding, Mr Bulitavu said a new system would be created under the program.
“Part of the funding will be the establishment of a system that will then allow applicants to apply,” he said. “That system is part of this funding, to set up the secretariat for administration which will then give an indication on how and the pathway for them to follow.”
Former minister Premila Kumar sought clarification on the financial breakdown, asking how much would go to administration and consultancy.
“The $27million CIF package comprises 50 per cent grant, 50 per cent concessional loan, and an additional $4million will be a grant… It will be on a 40-year term at 1 per cent interest rate. That is the condition,” Mr Bulitavu said.
Looking ahead
Mr Bulitavu told Parliament that the Nature, People and Climate Investment Plan marked a major shift in how Fiji approached climate financing.
“It is a clear demonstration of Fiji’s leadership,” he said. “We have moved from isolated projects to coordinated investment that strengthens both ecosystems and livelihoods.”
He said a formal ministerial statement would be delivered in a later sitting to provide more detail once implementation began.
