According to the Bank’s website, the project aims to enhance climate resilience and promote sustainable development in about 15 vulnerable coastal communities in Fiji. The project will pilot and implement climate adaptation measures such as hybrid and nature-based coastal protection solutions, increase community engagement and strengthen local and institutional capacities to address coastal flooding and erosion caused by sea-level rise and extreme weather. The project is expected to directly benefit 3,000 people living in the coastal communities of which 50% are women.

The project is aligned with the following impact: climate resilience of coastal communities enhanced. The project outcome is climate exposure and vulnerability of coastal ecosystems and communities reduced. The project will have three outputs: (i) Resilient and integrated nature-based coastal protection provided; (ii) Climate resilient livelihoods supported; and (iii) Institutional capacity on integrated coastal protection improved.

ADB support will help the government address key challenges in implementing the NAP by funding essential but non-commercial components that ensure long-term sustainability and inclusivity in Fiji's most at-risk communities. By leveraging grant resources, ADB enhances project affordability, impact, and credibility, and will seek to attract co-financing and technical inputs from other partners. This project promotes innovation by introducing hybrid coastal protection solutions that combine engineering with nature-based approaches that can be scaled-up to larger areas and transferred to coastlines in Fiji and other Pacific Island countries. The project aims to update MAW's asset management system through digitalization. It also advances gender equality by integrating community participation contracting modalities, which specifically aim to engage and benefit remote, poor coastal communities, with a focus on women's involvement in training and O&M; activities.

PROJECT RATIONALE AND LINKAGE TO COUNTRY/REGIONAL STRATEGY

Fiji is highly vulnerable to the increasing impacts of climate change and natural hazards. Sea level rise, variable rainfall that causes floods and droughts, rising air and sea temperatures, and intense cyclones exacerbate Fiji's vulnerability and threaten development gains. In 2021, an estimated 27.2% of the population of Fiji lived in low-lying coastal zones with an elevation of 010 meters (m). A 2015 economic valuation estimated Fiji's coastal and marine ecosystem services at $1.2 billion annually. Fiji's Great Sea Reef is the third largest barrier reef system in the world, and plays a key role in the country's coastal protection, fisheries, and marine tourism.

Since 2018, climate change adaption in Fiji has been guided by its 2019 National Climate Change Policy and the 2018 NAP: A pathway towards climate resilience. The NAP was formally launched in December 2018 at the 24th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Fiji's 2021 Climate Change Act established a legal framework for climate mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk management. The National Development Plan 2025 to 2029 and Vision 2050 are aligned with these sectoral strategies, highlighting the need to boost climate adaptation and disaster resilience investments to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic development.

IMPACT

Climate resilience of coastal communities enhanced.

Environment: B
Involuntary Resettlement: B
Indigenous Peoples: C

The project is estimated to cost $17.89 million. The project has a grant not exceeding $15 million from ADB's Special Funds resources (Asian Development Fund [ADF] Thematic Pool 14 on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk and Resilience) and the ORCA-TF will provide grant cofinancing of $1.70 million, to be administered by ADB. The government will contribute $1.19 million in reimbursed taxes and $0.67 million equivalent in in-kind contribution including office space, staff salaries, vegetation and exempt duties.

Project Officer: Geoffrey Wilson
Designation: Senior Water Resources Specialist- Asian Development Bank
Email: gwilson@adb.org

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form

ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.