With the decision to host the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) in Tonga now confirmed, PRF Manager, Finau Soqo has announced the next steps toward its establishment, emphasing a focus on community-driven solutions and streamlined processes to meet urgent regional needs.
“Now that the leaders have made the decision on the domicile of PRF, next week we commence the process of discussions with the government of Tonga regarding the timetable for hosting,” Soqo said at a side event during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku’alofa on Thursday.
Soqo outlined the timeline and steps to operationalise the PRF.
“The next phase is to enable the establishment,” she explained. “We’ve held three co-drafting workshops with our members over the last year and a half. Now, we need to finalise the details.”
She explained that Pacific leaders have tasked the Special Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM), chaired by the Tongan Finance Minister, to approve the legal and transitional documents needed to set up the PRF.
“This meeting is planned for the first quarter of 2025,” Soqo said. “Once that happens, we’ll trigger the establishment of the PRF Council and the full transition team, aiming for community resilience readiness by 2026.”
Soqo stressed that the PRF’s success hinges on community involvement.
“You will participate in the co-designing process starting in 2025,” she assured the audience.
“Every country will have programming workshops with members or communities, including youth.”
She also emphasised the PRF’s commitment to complement existing mechanisms without duplication.
“The PRF is designed to be responsive and agile,” she said, highlighting the goal to be ready for community resilience in time for COP31 in Australia in 2026.
Australian Climate Change Ambassador Kristin Tilley praised the Pacific leadership on the PRF and reiterated Australia’s support.
“We are privileged to work with and support the Pacific leadership on the PRF for many years,” Tilley said.
“We are very pleased to be the foundational donor, providing $100 million (US$67.98 million) for the PRF Fund,” she said.
Tilley noted the significance of the PRF’s launch and the potential impact of Australia’s prospective hosting of COP31 with the Pacific in 2026.
“Having the world come to the region and see the needs firsthand could be very powerful,” she added, “hopefully with their chequebooks in hand.”
With these developments, the PRF is set to be a transformative force for the Pacific, focusing on resilience and adaptation in the face of climate change.
