The governing board of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Monday endorsed Fiji’s US$27 million Nature, People, and Climate (NPC) investment plan.
The plan sets out a mountain to ocean approach, prioritising climate resilience and ecosystem restoration across watersheds, coastal zones, and marine areas. Developed in close partnership with the World Bank, these investments are designed to reach 80,000+ Fijians and boost biodiversity.
Fijian livelihoods are highly dependent on nature’s health, with tourism accounting to 40 percent of GDP and 20 percent of jobs; and agriculture, fisheries, and forestry accounting for 32 percent of GDP and 40 percent of jobs.
The NPC investment plan is expected to support these sectors, and benefit highly vulnerable rural and Indigenous communities, in alignment with Fiji’s National Adaptation Plan and Climate Change Act.
As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Fiji faces a range of climate impacts, from rising sea levels and extreme weather events to soil erosion and marine degradation. Average asset losses due to extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones and floods are estimated to reach 5 percent of the country’s GDP annually.
CIF investments in Fiji will directly support conservation of 30 percent of land and marine areas, in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
A separate financing window, CIF’s Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM), will grant US$4 million in direct funding for Fiji’s Indigenous Peoples and local communities to lead solutions that reflect traditional knowledge and priorities.
The plan is part of CIF’s US$400 million NPC programme, which supports low- and middle-income countries to scale nature-based solutions that advance climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods. To date, US$300 million has been committed as part of NPC – with Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, and the Zambezi River Basin region receiving endorsements for investment plans, in addition to Fiji.
Tariye Gbadegesin – CEO, Climate Investment Funds said: “Investing in nature is investing in a secure and prosperous future—especially for Fiji, where the natural environment underpins the economy. Since 2008, CIF has been a committed partner to Small Island Developing States, particularly across the Pacific. Now we’re scaling up this work to help vulnerable communities in Fiji and beyond protect and manage the ecosystems that sustain them.”
Professor Biman Prasad, Fiji deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance said: “Fiji has a clear vision: to accelerate growth towards high-income status by 2050 and eliminate poverty. This ambition is inextricably linked to our climate resilience. We recognise that to achieve this, we must not only protect our existing assets but also invest in “smart development” that counteracts climate-induced drags on long-term growth. (…) We are excited at the opportunity to have Climate Investment Funds as partner in this critical endeavour. Your support will not only help Fiji ensure a sustainable and prosperous future but will also serve as a powerful example for other Small Island Developing States.”
Dr Sivendra Michael, Permanent Secretary for Fiji Environment and Climate Change said: “It is both an honour and a responsibility to receive this funding from the Climate Investment Funds. The Government of Fiji remains committed to being a driving force for climate action. We have the policies, the plans, and the unwavering will to adapt, and these resources will help advance our aspiration. Fiji looks forward to the implementation of this project. We invite other donors to join forces with the Investment Plan and help us protect livelihoods, our economy, and the natural and cultural heritage of Fiji. The support from CIF through the Nature, People and Climate Program will not only help Fiji build a more resilient and prosperous future but will also serve as a powerful example for other Small Island Developing States facing similar existential threats.”.
