The KIWA Empower Project was officially launched on Tuesday and marked a significant step toward climate resilience and sustainable development in the region.The project aims to empower local communities especially women and youth by supporting nature-based solutions to address the impacts of climate change. It is part of the larger KIWA Initiative, supported by the European Union, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and other partners.Minister for Environment Trevor Mahaga highlighted the importance of collaboration in protecting ecosystems and improving livelihoods across vulnerable communities.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗱 𝟮𝟱 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://youtu.be/r2FxIozESQM

Source: Tavuli News (Solomon Islands)

Date: 25/06/2025

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Solomon Islands is set to benefit from SBD32 Million funded under Kiwa project across the Pacific region.

Australia is providing the 32 million with the aim to strengthen climate change resilience development across the Pacific including Solomon Islands.

First Secretary from the Australian High Commission Office, Prue Pickering spoke about this at the launch of the KIWA Empower project in Honiara on Tuesday 24, last week.

She said the Solomon Islands benefits from four different Kiwa initiative projects, including the Empower project.

“We all know that climate change is the greatest threat to livelihoods and wellbeing across the Pacific and that’s why Australia is committed to supporting climate-resilient development in Solomon Islands,” said Pickering.

She said empowerment is important because it focuses on improving water and ecosystem resilience, which is crucial for climate resilience.

“It’s particularly great that this project will focus on some of the more hard-to-reach communities in the Solomon Islands, because we all know that remoteness can increase vulnerability to climate impacts and disasters,” she said.

Pickering said the Kiwa initiative helps to meet the need for more financing for adaptation and climate resilience in the Pacific.

She stated that it is a unique program that leverages the engagement of Pacific regional organisations, just like Live & Learn, which is key to its success.

Pickering expressed that Australia recognises the opportunities that nature-based solutions present to effectively address environmental and social challenges of climate change simultaneously.

Henceforth, Australia values the opportunity to work with other donors on this initiative, such as New Zealand, the European Union, Canada and France.

She also mentioned that Australia supports a number of nature-based solutions initiatives in the Solomon Islands.

“In 2021, Australia launched Climate Resilient by Nature and through that project, we have some communities working on coastal erosion and mangrove restoration in Western Province and Makira. We’re also pleased to support the Baru Conservation Alliance in Malaita, who do some great work working with foreign forest conservation, working with tribal community leaders,” said Pickering.

She noted that Australia looks forward to seeing the project progress.

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Source: The Island Sun (Solomon Islands)

Date: 30/06/2025

Fiji is ramping up efforts to address the gender impacts of climate change through targeted community projects aimed at restoring degraded lands and ensuring food and water security.

Live and Learn Fiji, a key player in these initiatives has been allocated $4 million by the Kiwa Initiative to fund climate-resilient projects across 20 communities in Vanua Levu.

Projects Manager Subash Prasad says the funding will support critical restoration efforts.

The funding will assist vulnerable rural communities adapt to the worsening effects of climate change.

“So this is like an original project. Which is going to be replicated in Tuvalu and Solomon. And including Fiji. And it’s 4.2 million Fijian dollars. For Fiji specifically. Excluding Tuvalu and Solomons. In total, it’s an original project. It’s more than 3 million euros. 3 million euros for the three countries. But Fiji has 4.2 million Fijian dollars.”

Prasad states that climate change has drastically impacted numerous communities in rural settings.

He states that they are working on restoring degraded lands and improving their water systems.

The Project manager states that they are trying to stabilizing their water system, plant more native trees conduct climate smart agriculture trainings to improve food security.

Live and Learn Fiji is focusing on integrating gender-sensitive approaches into its climate initiatives, ensuring that women and marginalized groups are at the forefront of adaptation efforts.

Source: FBC News

A £3 million ($F7.5million) climate resilience project targeting 24 communities across three Pacific Island nations was officially launched at the Tanoa Plaza Hotel in Suva yesterday.

The Kiwa Empower project, funded through the Kiwa Initiative, will implement nature-based solutions to address pressing climate challenges in Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.

Live & Learn Fiji country director Doris Susau said the project would focus on food security, water management, and restoration of degraded coastal and inland areas.

“Nature-based solutions will be the approach to climate change issues that communities are facing,” Ms Susau told this masthead.

“The key climate change issues we have identified together with our government partners are to do with food security and livelihoods, water and watershed management issues, as well as degraded coastal and inland areas.”

The target communities – 20 in total – are located in the Northern Division on Vanua Levu, with 14 in Cakaudrove Province, three in Bua Province, and three in Macuata Province.

The remaining four communities include two remote atoll island communities in Tuvalu (Nanumea and Niutao) and two remote communities in Solomon Islands (Sikaiana Village in Temotu Province and Nifiloli Village in Malaita Province).

Ms Susau highlighted the inclusive approach of the project, stressing that women and young people would be actively engaged in program activities.

“We ensure that our people, our communities, they remain centre in our initiatives,” she said.

The project received funding from five donor partners through the Kiwa Initiative: the European Union, French government, Australian government, New Zealand government, and Canadian government.

Implementation is expected to begin immediately following the current regional workshop, with national stakeholder engagement in Fiji scheduled for late March and early April 2025.

Source: Fiji Sun