Fiji is advancing a national effort to build stronger early warning systems that will help save lives, protect livelihoods and strengthen communities against the growing impacts of climate change.
This is the focus of the Fiji Green Climate Fund (GCF) Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Proposal Development Writeshop, which began today at the University of the South Pacific’s Statham Campus (23.07.26).
The two-day writeshop has brought together representatives from Government ministries and agencies, the Fiji NDMO, Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme – SPREP (SPREP), civil society organisations, development partners and technical experts to jointly develop a strong, country-led funding proposal for submission to the Green Climate Fund.
Opening the Writeshop, Director Climate Change Ms Senivasa Waqairamasi said that developing a successful climate finance proposal requires far more than technical expertise; it demands authentic national ownership, shared vision, and deep stakeholder engagement.
“Today’s writeshop brings together the collective knowledge of our lead technical agencies, SPREP, and frontline stakeholders to refine a project that will deliver tangible, lasting benefits. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient multi-hazard early warning system for Fiji.”
The proposed project is being developed under the Green Climate Fund’s Simplified Approval Process, with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change serving as Fiji’s National Designated Authority, in partnership with SPREP as the Accredited Entity, and in close collaboration with the National Disaster Management Office and the Fiji Meteorological Service.
The project adopts a systems approach to strengthen Fiji’s multi-hazard early warning and decision-support system through three key components: improving weather observation and monitoring infrastructure, strengthening forecasting and decision-support services, and enhancing last-mile warning dissemination and community preparedness so that timely warnings reach every community and support early action.
Once implemented, the project will help strengthen national institutions, improve coordination among agencies, enhance climate and hazard information, and build more resilient communities that are better prepared to respond to climate-related hazards.
Ms. Waqairamasi adds “that developing a successful climate finance proposal requires integration and collaboration from all sectors to ensure the project reflects Fiji’s priorities and delivers practical, long-term benefits for our people”
Over the next two days, participants will review and refine the proposed project, validate its technical components, identify implementation arrangements and strengthen the proposal ahead of its submission to the Green Climate Fund.
The Ministry acknowledges the continued partnership of all development partners and all participating stakeholders for their commitment to strengthening Fiji’s climate resilience and protecting communities from the increasing impacts of climate change.