Fiji’s private sector gains formal footing in national disaster resilience framework
The Fiji Business Disaster Resilience Council (FBDRC), a driving force for private-sector engagement in disaster preparedness since 2016, has achieved a landmark milestone: its formal inclusion in Fiji’s National Disaster Risk Management Act 2024, effective in 2025. Built under the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) with support from the Connecting Business initiative (CBi), the council has long mobilized private resources and expertise to bolster Fiji’s resilience across prevention, response, and recovery.
FBDRC’s rise comes as Fiji maps its vulnerability to climate-related hazards. The country ranks 15th on the World Risk Index (2020), with an average annual loss of about US$343.77 million (roughly FJ$773 million), equating to about 8.8% of GDP. The memory of Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016—one of the strongest Southern Hemisphere storms on record, with winds up to 233 km/h and gusts to 306 km/h—continues to shape current resilience priorities, including the scale of the financial toll, estimated in the many hundreds of millions of dollars. Climate projections warn of rising sea levels and shifting disaster patterns, underscoring the need for robust, coordinated planning.
Under the Act, the private sector is recognized as a strategic partner rather than a mere responder. This legal footing formalizes years of collaboration with the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) and international partners, including CBi, and reflects a concerted shift toward integrating private-sector capabilities with government-led risk management. FBDRC chair Karunesh Rao and FCEF chief executive Edward Bernard have highlighted how this recognition will elevate resilience efforts—from planning and training to resource mobilization and shared governance.
The significance goes beyond recognition. Fiji’s work to embed disaster risk reduction across policy and practice includes substantial private-sector contributions: developing and promoting Business Continuity Plans (BCPs), delivering targeted training programs, and creating platforms for resource sharing and coordination with government agencies during emergencies. These efforts are complemented by public-sector reforms to accelerate post-disaster funding and preparedness, such as rapid post-disaster assessments and pre-approved financing structures.
Broader resilience financing and preparedness efforts are moving in parallel. The government is pursuing a Pacific Resilience Fund—targeting around US$500 million—to support community-level adaptation and resilient infrastructure, alongside standby concessional facilities with international partners (for example, a standing loan facility with Japan of about US$72 million) and mechanisms such as the World Bank’s Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option. Efforts to accelerate funding include faster, sector-specific post-disaster assessments, standardized methodologies, digital data collection, and pre-positioned budget lines. There is also a push to elevate climate risk within macroeconomic policy to ensure budget decisions are risk-informed.
New and continuing initiatives also reflect a regional and international momentum toward turning disaster experience into finance. Fiji has been a trailblazer in disaster risk finance, demonstrated by recent studies and initiatives that link physical damages to public finances and explore scalable tools to close the gap between losses and funding. In 2024–2025, governments and partners have emphasized the importance of grants and faster access to funds, while maintaining a focus on resilient infrastructure and essential services such as schools, clinics, power, and transportation networks.
On the ground, the private sector has supported education and preparedness campaigns, including disaster awareness materials distributed to students and families. Earlier campaigns reached tens of thousands of households and students, with ongoing efforts to expand reach ahead of the cyclone season. Training programs have also expanded, including train-the-trainer models to ensure sustainability and broader coverage across Fiji’s business community.
Why this matters for Fiji and the region
– Turning private-sector experience and resources into formal, policy-backed resilience strengthens timely response and rapid recovery, reducing downtime for critical services.
– A formal fiscal framework, including disaster risk financing tools, helps close the gap between damages and funding, enabling quicker repairs and protecting livelihoods.
– The multi-faceted approach—combining public policy, private-sector engagement, and targeted financing—creates a practical blueprint for resilience that other Pacific nations can adapt.
Key takeaways for readers
– The FBDRC’s legal recognition marks a turning point in how the private sector participates in national disaster risk management.
– Fiji’s resilience strategy blends early warning, risk-informed budgeting, and diversified financing instruments to shorten recovery times and protect essential services.
– Education and community outreach remain a cornerstone, with ongoing campaigns to equip households, students, and businesses for better preparedness.
Summary
Fiji is advancing a holistic resilience model that links private-sector leadership, robust financing, and on-the-ground infrastructure upgrades to faster recovery and stronger public services after disasters. By turning lessons from past events into formal funding mechanisms and scalable preparedness programs, Fiji seeks to protect communities from climate hazards and set a regional example for turning forecast improvements into tangible protection and prosperity.
A hopeful note
This integrated approach demonstrates that proactive collaboration between government, business, and international partners can translate resilience into real-world outcomes—swift relief, safer infrastructure, and more confident communities, even as climate risks intensify.
Additional context for readers
– Private-sector collaboration has included substantial outreach to schools and households, reinforcing a culture of preparedness that complements government efforts.
– As Fiji continues to refine its disaster risk finance framework, the country remains well positioned to attract grants and faster funding pathways that align with climate-resilience goals and sustainable development planning.
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