Fiji is making notable strides in disaster resilience, with a decade of progress in early warning systems that now deliver more accurate predictions during emergencies. Dr. Ramesh Subramaniam, Global Director at the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, says this development is especially important as Fiji confronts more frequent and intense climate-related events. While the country has sharpened its readiness by learning from past events, the real test now lies in adapting to increasingly powerful disasters and changing disaster patterns that require stronger planning and infrastructure investments.
The expert notes that recent analyses show disaster trajectories are evolving, underscoring the need for better-coordinated plans and tougher, climate-resilient infrastructure. “The complexity of the disasters is unraveling as we learn from each disaster the intensity, the frequency is increasing, but the intensity of these disasters is also changing. It’s actually quite a dynamic environment. So, what the report looks at is, what are the trajectories of some of these disasters that Fiji has seen, and how can the different agencies be better prepared.”
As with any catastrophe, speedy rebuilding after a disaster is essential for developing nations. Dr. Subramaniam stresses that such resilience hinges on sufficient funding, solid planning, and robust building standards. In parallel, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad has underscored the importance of sustained international support for recovery efforts, noting the heavy fiscal impact of past events—citing the 2016 Category 5 cyclone and the ongoing rehabilitation of damaged schools and infrastructure.
A broader financial architecture is taking shape to back these recovery efforts. In recent years, Fiji has spent more than 600 million on recovery and rehabilitation, reflecting the real costs to lives, livelihoods, and essential services. The government is strengthening its disaster-risk financing tools, including standby concessional facilities with international partners and a push to mobilize climate finance more quickly. Notably, Fiji has a standby concessional loan facility with Japan worth about 72 million, and it uses instruments such as the World Bank’s Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option to speed funding after shocks. In parallel, authorities are pursuing a 500 million Pacific Resilience Fund to support community-level adaptation and resilient infrastructure investments.
Policy and process reforms are advancing to shorten the time between damages and funding. These include faster, sector-specific post-disaster assessments, pre-agreed templates and standardized methodologies, digital field data collection, and pre-positioned budget lines to accelerate disbursements. There is also a push to integrate climate and disaster risk into macroeconomic policy—through contingency funds, prudent debt buffers, and investment screening—so fiscal decisions are more risk-informed. Consistent data standards across Finance, Climate, Infrastructure, Health, and Education ministries are expected to improve the accuracy of damage estimates and strengthen funding applications to multilateral and bilateral partners. Ahead of major international forums, Fiji has actively advocated for clearer, faster pathways to climate finance, including grants, and has highlighted the need for robust loss-and-damage mechanisms.
The practical impact of these reforms is being felt in resilience-building projects around the country. For example, Fiji aims to raise 500 million through a Pacific Resilience Fund to reinforce local adaptation and infrastructure. In the longer term, the government is pursuing broader capital for resilience and has already deployed a range of pre-arranged financing tools to support rapid response and recovery.
On the ground, dedicated projects illustrate this commitment. The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management is advancing multi-purpose evacuation centers across all four divisions, backed by a 1 million budget to retrofit 20 existing centers and construct two new facilities within the current financial year. This initiative sits alongside a KOICA-led package totaling about 12 million that will build four new evacuation centers and retrofit four more to meet humanitarian standards. A recent retrofit at the Yavusania evacuation center in Nadi, completed with KOICA and IOM support, demonstrates how these investments translate into safer spaces for vulnerable communities during emergencies.
Why this matters: turning disaster experience into finance. A formalized approach to disaster risk financing helps close the gap between damages and funding responses, enabling quicker repairs and the restoration of essential services. By combining rapid assessment protocols, pre-approved funding structures, and climate-informed macro policy, Fiji is positioning itself to protect livelihoods and minimize secondary losses after disasters.
Summary: Fiji is weaving together stronger early warning capabilities with a comprehensive, finance-ready resilience framework. By expanding contingent financing, scaling up grant access, and investing in resilient infrastructure—alongside concrete on-the-ground projects like evacuation centers and upgraded weather services—Fiji is pursuing a practical path to faster recovery and greater protection for its communities.
Additional value for readers:
– The focus on rapid post-disaster assessments and standardized sector templates can shorten response times, helping communities access relief sooner.
– Investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, such as sea walls and power for schools and clinics, are part of a broader strategy to safeguard critical services during extreme events.
– The integration of climate risk into macro policy signals a shift toward more resilient budgeting and investment decisions that benefit the public in both the short and long term.
Overall, Fiji’s approach blends improved forecasting with robust financing and targeted infrastructure upgrades, offering a hopeful blueprint for reducing disruption and safeguarding communities in an era of intensified climate hazards.
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