Two significant projects were inaugurated under the KIWA Initiative at the Novotel in Lami yesterday, with total funding exceeding €6.6 million (approximately $F15.7 million). These initiatives are set to benefit over 70 communities across five Pacific Island nations, namely Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Samoa, and Timor-Leste.
Virginie Bleitrach, the regional director for Pacific at Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), articulated that these new projects are part of the expansive efforts of the KIWA Initiative, which was launched in 2020. The initiative seeks to leverage nature-based solutions to enhance climate adaptation for local communities in the Pacific region.
Bleitrach highlighted that prior to these two new projects, seven other initiatives had already been rolled out on a regional level. Currently, there are about 20 projects at the local level across three subregions of the Pacific, which also includes collaborations with African and Caribbean countries as well as French territories.
The overarching goal of the KIWA Initiative is to empower Pacific communities to adapt to climate change more effectively. Originally launched with a budget of €30 million (around $F71.5 million), the initiative has successfully increased to a total budget of €77 million (approximately $F183.6 million) devoted to supporting climate adaptation efforts.
Five donors—France, the European Union, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada—contribute to this collaborative program, working alongside regional organizations in the Pacific to identify and implement new projects that fortify the climate resilience of ecosystems, communities, and economies.
This initiative embodies hope for the future, showcasing international cooperation in addressing the pressing challenges of climate change, and it stands as a testament to the commitment to enhance the resilience of Pacific Island nations in the face of environmental challenges.
Summary: The article discusses the launch of two new projects under the KIWA Initiative, aimed at assisting over 70 communities across five Pacific nations with a funding of over €6.6 million. Led by the AFD, the initiative focuses on climate change mitigation through nature-based solutions, reflecting international collaboration to enhance climate resilience in the region.
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