Tuvalu and Solomon Islands Ratify Pacific Resilience Facility, Expanding Regional Climate Financing

Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands have officially ratified the Agreement to Establish the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF Treaty), bringing the Blue Pacific region closer to launching a pioneering climate and disaster resilience financing institution that is led, owned, and managed by its members. This significant step was marked on February 13 at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, where Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Feleti Teo presented the nation’s ratification instrument to Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa. This move follows the earlier ratification by the Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister and Forum Chair, Jeremiah Manele, during the Forum Troika Leaders Meeting held in Brisbane, Australia.

Secretary General Waqa expressed his congratulations to both nations, highlighting the importance of the PRF as a landmark achievement for the region. He emphasized that the increasing number of ratifications reflects the collective commitment of leaders to ensure a safer, resilient, and more inclusive future for the Blue Pacific, with a focus on community-centered resilience financing.

The PRF was originally endorsed by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2023 through the Declaration on the Establishment of the Pacific Resilience Facility during the 52nd PIF Leaders Meeting in the Cook Islands. At the subsequent meeting in 2024, leaders appointed Tonga as the Host Country for the PRF, strengthening regional solidarity. The PRF Treaty was signed by 15 Forum Leaders at the Honiara meeting in 2025.

With Tuvalu and Solomon Islands now part of the treaty, the total number of ratifying countries has reached five. The PRF requires a minimum of eight signatories to become operational, indicating a strong regional commitment toward this initiative. It is designed to empower local communities by granting them access to funding for resilience priorities identified at the grassroots level, signifying a shift towards proactive and community-driven investments in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness, aligning with the leaders’ Vision of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. This initiative holds great promise for enhancing resilience in the region and ensuring sustainability in the face of climate challenges.