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The Kiwa Initiative Launches New Projects and Receives Additional Contributions from its Donors to Strenghten Climate Resilience in the Pacific Region
In the margins of the Kiwa Initiative Steering Committee meeting, the Kiwa Initiative awarded grants to two additional regional projects and announced the selection of four local projects in Pacific Island Countries, to enhance climate change adaptation thanks to Nature-based Solutions (NbS). The Initiative's budget has now reached more than 75 million euros, owing to increased donor contributions from France and Canada.
The Kiwa Initiative aims at strengthening the climate change resilience of Pacific Islands ecosystems, communities and economies through NbS, by protecting, sustainably managing and restoring biodiversity. The Initiative, launched in 2020 with 31 million euros, is funded by the European Union (EU), Agence française de développement (AFD), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The Kiwa Initiative has established partnerships with the Pacific Community (SPC), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Regional Office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN ORO).
The Kiwa Initiative's funding has been increased from 57 million euros to more than 75 million euros, thanks to the additional contributions of France (14 million euros) and from Canada. This will allow to launch new Calls for projects.
“The 14 million euros additional French contribution to the Kiwa Initiative through its Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Overseas Territories, on top of its previous funding of 26 million euros, illustrates the commitment of France towards climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation. This top-up is in line with our Indopacific strategy in Oceania where we encourage the regional cooperation with French territories via the Agence française de développement.”, declared H.E. François-Xavier Léger, ambassador of France to Fiji.
Inspire and Micoast, the new Kiwa regional projects
The Kiwa Initiative is also pleased to announce the launch of two new regional projects:
- The Kiwa Inspire (INvasive SPecIes management for Resilient Ecosystems and societiEs) project, led by BirdLife International, will be implemented in Fiji (Melanesia), Palau (Micronesia), Samoa and French Polynesia (Polynesia), with the overall objective of enhancing and mainstreaming invasive species management for climate change adaptation in priority biodiversity sites.
- The Kiwa Micoast (MICronesian Community-based Fisheries Management and NbS for COASTal resilience) project, led by OneReef, will be implemented in the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru and Republic of Palau (ROP).
These new projects are in addition to the three regional projects that have already been launched:
- The Kiwa POLFN project, led by SPC in Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tonga aims to meet the climate resilience, capacity building needs of farmers, as well as work towards the rehabilitation of natural biodiversity. This will be done through the establishment of a Pacific organic learning farms network promoting agroecological practices, including agroforestry.
- The Kiwa Pebacc+ project, led by SPREP in Fiji, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna. The objective of this project is to develop, support and institutionalize an Ecosystem-based Approach (EbA) to climate change adaptation.
- The Kiwa Wish project, led by WCS in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. One of the main objectives of the project is to facilitate investment in Nature-based Solutions for safely managed drinking water, sanitation, and wastewater in high-risk watersheds.
Press contact : Ms. BANTEGNY Margot, Communication Officer, Kiwa Initiative Secretariat
Whatsapp : +687 859546