More than 800,000 people in the Pacific to benefit from USAID climate resilient and adaptation project

More than 800,000 people in the Pacific including Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu will benefit from the USAID climate resilience and adaptation project.

This was highlighted by the US Agency for International Development’s Pacific Mission Director Zema Semunegas during their wrap up event at Grand Pacific Hotel.

She also highlighted that over the last seven years, the climate-ready project has facilitated support to Pacific island countries, boosting resilience against the region’s greatest threat climate change to improve access to international finance and strengthen local adaptation capacity.

The Mission Director further says the USD$562 million funding for climate resilient activities will facilitate the development of 19 climate change adaptation policies, plans and strategies, promote the accreditation of national and regional entities, foster preparation and submission of 86 project proposals for adaptation activities in areas including health, food security, water security and biodiversity.

She further says the new project is anticipated to roll out in the first half of 2024.

Meanwhile, USAID Climate Ready Chief of Party, Trevor Ole says climate change impact tends to be felt most by those at a disadvantage like rural women, the poor and people living with disabilities, mainly because they have limited access to resources, opportunities and decision-making power where they find themselves facing the additional pressures of a harmfully changing climate issues.