Australia is investing FJ$35 million between 2026 and 2029 to support Fiji’s efforts to reduce flood risks and strengthen climate resilience.
This has been announced by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during the launch of the Fiji Climate Adaptation Programme at the Fiji Culture Village in Nadi, where he describes the initiative as a major step forward in safeguarding communities, the economy and future generations from the growing impacts of climate change.
Rabuka highlights that Nadi remains one of the country’s most flood-prone areas, with repeated flooding events over the years disrupting livelihoods, damaging infrastructure and placing significant strain on families and businesses.
He stresses that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present reality, with Fiji continuing to face more severe cyclones, rising sea levels and increasingly intense rainfall patterns.
He says floods and cyclones account for the majority of disasters affecting the country, often hitting vulnerable groups the hardest.
The Prime Minister says the Fiji Climate Adaptation Programme, supported by the Australian Government, will focus on strengthening water and flood management systems, improving early warning mechanisms and supporting communities to implement practical adaptation measures.
The programme will also promote nature-based solutions and community-level resilience initiatives, with initial work to be carried out in the Nadi River catchment before being expanded to other flood-prone areas.
Rabuka also pointed to the long-awaited Nadi Flood Alleviation Project as part of a broader effort to address one of Fiji’s most persistent climate challenges.
He says the Coalition Government endorsed the project in 2024 and is working with Australia and Japan to identify suitable infrastructure solutions.
These include potential flood protection works, drainage improvements and the development of diversion channels to redirect excess water during major flood events.
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