Climate-funded road upgrades roll out across Fiji under Duavata Partnership

Road upgrades across Fiji are now in progress, funded by climate finance secured through the Duavata Partnership between the Governments of Fiji and New Zealand.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment highlights that in November 2023, Fiji and New Zealand signed the Country Flexible Finance Partnership Arrangement, providing $27.6 million in budget support for climate principal projects.

They add these projects have a strong climate change response focus and directly support the implementation of Fiji’s Climate Change Act.

The funds were received in January 2024 and channelled through the national budget to Ministries and Agencies to deliver climate-resilient infrastructure and services across the country.

The Ministry stresses that across three financial years, five climate principal projects were supported in the 2023 to 2024 financial year, five projects in the 2024 to 2025 financial year, and 13 projects have been identified for the 2025 to 2026 financial year.

They further add that as part of this process, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, allocated $3.5 million to the Fiji Roads Authority in the 2024 to 2025 financial year to strengthen the climate resilience of key road infrastructure.

The Ministry states that of this amount, $2 million was used for capital upgrade works at several locations, including the South Coastal Road at the Holy Cross College frontage in Wairiki, the South Coastal Road at the South Taveuni Primary School frontage, Biana Road, Nabukelevu Road, and sections of roads in Sigatoka, Nadi, Ba, and Tavua.

The Ministry confirms that Minister for Climate Change and Environment, Lynda Tabuya as the Pacific Political Champion on Climate Finance will continue to advocate for climate finance that is accessible, flexible, and directly responsive to the needs of Pacific communities, such as the funding secured through the Duavata Partnership.

Tabuya says this is a clear example of how climate finance is being translated into practical improvements that protect communities, schools, and critical transport links from increasing climate impacts.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change continues to work closely with development partners and national agencies to ensure that climate finance delivers real benefits to the people of Fiji.