The launch of four new major projects by the Kiwa Initiative for pacific nations was announced recently at the 12th Steering Committee in Suva, Fiji last week aimed at addressing the impacts of climate change.

The aim of these projects is to strengthen climate resilience across the region, representing a significant expansion of nature-based solutions (NbS) for communities facing rising sea levels and environmental degradation, including the communities in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

PNG communities in New Ireland and East New Britain will be welcoming two of the three new regional projects.

The first, Kiwa cFISH, led by Multiplier/cChange seeks to expand community-based fisheries management. The €4.9 million project which will be spent over 3 years, will target PNG, the Solomon Islands, and French Polynesia.

In PNG, the project aims to ensure 40% of communities in New Ireland province

The second, Kiwa PRESERVE, led by WaterAid, aims at ensuring water and food security in PNG Samoa, and Timo-Leste. The project, costing €5 million, will take a holistic approach to address disruptions to the water cycle in the rural communities.

Through community by-laws, the project will support watershed protection, restoration of degraded slopes, and installation of bio-infiltration basins.

Designed to reduce erosion and protect traditional ways of life from the impact of climate crisis.

The Kiwa Initiative is a multi-donor program funded by France, European Union, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

It is managed by the Agence Française de Development (AFD) and builds resilience by protecting and restoring biodiversity. Kiwa operates by providing simplified access to funding for local governments and NGOs, currently supporting over 45 projects across the Pacific to help ecosystems and economies thrive.