Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has been approved for its first technical assistance from the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) for the project “Capacity Building for Fiji on Climate Resilient Agriculture.” This significant milestone will provide USD 220,000 in technical support to the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways and its stakeholders over 12 months to enhance Fiji’s food production systems through climate-smart agriculture practices.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Mr. Andrew Tukana, welcomed the approval: “The approval of the project by the CTCN marks a significant milestone for Fiji’s agricultural sector. This collaboration embodies a shared vision for a sustainable future and demonstrates a commitment to fostering resilience and prosperity through innovative climate technologies and knowledge exchange. The Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, along with its stakeholders, eagerly anticipates the positive impact this project will have on enhancing food security and advancing climate-smart agricultural practices in Fiji.”

This project, developed by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s Climate Change Division, aims to address policy, awareness, and data management barriers within Fiji’s agriculture sector.

Dr. Sivendra Michael, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, emphasized its importance: “Adequately addressing climate change-related impacts necessitates a cross-sectoral and intersectoral approach. This technical assistance from CTCN will address gaps given the policy, awareness, and data management challenges currently facing the agricultural sector. The project also aims to update policies, provide training for ministry staff on climate resilient agriculture systems, emerging technologies, software, and drone data collection, and will also purchase and install a server for the ministry.”

The proposal was a collaborative effort between the Programme Development Unit of the Climate Change Division and the Department of Land Use Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways. The contributions of the Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser in identifying funding opportunities and supporting proposal development were instrumental in this process.

 About CTCN:

The CTCN is the operational arm of the Technology Mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and aims to promote the accelerated transfer of environmentally sound technologies for low carbon and climate-resilient development at the request of developing countries. The CTCN provides technology solutions, capacity building, and advice on policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks tailored to the needs of individual countries. It harnesses the expertise of a global network of technology companies and institutions to deliver its services. The CTCN consists of a coordinating entity located in UN City Copenhagen and a worldwide network of organizations that deliver services both virtually and actually.