Enhancing Climate Adaptation through scaling up Fiji’s coastal inundation forecasting early warning system

The overall goal of this project is to enhance Fiji’s capacity to prepare for and respond to natural hazards induced from climate change, through scaling up its coastal inundation forecasting early warning system. The project will strengthen capacity of forecasting competencies at an institutional level. Furthermore, the project will build resilience of communities-a-risk and industries by the coasts. The goal of this project will be achieved through the following objectives:
• Enhance forecasting models and extend coastal inundation models to other key parts of Fiji ensuring early
warnings for all major towns/villages.
• Integrate impact-based forecasting and multi-hazard early warning systems into the operations of FMS
• Streamline forecasting systems into a single interoperable system
• Create hazard risk mapping of coastal areas on central forecast geo-server
• Enhance public awareness on coastal inundation forecasting EWS, impact-based forecasting products and
hazard risk maps.
• Build a data archive of meteorological hazards for coastal/marine events and their impacts
• Strengthen sectoral partnerships between government agencies, industries and NGOs.

1. Identifying and assessing institutional and community capacity, state of infrastructure, communication platforms for coastal inundation adapt
1.1 Comprehensive assessment of the extent and level achieved, sustained and expanded from CIFDP since 2019
2. Expanding the forecast systems from CIFDP-F to other key parts of Fiji and upgrading the forecasting systems
2.1 A streamlined and enhanced early warning system (CIF EWS) for coastal inundation that is impact-based, expanded to cover additional key coastal inundation-prone areas of Fiji
3. Assessing and mapping the risk of coastal inundation hazards
3.1 Hazard risk maps highlighting high risk areas for inundation from swell, storm surge and river flooding adapted for use in impact-based forecasting (IBF)
3.2 Communities at risk and government institutions have access and are trained to interpret the hazard risk map
4. Establishing a data archive of meteorological hazards for coastal/marine events and their impacts
4.1 Centralized catalogue of meteorological events including marine/ coastal hazards, and related impacts
4.2 Database of meteorological and oceanographic observations
4.3 FMS staff trained to monitor and manage the event catalogue and metocean database
5. Enhancing and streamlining communication with stakeholders and communities-at-risk
5.1 End-users including the social groups with special needs have access to tailor-made products and channels to give feedback on the products
5.2 Sector-specific CIF-EWS forecast products are developed and used by various end users including the industries
5.3 Public awareness of coastal inundation is enhanced
6. Strengthening cross-sectoral partnerships with institutions and NGOs
6.1 Strengthened partnerships with government agencies and NGOs
6.2 Arrangement of data sharing system between sectors

The proposed project will improve gender equity and women's empowerment through a tool developed by WMO: Training Manual for Gender Mainstreaming in End-to-End Early Warning System for Floods and Integrated Drought Management through a Participatory Design Approach. Further in compliance with Adaptation Fund Gender Policy, Gender Action Plan will be developed. This will increase the participation of women, girls and other vulnerable groups in flood and drought management activities and decision-making processes.
Women's participation in disaster preparedness and decision-making is often limited due to cultural and social norms. There is therefore a risk that negative effects are expected to be experienced disproportionately by women compared to men, and that women will not benefit equally from the proposed adaptation measures and capacity development interventions. Participatory planning of activities will ensure that women and representatives of women's groups are well represented.

Endorsed concept

For the inundation mapping based on the storm surge model, Viti Levu was covered under CIFDP. With the expansion of scope in DEM data, the islands of Vanua Levu, Kadavu and Taveuni are the primary targets of the expansion of the storm surge inundation mapping.
- This project promotes innovative technical and social solutions to climate adaptation, adopting regionally new technologies and socially inclusive approaches to build resilience of communities-at risk. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in its Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems: A Checklist, notes that effective “end-to-end” and “ eo le-centered” early arning systems may include our interrelated key elements
1) disaster risk knowledge based on the systematic collection of data and disaster risk assessments;
2) detection, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of the hazards and possible consequences;
3) dissemination and communication, by an official source, of authoritative, timely, accurate and actionable warnings and associated information on likelihood and impact; and
4) preparedness at all levels to respond to the warnings received.
These four interrelated components need to be coordinated within and across sectors and multiple levels for the system to work effectively and to include a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement.

• The project scales up the Coastal Inundation Forecasting Early Warning System (CIF-EWS).
• Introduces regionally new forecasting technologies, including LiDAR surveys, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) mapping, high-performance computing (HPC), and satellite-based systems for data integration.
• Transfers forecasting tools and operational technology from international partners (e.g., Japan Meteorological Agency, Korea Meteorological Administration, WMO).

• Extensive training programs for FMS forecasters (including female forecasters).
• Workshops for communities, schools, and vulnerable groups on interpreting forecasts and hazard maps.
• Awareness programs for youth, people with disabilities, and indigenous communities integrating traditional knowledge.
• Establishment of a knowledge management system and database for hazard data and forecasting information.
• Long-term advisory support for sustaining EWS operations.