Enhancing direct Access to Climate Finance in Fiji [Phase 1]

The project supports Fiji's NDA, and two key entities in the climate finance space to strengthen their internal processes, external consultations and partnerships and capacities to identify, select and develop project pipelines. The two key entities are the Ministry of Economy (MoE) and the Fiji Development Bank (FDB). Recognising that these two institutions must work closely together to mobilise both the small and large investments needed and create an enabling environment for private sector to participate in mitigation and adaptation actions, the project will work with both entities to strengthen their ability to access climate finance and to create coordination mechanisms.

The proposed project seeks to complement the climate finance gap assessment and Country Programme development to support Fiji’s access to climate finance which is needed to implement the above climate related plans and policies that have been put in place over the past three years. The proposal will do this by supporting Fiji's NDA, and two key entities in the climate finance space to strengthen their internal processes, external consultations and partnerships and capacities to identify, select and develop project pipelines.

1. Establish a coordination mechanism to govern and coordinate climate action and finance and strengthen the capacity of the NDA – Climate Change Division (CCD) of the
Ministry of Economy – to take the lead role.
2. Prepare the Entity Work Programme of a national accredited direct access entity (DAE) – Fiji Development Bank (FDB) – aligned with the Country Programme which is being
developed this year with assistance from WRI - which aims to result in a number of project concept notes to be submitted to the GCF.
3. Nomination of the Ministry of Economy (MoE) as DAE and support in their submission of application for accreditation to the GCF and facilitate Stage I accreditation. This will
include carrying out gap assessment and preparing action plan for accreditation, followed by institutional and capacity building support, as required.
4. Institutional and capacity building support to accredited and nominated DAE – FDB and MoE – to ensure compliance policies and procedures are in-place and capacities to
manage, implement and oversee climate change projects and programs in line with the GCF fiduciary standards, environmental and social safeguards (ESS) and gender policy
are built.

The principle of gender-responsiveness is a specific call to ensure that all approaches and methods for adaptation and mitigation are guided by the consideration of gender issues, support improved gender-balance in both the decision-making processes and related implementation arrangements, promote gender-equity, and achieve outcomes which ensure that gender is a key consideration when programming finance and capacity building. This principle is articulated and adopted for all national plans and policies.