Increasing the resilience of informal urban settlements in Fiji that are highly vulnerable to climate change and disaster risks

The overall objective of the project is to increase the resilience of informal urban settlements in Fiji that are highly vulnerable to climate change and disaster risks.
This will be achieved by:
1. 1.Institutional strengthening for enhanced local climate response: o Reduce vulnerability at the city-level to climate-related hazards and threats with a particular view to community level resilience (AF Outcome 1)
2. Local (community/informal settlement) resilience strengthening: o Strengthen awareness and ownership of adaptation and climate risk reduction processes and capacity (AF Outcome 3)
3. Enhancing resilience of community level physical, natural and socio-economic assets and ecosystems: o Increase adaptive capacity with relevant development and natural resource sectors (AF Outcome 4) o Increase ecosystem resilience in response to climate change and variability-induced stress (AF Outcome 5)
4. Awareness raising, knowledge management and Communication: o Project implementation is fully transparent. All stakeholders are informed of products and results and have access to these for replication.D14

1.Institutional strengthening to enhance local climate response actions
1.1.1. City-wide (updated) risk and vulnerability assessment conducted for Lami, Sigatoka, Nadi and Lautoka.
1.1.2. Hazard maps produced
1.1.3. City-wide climate change action plans developed for Lami, Sigatoka, Nadi and Lautoka.28
1.1.4. Urban Planner / Resilience officer established.
2. Local (community/infor mal settlements) resilience strengthening
2.1.1. Assessment and planning tool for community vulnerability assessment and action planning developed.
2.1.2. Community-based climate vulnerability and informal settlements assessments, including hazard maps, conducted, in informal settlements in Lami, Sigatoka, Nadi and Lautoka.
2.1.3. Community-level resilience, recovery and upgrading plans developed in identified informal settlements.
2.1.4. Targeted population groups participating in adaptation and risk reduction assessment and awareness activities focused on (at least):
• Early warning systems needs assessment
• Gender sensitive safety audits
• Housing assessments and resilience training
• Environmental and eco-system management
• Community based environmental monitoring
2.1.5. Targeted household and community livelihood strategies strengthened in relation to climate change impacts, including variability, through:
• Training for resiliency skills (including for carpenters and other artisans)
• Training for women in business and financial management skills
• Investigation options for provision of affordable childcare
• Training in coastal zone/ecosystem management
• Strategy development for food security and sustainable agriculture
3. Enhancing resilience of community level physical, natural and social assets and ecosystems
3. 1.1. Physical, natural, and social assets and ecosystems developed or strengthened in response to climate change impacts, including variability based on identified and prioritized needs as articulated in the community resilience strategy with a consideration of the following national government sectors and options:
• Urban development and housing (e.g. resilient housing)
And secondary sectors:
• Communications and DRR (e.g. early warning system)
• Food security and sustainable agriculture sector (e.g. food diversification)
• Human health and welfare (e.g. mosquito exposure reduction)
• Marine and fisheries (e.g. ecosystem management)
• Waste and waste infrastructure (e.g. 3R)
• Water resources and infrastructure (e.g. resilient water supply, sanitation, etc.)
All adaptation options will seek mitigation co-benefits as well as up and downstream resilience, and generally environmental, social and economic co-benefits
4. Awareness raising, knowledge management and communication
4.1.1. Lessons learned and best practices regarding resilient urban community development/ housing are generated, captured and distributed to other communities, civil society, and policy-makers in government appropriate mechanisms.
4.1.2. Regional Advocacy and replication

1. Female-headed households:
• Present in three of the eight focus settlements.
• Women often solely manage household affairs, income, and care for children/elderly.
• Household income in female-headed households is often below the settlement average.
2. Economic challenges for women:
• Limited income opportunities and high time poverty.
• Many women work outside settlements, run home-based businesses, or do casual work.
• Need for income-generating opportunities near settlements to balance work and caregiving.
3. Vulnerability to risks:
• Increased risk of sexual assault due to poor settlement design (e.g., poorly lit pathways).
• Issues with access to water, sanitation, energy, education, and child care.
4. Opportunities for gender mainstreaming:
• Women-led neighborhood improvements via community savings groups.
• Access to affordable child care to support wage work.
• Small business training, mentoring, business licensing, and financial literacy programs for women.
5. Project approach for women:
• Ensure women’s participation in resilience planning.
• Target adaptation actions and resources to benefit women.
• Factor in cultural and social differences, including Indo-Fijian women’s specific constraints.

Project activities actively included vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and ethnic minorities.
Resilience Officers were established in four town councils to strengthen local capacity and coordination for climate resilience.
Vulnerability Assessment and Action Plans for targeted settlements were completed, providing a foundation for implementing resilience measures.
Strong community engagement throughout the assessment and planning process built trust and ownership among communities.
Completed activities have been delivered efficiently and on time.
Environmental and Social Safeguards and Gender Policy were applied comprehensively.
The establishment of Resilience Officers and participatory methods help ensure continued engagement, capacity building, and sustainability of results at the community and council levels.

• Locations involved in the project include:
- 6 settlements in Lami: Quaia, Wainiwokai, Kalekana, Wailekutu, Bilo, Vuniivi
- 2 settlements in Sigatoka: Vunikavika, Kulukulu
- 2 Settlements in Nadi: Korociri, Nawijikuma
- 6 settlements in Lautoka: California, Veidogo, Vunato, Navutu, Taiperia, Naqiroso"

• Promotes the use of climate-resilient housing technologies (low-cost, cyclone-resilient building designs and materials adapted for informal settlements).
• Introduces GIS mapping and risk assessment tools to identify settlement vulnerabilities and guide urban planning.
• Supports the transfer of urban resilience tools and methodologies from UN-Habitat and global partners to Fiji (for example, settlement upgrading models and disaster risk reduction frameworks).

• Builds local government capacity (Nadi, Lami, Lautoka, Sigatoka) in climate risk management and settlement upgrading.
• Strengthens community organizations (e.g., PCN, Habitat for Humanity) through training in participatory planning, disaster preparedness, how to tes and use early warning systems and climate adaptation strategies.
• Provides training workshops and knowledge-sharing platforms for stakeholders to enhance urban resilience planning.
• Enhances household-level skills in safe construction, maintenance, and adaptation of housing structures.