Scaling up the Soasoa drainage system, Fiji

The overall objective was for the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to be enhanced through comprehensive planning and scaled up infrastructure. The specific objective was for the implementation of prioritised flood control measures in the Soasoa catchment. The five key result areas were: (1) development of a watershed management plan (2020–2050) for the Soasoa drainage system; (2) preparation of a survey and detailed engineering design for the prioritised scaling-up measures for the Soasoa drainage system; (3) implementation of the prioritised scalingup measures for the Soasoa drainage system; (4) recruitment and employment of a national coordinator; and (5) training in a cost methodology for the NAP.

Output 1: Development of a watershed management plan (2020 - 2050) for Soasoa Drainage Scheme
Output 2: Preparation of a survey and detailed engineering design for scaling up aspects of the Soasoa levee and drainage system
Output 3: Implementation of the scaling up activities identified for the Soasoa Drainage Scheme.
Output 4: Recruitment and employment of a National Coordinator to be based in the Climate Change and International Cooperation Division in Fiji.
KRA 1: Development of a watershed management plan (2020-2050) for Soasoa Drainage System
1.1. Consultancy to prepare a watershed management plan for the Soasoa drainage
Catchment
- Community consultations;
- Data collection and analysis to include physical, hydrological, meteorological,
- climate projection, socio economic information;
- Preparation and review of the watershed management plan;
- Preparation of Catchment Management Implementation Plan
1.2 Seek endorsement by Cabinet for the Soasoa Watershed Management Plan
1.3 Preparation and delivery of a Communications Plan
KRA 2: Preparation of a survey and detailed engineering design for the prioritised
scaling up measures for the Soasoa drainage system
2.1 Topographical surveys of the prioritised areas
2.2 Preparation of design documents for the prioritised measures
2.3 Preparation of procurement documents
2.4 Environmental screening and preparation of EMP/EIA
KRA 3: Implementation of the prioritised scaling up measures for the Soasoa drainage
system
3.1 Construction of the floodgate
3.2 Construction the floodgate [replacement of flapgate]
3.3 Materials for raising of the levee by 0.2 m along the most vulnerable areas
3.4 Construction costs for raising the levee by 0.2 m along the most vulnerable areas
3.5 Upgrading of the spillway
3.6 Widening of channel
3.7 Project oversight.
KRA 4: Recruitment and employment of a National Coordinator
4.1 Recruitment and employment of a National Coordinator
4.2 Support funds for National Coordinator

Mainstreamed Gender and Social Inclusion through the “People-Centred Approach” (PLANET model):
The project adopted a People-Centred Approach, ensuring gender equality, human rights, and social inclusion were embedded in all activities.
• PLANET = Participation, Link to Rights, Accountability, Non-discrimination, Empowerment, and Transforming social norms.
• This framework guided planning, monitoring, and reporting for every country’s project component
Outcomes:
• Gender-aggregated data was systematically collected:
→ Total 9,782 participants engaged across all countries, 49% women and 51% men
• Women were actively involved in decision-making, training, and implementation, especially in water security and health projects.
• Activities specifically addressed the needs of women, youth, and vulnerable groups, particularly in atoll nations facing water insecurity (e.g., Tuvalu, Kiribati, FSM, Niue).
• Women participated in leadership and management training, technical maintenance of water systems, and community consultations for local adaptation planning.
• Awareness campaigns included gender-sensitive communication materials and school-based education to promote equitable adaptation practices.
• National gender focal points and ministries were consulted during project design and evaluations.
• The EU’s Results-Oriented Monitoring (ROM) review (2022) identified GCCA+ SUPA’s people-centred, gender-sensitive approach as a “Good Practice” example in the Pacific
Sector:
• Water Security: Women and girls trained on hygiene, water conservation, and operation of rainwater harvesting systems (Tuvalu, Niue).
• Health Sector: Women health officers trained to manage climate-sensitive health risks (Palau, Marshall Islands).
• Coastal Protection: Consultations included women fishers and community leaders (Fiji, Tonga).
Institutional Approach:
• All implementing partners (SPC, SPREP, USP) have gender and social inclusion policies, which were applied across project planning and reporting.
• Gender was included as a cross-cutting issue in project logical frameworks, impact analysis, and evaluations.

• Preparation of an integrated watershed management plan for the Soasoa, Vunivau, Basoga watershed and initial implementation of the plan.
• Provision of heavy equipment (an excavator and prime mover/low bed trailer) for the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways (MoAW) to undertake routine maintenance of the Soasoa drainage system and to respond rapidly and effectively to emergency situations in the watershed.
• Development of a costing methodology for climate change adaptation measures included in the Fiji National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and training for government agencies to prepare comparable cost estimates for the 160 measures included in the NAP.

The Fiji Soasoa drainage activities fit within the overall budget of EUR 500,000.
The overarching Global Climate Change Alliance Plus Scaling up Pacific Adaptation (GCCA+ SUPA) project is about scaling up climate change adaptation measures in specific sectors supported by knowledge management and capacity building. Funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and The University of the South Pacific (USP), in collaboration with the governments and peoples of 10 Pacific countries. Overall Objective: Enhance climate change adaptation and resilience in Pacific Island countries through scaled-up measures in key sectors (coastal protection, health, marine resources, water security), supported by capacity building, technology transfer, and knowledge management. The Specific Objective is to strengthen the implementation of sector-based, but integrated, climate change and disaster risk management strategies and plans.
GCCA+ SUPA:
• Total Project Budget: EUR 14.89 million
• Funding Period: 2019 – 2023 (4.5 years)
• Delegation Agreement Signed: 27 December 2018
• Implementation Period: January 2019 – 30 June 2023
• Closure Period: July – December 2023
• Current Status: Completed (Project officially closed in 2023)
• Geographic Coverage / Project Locations (10 Pacific Island Countries):
- Cook Islands – Marine resources sector (Aitutaki Marine Research Centre improvements)
- Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) – Water security and sanitation projects (rainwater harvesting, impact database)
- Fiji – Coastal protection and mainstreaming of climate adaptation into sectoral plans
- Kiribati – Water security improvements (household water harvesting and quality monitoring)
- Marshall Islands – Health sector (national health adaptation planning and communication systems)
- Nauru – Water sector (groundwater management and water harvesting systems)
- Niue – Water quality and rainwater harvesting systems, health adaptation
- Palau – Health and communication sector adaptation (Eco-Paradise FM upgrades, health resilience)
- Tonga – Coastal protection (engineering and community-based shoreline resilience)
- Tuvalu – Solar-powered desalination unit, WASH infrastructure and water security systems
Exchange Rates from Reserve Bank of Fiji on 01/12/2018 EUR - FJD 0.4080, FJD - USD 0.4669.

• Impact Analysis Methodology - Developed both “extended” and “light” versions for assessing and learning from previous climate adaptation projects. This analytical tool was trialed in five countries (Cook Islands, FSM, Fiji, Palau, and Tonga) and later shared region-wide through training sessions
• Solar-Powered Desalination Unit (Tuvalu) - The project supplied and trained Public Works Department engineers on the use, maintenance, and deployment of a solar-powered mobile 20m³/day desalination unit, designed to be shipped to outer islands during droughts
• Water Quality and Rainwater Harvesting Systems (Niue, FSM, Nauru) :
- Installed rainwater harvesting systems with filtration and pumps.
- Equipped Public Health Departments with water testing laboratories and trained staff on water quality analysis and safe shipment of infectious materials
- Provided pumps and maintenance tools to households for ongoing upkeep
• Broadcast & ICT Infrastructure (Palau) – Strengthened national communications technology, including upgrading national radio broadcasting capacity (Eco-Paradise FM) to improve outreach for climate information

For outputs 1 to 3 the project has engage different groups in the communities in the planning and implementation so that project ownership is promoted and awareness raising reaches everyone and not just a select few. Development of the watershed management plan (Output 1) will incorporate a people-centred approach and include ecosystem-based adaptation measures to ensure better rainfall runoff in the catchment Lessons drawn from current ecosystem-based adaptation approaches such as the use of the Vetiver grass for riparian vegetation and as erosion control will be implemented. It is envisaged that the benefits of the project will be equitable as the project is aimed at enhancing the adaptive capacity of the
beneficiaries through tangible on-the-ground interventions and capacity building.
• Capacity building was embedded across all three outputs, focusing on national institutions, local governments, and communities:
- Output 1 (SPREP): Strengthened strategic and technical capacity for national climate and disaster risk planning, including training on impact analysis and data use.
- Output 2 (USP): Enhanced local governance and decision-making, using participatory, gender-sensitive, and rights-based training frameworks.
- Output 3 (SPC): Delivered on-the-ground adaptation actions with training in construction, operation, and maintenance of climate-resilient infrastructure
• Formal and informal training activities:
- 9,782 individuals (49% women, 51% men) participated in trainings, consultations, and implementation activities
- Workshops in all 10 countries covered water management, engineering maintenance, finance procedures, gender inclusion, WASH, and impact analysis.
- Local contractors and engineers trained in water system installation and maintenance (FSM, Niue, Tuvalu, Nauru)
- School-based training – Teachers and students in Tuvalu trained in water conservation, hygiene, and maintenance of water systems
• Institutional capacity:
The project helped countries integrate adaptation planning into national systems and established maintenance agreements to ensure sustainability.
It also upskilled national coordinators during COVID-19 travel restrictions to take leadership in implementation