Habitat for Humanity Fiji, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity New Zealand and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will be launching the new climate readiness program in June 2024.
The program aims to enhance household and community resilience by improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, water infrastructure, and housing through locally led workshops, helping residents adapt their homes and community structures to maintain economic, social, and cultural values.
“The Pacific Islands are living with the effects of climate change now,” says Alan Thorp, Group Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand.
“Homes, land, traditional ways of life, and livelihoods are under threat. Alongside our local partners, Habitat is looking forward to implementing our climate program in Fiji and Samoa so Pacific communities are able to adapt now, not react later.”
The US National Science Foundation reports that despite contributing just 0.03% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the small island states of the Pacific are confronting the brunt of climate change impacts, such as sea level rise, worsening cyclones and their subsequent effects, flooding, and other extreme weather events.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, which amplifies existing gender inequalities and poses unique threats to their livelihoods, health, and safety, therefore the program has a special focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
“We are aiming to have 50% of the participants in the workshops to include women, persons with disabilities and individuals’ part of the LGBTQIA+ community”, says Susan Naidu, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Fiji.
To prepare for these climate induced risks, Habitat’s programme upskills community participants in identifying hazard in their environment and supports them in planning and developing projects to minimise these risks. The programme also builds financial literacy to enable communities to manage resources to improve their housing and shelter.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has committed NZD $1.3 billion in climate finance for 2022–2025, of which Habitat New Zealand has been awarded NZD $1.94 million for an initial two-year programme.
Prior to 2024, Aotearoa New Zealand was already financially supporting climate action throughout the Pacific region through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The 2019–2022 commitment of NZ$300 million was delivered through the International Development Cooperation (IDC) programme, half of that ($150 million) through a dedicated Climate Change Programme.
