Locations
The EW4All initiative, launched by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2022, aims to ensure that every person on Earth is protected by an early warning system by 2027.
Suva, Fiji: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved an unprecedented US$12.9 million in grant financing to scale up life-saving early warning systems in Fiji.
This support, as part of the UN Secretary-General’s Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, will ensure all Fijians, especially those in vulnerable and remote communities, have access to timely, reliable, and actionable information before climate-related disasters strike.
With this funding, Fiji joins Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Chad, Ecuador, Ethiopia, and Somalia in a US$103.2 million initiative that will directly benefit over 26 million people globally, especially those from marginalised communities.
As a nation susceptible to climate-induced disasters, the importance of early warning systems is not just essential, but urgent. Over the past decade, Fiji has faced more frequent and intense cyclones, causing widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods, as well as the loss of life.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) will lead the initiative in Fiji, in partnership with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, International Telecommunication Union, World Meteorological Organization, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, together with the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Fiji National Disaster Risk Management Office, Fiji Meteorological Service, and civil society organisations.
This is the first GCF project proposal to be developed and approved for Fiji.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Isoa Talemaibua, said that early warning systems both save lives and safeguard livelihoods.
“This initiative will empower our communities, especially the most vulnerable, to proactively respond before disaster strikes. It represents a crucial advancement in building national resilience and mitigating the socio-economic impacts of climate disasters.”
Munkhtuya Altangerel, UNDP Pacific Office Resident Representative, said:
“By combining Indigenous knowledge with advanced technology and collaborating closely with traditional leaders, women’s groups, and youth networks, this initiative will ensure that Fiji’s early warning systems are tailored to the unique needs of every community. This approach will not only save lives but also empower Fijians to take charge of their own safety and preparedness."
The EW4All initiative, launched by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2022, aims to ensure that every person on Earth is protected by an early warning system by 2027. It also directly supports the resilience-building priorities set out under the countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans and Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information contact:
Nick Turner | Strategic Communications and Advocacy Specialist, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji | nicholas.turner@undp.org
