Cook Islands
Support provided to the Cook Islands illustrates the scope and flexibility of the Climate Finance Capacity Support Programme. Our support includes technical specialists to strengthen policy and project design in the energy, transport, water security and tourism sectors. We are also supporting the strengthening of critical cross-government processes such as public financial management, climate risk assessments, accessing climate finance, and monitoring and reporting. Collectively, this will assist the Cook Islands to scale-up its current climate-related work and build climate resilience.
The Cook Islands is also a recipient of New Zealand’s Country Flexible Finance, with NZD24 million in climate finance provided as budget support that the Cook Islands Government can allocate to their climate action priorities.
CFCSP support in the Cook Islands
Financial Reporting Specialist, Cook Islands Treasury Management Division
Nicholas Carter is a Financial Reporting Specialist at the Cook Islands Treasury Management Division within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management. Nicholas’ role will strengthen public financial management systems to manage current and future climate financing to support well-funded and transparent climate action efforts.
Senior monitoring, evaluation, research and learning specialist, major project and procurement support division
Ingrid van Aalst is a Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Specialist with the Cook Islands Major Project and Procurement Support (MPPS) Division within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management. Ingrid and the MPPS team are streamlining and strengthening the Cook Islands Government’s activity management system, Tarai Vaka Process.
Responsible tourism project lead, project management unit
Lisa Sadaraka is the Responsible Tourism Project Lead for the Project Management Unit, which is closely aligned to the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation. Working on the development and implementation of a Destination Stewardship Plan and a quality assurance certification prorgamme, Lisa plays a key role in the Corporation’s commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism in the Cook Islands.
Lead Consultant, Cook Islands Tourism Corporation
David Ermen is the Lead Consultant for the Destination Stewardship Plan with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation. Supporting the development of a comprehensive and integrated destination stewardship plan, David’s role supports the facilitation of the plan, alongside providing strategic and operational expertise for the project.
Structural Engineer, Cook Islands Investment Corporation
In 2025, New Zealand-based engineering consultancy, Beca, was contracted to support the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) with detailed structural assessments of health facilities and develop a practical methodology and tools for ongoing climate risk infrastructure assessments. These were designed to ensure they could be implemented by the CIIC and other Cook Islands’ agencies to complete future assessments.
Energy Policy and Climate Change Specialist, Office of the Prime Minister
Nicole Baker and Martin Garrood from Hope Road Consulting are supporting the Cook Islands’ Office of the Prime Minister with the preparation and development of a National Energy Sector Policy and Strategy. A review of the energy sector and analysis of current legislation and energy projects, and policy development will ensure strengthened climate action in the Cook Islands.
CFCSP Cook Islands updates
