May 2025
Summary Statement
Through support from the Climate Finance Capacity Support Programme (CFCSP), a Climate Mitigation Officer has been embedded in Fiji’s Climate Change Division (CCD) to drive national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The officer is strengthening project pipelines, leading data systems improvements and building institutional capacity to unlock climate finance. This cross-cutting role is instrumental in helping Fiji meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets and lay the groundwork for sustainable low-emissions development.
Context and Challenge
Fiji’s commitment to reducing emissions under the Climate Change Act (2021) and its NDC requires practical implementation of emissions reduction measures across energy, waste, transport and land use sectors. However, limited institutional capacity, fragmented data systems and a shortage of investment-ready projects have constrained progress.
Recognising these constraints, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) identified the need for targeted support, leading to the placement of a Climate Mitigation Officer within its Programme Development Unit (PDU) through the CFCSP. The officer’s mandate focuses on strengthening mitigation strategies, improving project development systems and coordinating stakeholder inputs to ensure proposals meet both national priorities and international finance standards.
Intervention and Responsibilities
Since July 2024, the Climate Mitigation Officer has developed project proposals that directly support Fiji’s mitigation goals, including the solarisation of Vuci Village in line with the country’s renewable energy targets. The officer has led the design and development of the Sector Integrity and National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Group (SINGG) proposal, which focuses on improving fluorinated gases data collection and addressing key data gaps identified in Fiji’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report. They have also played a lead role in scoping and drafting a Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness project for the Fiji Development Bank (FDB), aimed at building a strong pipeline of mitigation and adaptation projects and supporting the adoption of sustainable technologies. In addition, the officer has facilitated stakeholder consultations across government units, such as the Ozone Depleting Substances Unit and Climate Mitigation Unit, ensuring that proposals are aligned with both technical requirements and community needs. Throughout this work, the officer has prioritised the integration of gender and inclusion considerations, promoting balanced representation in consultation processes and project design.
Early Signs of Positive Change
Mitigation projects are steadily entering Fiji’s climate finance pipeline, with proposals spanning energy transition, sustainable agriculture and fluorinated gases management. As noted by the Mitigation Officer in a recent bi-monthly progress report, “The Vuci Village solarisation concept note has been submitted for assessment… in alignment with the government’s renewable energy targets.” This growing pipeline is the result of a more coordinated project development process with stronger connections to national mitigation priorities (both projects and reporting).
One key initiative, the SINGG project, addresses a longstanding gap in Fiji’s emissions reporting by targeting incomplete data on hydrofluorocarbon gases. The project proposal includes technical assistance and system reforms to help the country meet its reporting obligations under the Kigali Amendment.
Through the GCF Readiness project, the officer has also helped shape a strategy to engage the private sector in mitigation efforts, incorporating green technology fairs, sectoral consultations and support for the FDB Project Development Unit. In parallel, the officer is working closely with FDB and CCD staff to establish standard operating procedures, business plans and monitoring systems, directly contributing to the Government of Fiji’s outcomes of strengthening national systems to plan, access, and report on climate finance.
Why this Matters
This role is helping the Government of Fiji translate its high-level climate commitments and national policies into the practical delivery of emissions reductions on the ground. The Climate Mitigation Officer is strengthening Fiji’s ability to reduce delivery risks by improving data systems and refining project design, which in turn enhances the quality and bankability of proposals to meet climate finance requirements. They are improving national systems by introducing new procedures and tools to better manage the mitigation project pipeline and integrate greenhouse gas data into national planning processes. By working across government departments and engaging with community groups, the officer is helping ensure stronger coordination between mitigation, adaptation, and finance efforts, creating a more streamlined and coherent national response. Importantly, the role is also building long-term national capacity by mentoring local officers and helping establish permanent institutional structures, such as the FDB Project Development Unit, that will continue to deliver impact well into the future.
What’s Next
In the coming months, the Mitigation Officer will focus on several important projects. These include supporting FDB to strengthen its ability to access climate finance and develop new green projects, helping advance renewable energy work in the Yasawa Islands, and contributing to assessments on how climate change is affecting rice farming. The officer will also support improve on Fiji’s reporting on its greenhouse gas emissions to meet its international commitments.