The Climate Finance Capacity Support Programme (CFCSP) has its sights firmly set on responsive and effective capacity support in 2025 as it solidifies partnerships with 15 Pacific countries. Building on the success of 2024, the CFCSP continues to work with partner governments as they deliver on their respective national climate priorities.
23 capacity support requests across 9 countries
Once Pacific governments identify the resources needed to progress climate priorities, the CFCSP works with relevant ministries or divisions to scope and budget roles, undertake recruitment and provide ongoing human resource management and delivery support to successful candidates.
Capacity support requests received are varied, reflecting the unique climate priorities of each country the CFCSP works with. This ability to respond to individual partner priorities and context while providing programme-wide support reflects the agility of the CFCSP design and implementing team.
Roles and expertise sourced through the CFCSP support a range of climate action. Several countries now have dedicated climate change specialists on hand and the resources needed to support international, regional and national engagement and coordination on climate action. Data analysts, vulnerability assessment, mitigation and adaptation officers are also in place in some countries, reinforcing department capabilities to assess climate project proposals, support project delivery and report on results. Other support includes engineering works, tourism projects and additional personnel to reinforce monitoring, reporting and verification capabilities.
At the end of March 2025, the CFCSP had filled 23 positions across 9 countries as per the below image.
Comprising longer-term roles within government departments and shorter-term advisory and technical support, over half of all positions filled to-date were done so through local labour markets, creating opportunities for Pacific personnel to pursue climate-related careers.
Country progress to date
While recruitment for another 27 positions across 10 countries was underway at the time of writing (31 March 2025) and further capacity support requests being worked through, CFCSP support is making inroads as its Pacific partners progress climate action.
Cook Islands
The CFCSP is supporting the Cook Islands Government to progress climate action across a range of areas, including renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, tourism, public financial management, policy and monitoring, evaluation, research and learning. Seven of 11 identified positions were filled at the end of March 2025, including engineering and renewable energy specialists, a tourism project lead, financial reporting and monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning expertise.
Federated States of Micronesia
As a means of sharing emissions plans and adaptation strategies, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are an important part of the work of the Federated States of Micronesia’s (FSM) Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECEM). In March and April 2025, the CFCSP supported NDC awareness and development workshops across each FSM state. Appointed as the CFCSP workshop facilitator, Mahendra Kumar worked with the Department to support discussions on the revised NDCs. Through the workshops, the FSM National Government has identified further resources needed to roll out the implementation of the NDCs across FSM and is working with the CFCSP to scope further support to achieve this.
Fiji
CFCSP support in Fiji is focused on capacity strengthening and access to technical expertise within the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. A Climate Adaptation Officer and a Climate Mitigation Officer, both Fijian appointments, are supporting the Climate Change Division respond to climate finance opportunities. A Climate Change Technical Adviser supports climate change policy development, planning and regulation within the ministry and with international engagement on climate issues, including support to Fiji’s representation at the Conference of the Parties and the Pacific region’s representation to the global Loss and Damage Fund Board.
Further support requests from Fiji are being finalised.
Niue
A Climate Change Coordinator and Climate Change Adviser were deployed to Niue’s Office of the Secretary of Government to support strategic policy advice, develop and implement key climate change policies and plans, and provide climate-related advice.
Palau
In March 2025, representatives from Palau’s Office of Climate Change sat down with CFCSP’s Stephen Boland to assess the progress of the partnership and adjust forward plans. Data analyst, Steve Moruri, was recruited through the CFCSP and has created a greenhouse gas emissions database to enhance monitoring and reporting. This database includes a visualised dashboard and allows the Office of Climate Change to support reporting and policy decisions.
The Office of Climate Change and CFCSP have prioritised further recruitment to support climate modelling, grant writing, implementation and mitigation.
Papua New Guinea
With a Climate Action Adviser in place, CFCSP’s support to Papua New Guinea is focused on scaling-up the Climate Change and Development Authority’s (CCDA) ability to drive national climate action. Early activities supported by the Climate Action Adviser included a needs assessment, which has allowed the CCDA to respond more effectively to discussions on funding opportunities with other development partners. A further 3 positions will be filled in coming months to strengthen the CCDA’s ability to coordinate climate action activities, including the implementation of the National REDD+ Safeguards Guidelines and the development of a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Manual.
Solomon Islands
The CFCSP recruited 3 officers for the Solomon Islands Climate Change Division, strengthening the Division’s resourcing. Two Integrated Vulnerability Assessment Officers are working on the development of and recommendations for climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for country-wide vulnerability assessments. A Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Officer was recruited to support implementation of an integrated measurement, reporting and verification software to optimise climate action data.
The CFCSP is also supporting the National Transport Fund meet its Green Climate Fund accreditation requirements, specifically the development of a Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion policy.
Recruitment for a further 3 roles is underway and further requests from the Solomon Islands Government are under discussion.
Tonga
Tonga identified 5 core positions for the Department of Climate Change’s Tonga Climate Change Fund – a long-term and self-sustaining climate financing mechanism supporting community-based climate change mitigation and adaptation programs. The CFCSP recruited a Fund Manager and Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Adviser to initially support and operationalise the Fund. Further positions will be recruited for in coming months, including support to the Tonga Statistics Department.
Tuvalu
At the request of the Climate Change Department (CDD) in Tuvalu, the CFCSP has started work on an organisational review of the Department and its role in implementing climate action. In March 2025, a two-person team from consulting firm Allen & Clarke visited Tuvalu to work with the Director of CCD and his staff. The team met with key stakeholders, primarily within government, to discuss CCD’s role and its broad responsibilities, and seek ideas about how best the Department can meet its mandate and implement Te Vaka Fenua o Tuvalu: National Climate Change Policy, 2021-2030 (Te Vaka). The consultation outcomes and other data will be reviewed, follow-up consultations held, and findings consolidated and reported back to the government. Implementation of any recommendations accepted by the government will be supported by the recruitment of an Institutional Strengthening Expert through the CFCSP.
A strong start to an important year
With 2025 representing the first full year of program implementation, the program’s first quarter progress sets the scene for a year of strengthened partnerships, capacity support in place and, most importantly, Pacific governments with the resources they identify as critical to their climate action in place.
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Feature image: Mary Tehekeni, Integrated Vulnerability Assessment Officer for the Solomon Islands Climate Change Division, working on a device.