Already facing the adverse impacts of climate change, Tonga is urgently working to adapt and respond while securing the nation’s future by setting-up the Pacific region’s first national fund focused on climate change.
Initially, the Government of Tonga approved the establishment of the Tonga Climate Change Trust Fund (T-CCTF) in 2011. The government then passed the Climate Change Fund Act in 2021, and the Climate Change Fund Regulations and the Climate Change Fund Operational Manual in 2024. Combined, these documents formalised the Tonga Climate Change Fund (TCCF) as a revolving, standalone fund.
The Climate Finance Capacity Support Programme (CFCSP), funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has partnered with the Government of Tonga to provide targeted capacity building and technical assistance for the Fund.
About the Tonga Climate Change Fund
The TCCF is managed by the Department of Climate Change within the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication (MEIDECC).
It is designed as a long-term and self-sustaining climate financing mechanism to support community-based climate change mitigation and adaptation programs and projects, whilst also increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change. In essence, this Fund addresses the climate resilience needs of the most vulnerable communities, groups and sectors in Tonga.
All climate finance received from public, private, multilateral and bilateral sources, including NZD8 million in climate flexible financing from New Zealand, is coordinated through the Fund.
By funnelling climate finance through a single mechanism, the Government of Tonga can allocate funding and ensure programs and activities are focused on Tonga’s climate change priorities as identified in the national climate change action plan and approved by Cabinet.
CFCSP provides capacity support to the TCCF
The Department of Climate Change requested CFCSP support to provide 5 core positions to manage the TCCF – a Fund Manager, Technical Officer, Procurement Officer, Investment Adviser and a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Adviser.
The CFCSP and the Department of Climate Change identified and appointed Mr Sione Fulivai as the Fund Manager in August 2024. Uniquely qualified for the role, Sione is a Tongan who played a role in the design of the Fund and has dedicated close to 20 years working on climate-related issues, both in Tonga and the Pacific Regional Office.
As the Fund Manager, I’m tasked with advocacy of the Fund to financing institutions and development partners, and to advise the TCCF Management Committee on the management of the Fund, including the investment options as well as building their capacity to access the Tonga Climate Change Fund.
- Sione Fulivai
The Department of Climate Change and the CFCSP also appointed Ms Helen Fonua, a Tongan resident with extensive international and national experience, as the Fund’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Adviser. Helen specialises in programme management and monitoring and evaluation, and will lead the development of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research Learning Framework for the Fund, ensuring alignment with national priorities. Helen will also focus on strengthening staff capacity and integrating gender equality, disability and social inclusion into all funded activities.
The CFCSP will support the Department of Climate Change with recruitment of the remaining positions in early 2025.
Why is the CFCSP’s support to the TCCF important?
As the Fund Manager, Sione has first-hand insight into the value of the support provided by the CFCSP:
“The Climate Finance Capacity Support Programme, you could say, has been a breath of fresh air for Tonga in terms of capacity supplementation to support operationalisation of the Tonga Climate Change Fund and assist in developing a more effective and efficient process.
When I talk about capacity supplementation, that is putting in place the supportive roles that are required to make sure that the delivery of funding from the Tonga Climate Change Fund is reaching the targeted recipients it should be reaching.”
As the TCCF is established, support provided by the CFCSP will ensure the Department of Climate Change can increase the financing of the Fund through advocacy and investment opportunities and while operationalising the Fund without drawing the Department’s resources away from other climate-related priorities.
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Feature image: Aerial view of Tonga.