FIJI and Australia have launched a $FJD35 million initiative—the Fiji Climate Adaptation Programme (FCAP)—to combat the increasing threat of severe flooding.
While the initial efforts target the Nadi River catchment, the programme serves as a pilot for broader national strategies designed to mitigate the heavy economic toll of natural disasters.
Beyond immediate community support, the project includes long-term plans for major infrastructure like diversion channels and drainage improvements.
By shifting from reactive disaster response to proactive mitigation, both countries aim to secure Fiji’s economic stability and safeguard critical assets, such as the international airport.
Officiating the event earlier this month, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka highlighted that this initiative aligns closely with Fiji’s national climate priorities and reflects the strength of the Vuvale Partnership between Fiji and Australia.
“Under this programme, we will strengthen governance systems for water and flood management, improve early warning systems, and support communities to implement practical adaptation measures.
“Importantly, the programme will also support nature-based solutions and community-level resilience initiatives that empower local communities to respond effectively to climate risks,” he said.
Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Peter Roberts, said Nadi’s vibrancy and economic success are closely tied to its natural environment, while also highlighting the challenges posed by climate change.
“It is great to be in Nadi, which is such a vibrant community. A large part of that vibrancy and economic success is due to the river flowing through Nadi. But that also makes Nadi a significantly climate-exposed community.
“Here, when heavy rain falls, and the river rises, it brings a stark reminder: climate change is not a distant concern, but a daily reality. As nations in the Pacific, we share this experience, and we have seen how flooding has impacted our communities,” he said.
Roberts added the losses from floods and cyclones alone average around $FJD500 million each year—approximately five per cent of Fiji’s GDP—while events like Tropical Cyclone Winston have caused impacts equivalent to 20 per cent of GDP.
“Fiji and Australia already have a long history of working together to prepare for and respond to severe weather events. Most recently, through our partnership with the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Risk Management, Australian-provided emergency supplies were pre-positioned and distributed by the Fiji Government to communities that needed them most.
“That was great work, and we should all be proud of it. Now, our ambition is to go beyond responding to these events and work together to prevent and mitigate their impacts before they occur.”
These proposed works include the construction of protective flood infrastructure to safeguard homes, businesses, infrastructure, and critical national assets – including Fiji’s international airport.
They also include improvements to drainage systems and the development of a diversion channel designed to redirect excess water during major flood events.
As these infrastructure works continue to be designed, the Fiji Climate Adaptation Programme will commence in the Nadi Basin, delivering strengthened environmental management, upstream revegetation, improved water governance, and enhanced early warning systems to help communities better prepare for and respond to flood events.