The GCF-funded UNEP US$49.9M programme focusses on interventions to make countries more resilient to climate change. It addresses existing root causes and barriers to sustainable climate information services and Multi Hazard Early Warning Systems in Palau, Niue, Tuvalu, Marshall and the Cooks that will safeguard their lives, livelihood and assets from climate-related hydrometeorological risks. The programme will provide a major boost for the observational networks run by the national meteorological and hydrological services in the five countries, filling data gaps that are of national, regional and global significance.

ClimateABILITY’s Director (in her former role as Director of PSS) and her team consulted stakeholders from across the five countries including government and private agencies, as well as NGOs, community groups, academic institutions and vulnerable groups (gender, youth and disability). Additionally, the team consulted key regional bodies such as NOAA, BoM, SPC, SPREP, NIWA, University of Hawaii and International Federation of Red Cross.

They also managed and worked closely with an economist and an environmental and social safeguards specialist who carried out the cost benefit analysis and ESS assessments respectively for the programme. Additionally, they performed the fiduciary assessment of the Executing Entity (either Ministry of Finance or national Project Management Unit) in the five countries.

This work involved the team developing a GCF project funding proposal and annexes which included detailed itemised budgets, Engineering Operation and Maintenance Plans for all technical equipment, Implementation Plans and Procurement Plans.

At its 27th Board meeting on 10 November 2020, GCF approved the submission of the programme.

UNEP’s press release can be found here: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/new-unep-programme-support-climate-resilience-pacific-islands