The launch of the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance in Fiji represents a new context in which the Alliance is working to strengthen climate resilience. Through supporting and extending Early Warning Systems (EWS), leveraging Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and building disaster risk governance capacity, our work in the unique context of small island states in the Pacific will bring new challenges and opportunities for climate resilience.
Western Fiji is no stranger to the devastating impacts of floods. As climate change intensifies, these events may become more frequent or severe, threatening lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems. In 2024, the Fiji Red Cross Society and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched a new program designed to improve the climate resilience of communities in Fiji. Between 2024 and 2027, the program will target the communities living within the Province of Ba in the Western Division of Viti Levu Island.
The Alliance expands to new contexts
Formerly the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance, in 2024 the Alliance not only shifted from an exclusive focus on floods to a climate resilience approach but also expanded to new contexts in Fiji and other countries.
The context of climate risks and vulnerabilities is quite different and succinct for Fiji compared to other Alliance programs, which will help us better understand and address the needs in this Pacific Islands context. Globally, and often in international negotiations and dialogues like COP, the Fiji context is referred to as “Small Island Developing States”, or SIDS for short. However, given the realities particularly in the Pacific Region, many countries often prefer to use the more apt descriptor of “large ocean states”, highlighting the vast distances of the region.
Did you know that all the continents can fit into the water mass of the Pacific Ocean? This provides a vivid illustration of the size of the Pacific that comes with its own set of challenges, particularly regarding logistics and communication.
Our ambition for climate resilience in Fiji
We have a vision for a more resilient Fiji, a vision with a holistic approach that is about building communities, households and people to be better equipped, ready, and able to adapt to and improve the community lifestyle for the future.
Ragigia Dawai, Director General, Fiji Red Cross Society
At its core, the Alliance’s work in Fiji seeks to enhance EWS to ensure that communities receive timely and actionable information about flood risks. The focus is on more than deploying technology—it’s about creating systems that are accessible, contextually relevant, and locally led. The program also seeks to harness NbS by looking into activities such as restoring mangroves, protecting watersheds, and leveraging natural defences, the program is not only aiming to reduce flood impacts but also to provide co-benefits such as improved water quality, increased biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
Finally, the program places a strong focus on strengthening governance. By working closely with local councils, community leaders, and regional authorities, the initiative is building the capacity needed for long-term resilience, in Fiji and beyond. This approach ensures that decisions are inclusive and sustainable, empowering communities to take ownership of their resilience journey.
The integration of a “ridge-to-reef” mindset – understanding the dynamics and interconnectivity of human and natural systems from top to bottom – is a game-changer. The program aims to transform local actions into wider positive impacts through targeting deep sustainable changes and leveraging the subsequent impacts of these systems.
Thinking big towards regional scaling and impact
The program in Fiji will directly enhance the resilience of many communities but also has the ambition to achieve change at scale. As we continue to work hand-in-hand with communities in western Fiji, the lessons learned here may serve as a blueprint for addressing flood risks in other climate-vulnerable island countries across the Pacific.
The spirit of “Bula” — a warm, welcoming, and inclusive attitude — permeates every aspect of the initiative. This cultural touchstone not only strengthens community ties but also plays a crucial role in the resilience-building process. People are eager to work together, share knowledge, and take collective action to address the challenges posed by floods.
Francisco Ianni, Senior Officer, Flood Resilience, IFRC
The traditional approach of “Talanoa”, a Pacific term for a process of conversation, storytelling and decision-making, is more than simply dialogue, but is a building of relationship between stakeholders, which is very important and institutionalized across the Pacific. The Pacific Islands Forum is the highest level dialogue platform in the region whose vision is outlined in the Framework of Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP). This, coupled with the work currently ongoing in the Pacific through the Early Warning for All initiative where IFRC is the lead on ‘Preparedness of response to EWS’, provides opportunity for engagement beyond the work in Fiji itself, which can serve as a great opportunity for a scaled collaboration model with like-minded institutions and organizations.
What’s next?
Fiji’s resilience journey is being led by the strong steps taken by the Fiji Red Cross supported by the IFRC Delegation in Fiji (Pacific Islands Country Cluster), and they offer hope, innovation, and a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we prioritize sustainable change and put communities at the centre of climate action.
On the ground in 2025, the Alliance and its partners communities will implement the Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities (CRMC) tool to develop a deeper understanding of the resilience gaps and priorities in the target communities in the Province of Ba, and work with stakeholders to define demand-driven and impactful solutions. The beautiful Bula spirit — a reflection of unity, care, and collective action — is the heart of this program and inspiring action for a climate-resilient Fiji.
Learn more about our work in Fiji and keep updated on our progress here.