Project Description

Project Background:

Fiji, an island nation highly vulnerable to climate change, faces increasing threats from rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and frequent flooding. These challenges endanger communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems, prompting the Government of Fiji (GOF) to take decisive action.

The GOF, in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has developed 5-year and 20-year National Development Plans. These plans are designed to ensure sustainable and climate-resilient development, with a key focus on the 2018 National Adaptation Plan.

• Integrating ecosystem-based adaptation measures into coastal infrastructure, such as rock revetments and riverbanks, alongside mangrove planting.
• Implementing coastal protection initiatives that combine nature-based solutions with hard infrastructure.

The GOF has sought support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to implement climate adaptation measures in vulnerable coastal communities, aiming to reduce the impacts of coastal erosion and flooding. This approach combines engineering solutions with nature-based methods to create a resilient coastal defence system. The GOF also aims to enhance regional cooperation by sharing innovative practices and knowledge in coastal protection.

As part of the project, ICEM will provide the following services:

Component 1: Assessment of Implementation Capacity

• Institutional capacity and training needs assessment
• Strategic procurement planning
• Financial management assessment, funds flow arrangement, financial reporting and auditing
• Risk assessment

Component 2: Preparation of the Project Design

• Desktop review of all existing documentation to develop an understanding of the project scope and prepare an approach to identify data/information needs and streamline methodology
• Sector assessment, including institutional analysis and policy matrix
• Climate risk assessment
• Project appraisal
• Detailed implementation plan and other inputs for the Project Administration Manual

Component 3: Compliance with Environmental and Social Safeguards

• Environmental and social impact assessment, including a baseline assessment and identification of baseline data gaps. Baseline data will include water quality, marine sediment transport, coastal processes, geological and hydrological conditions, meteorological conditions and seasonal variations, biological environment (e.g., major habitat types and extent of habitat), marine and coastal ecology, waste management, land use, socio-economic information, and physical cultural heritage resources
• Safeguard screening and categorizations
• Poverty, social, gender impact assessment survey
• Gender assessment and action plan and social mitigation plans
• Initial Environmental and Social Examination (IESEs, EMP)