Project Context

Tuvalu is among the most climate-vulnerable countries on Earth. Composed of low-lying atolls, with its entire population living within metres of the shoreline, Tuvalu faces an existential threat from sea level rise, coastal flooding, and erosion. Funafuti, the capital, is at the centre of these pressures as the majority of the population is concentrated here. Its limited and low-lying land base leaves communities, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure highly exposed to coastal hazards.

To address these challenges, the Government of Tuvalu, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment, is working with the ADB to develop the Funafuti Climate Adaptation and Disaster Resilience Infrastructure Project. The project will strengthen resilience through coastal land protection and reclamation, lagoon ecosystem restoration, and the strengthening of community disaster risk reduction and marine-based livelihoods. It will form a key contribution to the broader Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project program and serve as a practical climate adaptation model for other low-lying small island developing states.

ICEM, in partnership with eCoast and C₂O Pacific, has been engaged to design all project outputs and undertake the required due diligence for ADB and Government approval.

Objectives

The technical assistance aims to:

• Design a comprehensive, investment-ready climate adaptation and disaster resilience infrastructure project for Funafuti, covering coastal protection, lagoon ecosystem restoration, community livelihood strengthening, and supporting utility infrastructure.
• Complete all ADB due diligence requirements, including economic, financial, environmental, and social safeguards analysis, to prepare the project for formal approval and implementation.