Kiwa Initiative: Pacific communities working with nature to find solutions to climate change

A new Nature-based Solutions (NbS) grant initiative was launched in March 2020 by the European Union, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to support climate change adaptation solutions in 19 countries in the Pacific countries and territories including the three French overseas territories. Local and regional projects are supported financially and technically by the Kiwa Initiative. IUCN Oceania is in charge of the implementation of the local projects component and has been working with national and local authorities, civil society, and NGOs to assist them to apply for very small, small and medium grants which ranges from 25,000 to 400,000 euros (FJ$ 61,000 to FJ$ 983,000). The grants will support their NbS for climate adaption projects to benefit local communities who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Where can I find initiatives that support NbS?

The Kiwa Initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of Pacific countries and territories’ ecosystems, economies and communities by setting up a simplified access to funding and technical assistance for projects that promote NbS. It will support projects that employ NbS to achieve climate change adaptation benefits that are rights-based, gender-sensitive and socially inclusive. Specifically, integrating climate adaptation into:

• Conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Enabling tools for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The Kiwa Initiative will build both local and national capacity, promotes approaches that foster dialogue amongst donors, regional organisations and countries and territories to improve development aid coordination.

“IUCN Oceania is grateful for this opportunity to be an implementing partner to the Kiwa Initiative to support our Pacific Island Countries and Territories in managing the very small, small and medium grants component of the Kiwa Initiative. IUCN will use best global best practices and the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, to design, implement, monitor and evaluate these project interventions to maximise impact at community level ”~ Mr Mason Smith, Regional Director of IUCN Oceania

“Today, climate change requires a change of paradigm. This guides us collectively within the Kiwa Initiative. Climate change needs a collective response. We do sincerely believe that the climate urgency calls for further coordination of aids and delivery. This is why France and the European Union have partnered for the first time with Canada, Australia and New Zealand to pool resources to adapt to climate change through Nature-based Solutions” ~ Ms Virginie Bleitrach, AFD Regional Director for the Pacific

“The European Union is proud to support the Kiwa Initiative because it particularly values its ambitious objectives, geographical scope and its unique partnership. The ambitious objectives of the Kiwa Initiative is to support Nature-based Solutions for climate resilience. It is totally in line with the European Green Deal which is the top priority of the European Union for the years to come and covers climate change, resilience, oceans, biodiversity and smart food systems” ~ H.E Sujiro Seam, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation for the Pacific.

What are the opportunities offered by the Kiwa Initiative?

• LOCAL PROJECTS - grants ranging from 25,000 to 400,000 euros (FJ$ 61,000 to FJ$ 983,000) - Managed by IUCN

• REGIONAL PROJECTS - grants ranging from 1.5 to 5 million euros (FJ$ 3.6 to FJ$ 12 million) - Managed by AFD with the support of the Kiwa Initiative Secretariat. SPC and SPREP provide technical assistance: capacity building, support for developing and implementing regional Kiwa projects

What do we mean by Nature-based Solutions?

Ever since IUCN coined the concept of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) a few years ago, IUCN has strived to make NbS more accessible, understood and approachable. As NbS become increasingly integrated into projects and programmes all over the world, IUCN will continue to build the tools and methodologies to guide its Members, governments and others in incorporating NbS concepts into their work. NbS are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. They are underpinned by benefits that flow from healthy ecosystems and target major challenges like climate change, disaster risk reduction, food and water security, health and are critical to economic development.

Addressing societal challenges

NbS are a powerful ally to address societal challenges. Seven societal challenges have been identified by IUCN.

As the world strives to emerge from the current pandemic and move towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it is imperative that future investments in nature reach their potential by contributing to the health and well-being of people and the planet. To this end and with growing interest from governments, business and civil society -- IUCN has developed the first-ever Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions to help users design, implement and verify NbS actions.

Why do we need a Global Standard?

Increased demand for NbS has led to cases of misuse of the concept, and even good intentions can result in harm to nature and people. In the worst-case scenarios, misuse runs the risk of damaging biodiversity and eroding the nature that we depend upon for services, such as clean water and food. For example, a tree-planting project using just one non-native species could result in poor soil biodiversity, ultimately making it more costly or impossible to sustain a diverse forest in the future. Similarly, restoring a mangrove forest to reduce the risk of storm damage could be doomed from the start if upstream and downstream processes are not considered. Lack of water use considerations in certain projects could lead to too much withdrawal, creating pressure on local communities. Failure to consider social and economic factors like these has meant that even seemingly successful pilot applications of NbS have ultimately not been sustainable. (Visit www.iucn.org/theme/nature-based-solutions)

What do Nature-based Solutions look like?

NbS uses the tools that nature already provides to address issues resulting from poor land or resource use, climate change or societal challenges. Solutions often enhance existing natural or man-made infrastructure and spur long-term economic, social and environmental benefits.

An example in Fiji is the ongoing project by IUCN Member, the Ministry of Waterways and Environment, along the coastlines of Namoli village in Lautoka. Mangroves were planted to act as a natural barrier from storm surges and impending sea level rise. Over a short period of time, drastic positive changes have been observed.

“Through this Nature-based Solution, we were able to assist the community of 800 people who are now safe from hazardous surges, have food security including coastline and properties protected. Multiple things in one solution! …Using conventional cement and concrete structures as a solution would cost about FJ$ 1 Million and take over a period of 6 months to complete. Implementing this NbS costed FJ$ 40,000 and took 4 to 6 weeks to complete. We can combat nature-based disasters using Nature-based Solutions.” ~ Mr Joshua Wycliffe, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Waterways and Environment

For more information, please visit www.kiwainitiative.org & www.iucn.org/oceania or email us on kiwainitiative@iucn.org