By Puaseiese A Pedro, Office of Prime Minister Tuvalu
With hope on the horizon, Pacific leaders are set to sign a historic treaty that will legally establish the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) in the coming weeks.
This landmark signing represents a significant step forward for communities grappling with the relentless impacts of climate change and loss and damage.
“Communities across the Pacific are feeling the direct effects of climate change, and this treaty is crucial,” said Ms. Finau Soqo, General Manager of the PRF. “It reflects our leaders' vision to scale up access to finance that genuinely addresses the needs of our communities.”
The PRF, envisioned as the first international financial institution owned by Pacific governments, aims to provide critical funding to enhance resilience against climate-related adversities.
This facility will offer two main pillars of support: ‘Climate and Disaster Resilience Grants’ for projects focused on climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and nature-based solutions; and ‘Social and Community Resilience Grants’ aimed at capacity building and strengthening institutional frameworks.
“What we are establishing is not just funding, it is a lifeline for communities. By empowering them, we are effectively working to minimize loss and damage together,” Ms. Soqo emphasised.
As the signing approaches, the PRF is preparing to engage closely with communities to ensure that their voices shape the funding and support they need.
“It’s about making finance accessible and simple,” she noted. “We are committed to listening and designing grants that reflect the real needs of our communities.”
With a current capitalization of $162 million and an additional $338 million anticipated, the PRF is on track to support tangible projects by 2027. This includes not only immediate disaster response efforts but also long-term infrastructure improvements to foster community resilience.
“Resilience is not just about building structures; it’s about ensuring that our communities thrive despite the challenges,” Ms. Soqo concluded. “As we move forward, let’s ensure no one is left behind.”
The upcoming treaty signing symbolises a new chapter in the Pacific’s fight against climate change, heralding the beginning of collaborative action to protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems alike.
The Pacific Climate Change Roundtable (PCCR), guided by the theme “1.5 to stay alive and thrive,” is taking place at Taumeasina Island Resort from 13-15 August. The PCCR is attended by Pacific governments, youths, civil society, academia, NGOs, and the private sector to engage collectively through the use of interactive activities to share their experiences amongst peers, bolster their networks and utilise the event to initiate new partnership opportunities.
The PCCR follows the Pacific Regional Loss and Damage Dialogue 2025 and the inaugural Pacific Youth Dialogue on Loss and Damage, at the same venue in Samoa.
This story was produced by the Pacific Media Team covering the meetings. Their attendance is made possible with funding support from the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity (LDCC) Project with the Government of New Zealand.