Climate Change and Disaster Risk Finance: ISACC project strengthens institutions in Tuvalu to access and manage climate finance

Media plays key role in region’s finance reforms

^{By ILIESA TORA of Nuku’alofa Times.}

^{26 June 2019, Sigatoka, Fiji (Enviro News): Climate Change and climate financing discussions and planning must include the media, a regional climate finance and public management adviser told the media here in Sigatoka, Fiji this morning.Mr Aholotu Palu who is part of the Climate Change Finance Readiness Project being implemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and supported by GIZ, told the media at the Regional Climate and Disaster Risk Finance Forum at the Shangri-la’s Fijian Resort that he would like to see the recognition of the media as an element in pushing changes and reforms at  country levels.}

Improving climate finance makes for more resilient Pacific

^{By Seneti Popua ‘Aho of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission.}

^{26 June 2019, Sigatoka, Fiji – The Pacific Islands are directly impacted by climate change, but much of the foreign funds intended for combating climate change are difficult for Pacific island countries to directly access, and if funds are accessed, the complexity of the required reporting can prove too difficult to effectively manage.}

Role of Pacific Media in Communicating Information Vital

^{June 24, Sigatoka, Fiji – Understanding how and where money is being spent to fight the impact of climate change in the Pacific is at the core of a Pacific Media Masterclass being held this week. Climate finance is critical for Pacific countries as it helps stem the impact of climate change and helps protect the lives and livelihoods of Pacific people. Supporting Pacific media to understand how it works, where funding comes from and how to understand what is being done in their countries helps ensure a more open and transparent environment.} 

System reforms must be demand driven, not supply driven

^{By ILIESA TORA of Nuku’alofa Times.}

^{26 June 2019, Sigatoka, Fiji – Pacific Island countries should reform their Public Finance Management Systems (PFMS) for their own good and not just to meet requirements to access Climate Financing only, the Regional Climate and Disaster Risk Finance Forum in Sigatoka, Fiji heard this morning.Cook Islands’ Chief Executive Officer at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management Garth Henderson said this was important to ensure that PFMS are owned by countries and can be sustained over time.}

Pacific island countries need credible and robust Public Finance Management (PFM) systems

^{BY JARED KOLI, Journalism Student, University of the South Pacific}

^{26 June 2019, Sigatoka, Fiji – Pacific island countries need to have credible and robust Public Finance Management (PFM) systems to meet climate finance fiduciary requirements. Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Climate and Finance Public Finance Management Adviser, Mr ‘Aholotu Palu stressed that national climate finance mechanisms in Pacific Island states need further improvement, engagement and coordination with line ministries to augment institutional strengthening.}

Tuvalu encourages donors to channel funding assistance through the Ministry of Finance

^{By Puaseiese Pedro of Tuvalu Broadcasting Corporation.}

^{26 June 2019, Sigatoka, Fiji – Every Tuvaluan that sits in or attends regional or international conferences is encouraged to point out to donors that funding assistance must go through the Tuvalu’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. This was strongly emphasised by Ms Silati Tofuola Filiake, the representative from the Planning, Budget and Aid Coordination Unit within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development of the Tuvalu government at the Regional Climate and Disaster Risk Finance Forum currently underway in Sigatoka, Fiji.} 

Pacific's accessibility to climate finance still inadequate: Palu

^{BY ANITA ROBERTS of Vanuatu Daily Post}

^{June 26, 2019, Sigatoka, Fiji - The Pacific's accessibility to climate finance is still inadequate despite availability of funds, the Climate Finance and Public Financial Management (PFM) Advisor of GIZ, Mr Aholotu Palu, said during the opening of the second Regional Climate Finance Meeting. Mr Palu revealed that the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Finance assessment (CCDRF), guided by the Pacific Climate Finance Assessment Framework (PCCFA) conducted in 11 Pacific countries found that these countries received an estimated US$1.5 billion for climate change and disaster related activities in the past six years.}

ISACC project strengthens institutions in Tuvalu to access and manage climate finance

^{BY PUASEI’ESE PEDRO of Tuvalu Broadcasting Corporation}

^{26 June 2019, Sigatoka, Fiji – The Institutional Strengthening in Pacific island Countries to adapt to Climate Change (ISACC) project is assisting Tuvaluan practitioners who are engaged with climate change related projects. Ms. Susan Tupulaga, National Coordinator of the ISACC project in Tuvalu, said that although Tuvalu does not receive direct funding from ISACC, it receives benefits in other ways which assist to implement projects on the ground.}