Tonga has taken a major step forward in strengthening its climate resilience with the first governance meetings of the Tonga Coastal Resilience Project (TCRP), signaling strong national ownership and commitment to protecting vulnerable communities. The multi-stakeholder consultation on 26 November 2025, followed by the inaugural Project Board Meeting on 28 November, brought together national leaders, technical experts, and community representatives to chart a transformative path for climate adaptation.
Funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with a USD 23.9 million financing package, including co-financing from the Government of Tonga, the seven-year project (2024–2031) is implemented by the UN Development Programme in partnership with the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC). TCRP aims to safeguard coastal communities, strengthen climate risk information systems, and build long-term adaptive capacity across Tonga.
The consultation was hosted under the Joint National Action Plan (JNAP) Task Force, chaired by Ms. Luisa Tu‘i‘afitu Malolo, Director of Climate Change, ensuring climate-risk informed planning. The Project Board, co-chaired by Mr. Sione ‘Akau‘ola, CEO of MEIDECC, and Mr. Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov, UNDP Pacific Deputy Resident Representative, will provide strategic oversight and alignment with national priorities. Key ministries, civil society, youth representatives, and technical agencies participated, emphasizing a whole-of-society approach to resilience.
A technical highlight was the LiDAR re-survey led by Mr. Hervé Damlamian from the Pacific Community (SPC), updating outdated elevation data and expanding coverage to low-lying islands. This high-resolution coastal risk mapping will support evidence-based adaptation planning crucial for protecting communities from rising seas. Coastal expert Dr. Arthur Webb also presented designs for rock revetments and overtopping protection structures in Hahake, which will shield over 3,200 residents from erosion and flooding.
The Project Board endorsed the 2026 Annual Work Plan, unlocking progress across three key outputs: strengthened national dialogue and climate-risk informed planning, enhanced technical capacity for climate risk monitoring and data management, and the construction of coastal protection measures alongside knowledge-sharing initiatives. Implementation will be led by the Project Management Unit at the Department of Climate Change, under Ms. Afuafu Kautoke and Ms. Vea ‘Afa.
For Tonga, where climate change is an immediate reality, the TCRP is more than a project—it is a lifeline. By integrating science, infrastructure, and inclusive governance, the initiative will help communities withstand climate-related hazards and protect livelihoods for future generations.
The project also advances several Sustainable Development Goals, including climate action (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 14), life on land (SDG 15), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17), reflecting the Government of Tonga and UNDP’s shared commitment to long-term resilience.
