BY LORETTA B MANELE
The establishment of the Pacific Resilient Facility is vital thus, the focus now pivots towards sustainable ground investment, says Rex Ramofafia, Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC).
He stressed this whilst delivering opening remarks at a Side Event of the 54th PIF Meeting called, “Unpacking Resilience-Strengthening Systems, Capacities and Practical Solutions” on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
The Pacific Resilience Facility which was signed by 54th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 is to help people in the Pacific who are the most vulnerable to risks of climate change and disaster.
Ramofafia said our focus now pivots towards ground investment.
“We must channel climate and disaster risk financing into projects that build adaptive capacity, protect lives, safeguard livelihoods and create pathways to prosperity,” he said.
Ramofafia also stated that they must also move from financing resilience in theory to building it in concrete reality, especially in rural areas.
The minister gave three important key messages.
Speaking on the first one, he pointed out that mainstream resilience is not a choice but a necessity.
“Our national and sectoral planning and budget cycle are the most critical windows for this integration,” said Ramofafia.
Second to this, he said we must invest in data inclusive community engagement.
“This ensures our planning and resources allocation is driven by sound evidence, allowing us to anticipate and respond to risk proactively,” said Ramofafia.
The third key message he stressed on is that regional platforms like the Pacific Resilient Facility must be leveraged to mobilise climate resilient risk financing that is bound to our unique context and specific need of national system.
The Minister noted that the Side Event is a shared space to learn and discuss common challenges.
“This event is a shared space for our peer learning, a place to discuss our common challenges and to share the innovative approach we are developing to strengthen our resilience and secure a prosperous future,” he said.
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