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Coastal Resilience Project in Tonga

Coastal scene
Coastal Resilience Project in Tonga

Photo:

Marie Tomova/UNDP

For western South-Pacific islands including Tonga, climate change is expected to bring more heavy rainfall events and severe tropical cyclones and extreme sea level events, which will require adaptation for people, infrastructure and coastal ecosystems.

Currently, changes in rainfall patterns have resulted in almost-annual flood events that damage major assets and threaten livelihoods. Categories 4 and 5 tropical cyclones are increasing as a proportion of all cyclones and are severely impacting infrastructure. Rising sea levels will continue to drive an increase in the frequency of coastal inundation with the small island developing state facing a potential long-term threat from permanent inundation in coastal zones and across low-lying islands, as well as wave-driven flooding. Some studies have suggested significant displacement of communities.

In combination with potential tectonic disturbances and cyclone activity, the risk to Tonga’s communities of coastal submergence and wave inundation is among the highest in the world.

Implemented by UNDP and the Government of Tonga, this 7-year project (2025-2032) aims to build the long-term resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to the direct impacts of climate change and build transformative adaptation capacities through strategic infrastructure work, long-term climate risk informed adaptation planning, and engagement on long-term adaptation solutions.

The approach involves three interrelated outputs addressing key policy/regulatory, institutional and implementation/resourcing issues. Notably, the project will adopt a participatory, bottom-up development planning approach (including community development plans, district plans and island strategic plans) to link development and spatial planning / land use management. 

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    SDG 11
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    SDG 13
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    SDG 17
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Expected outcomes

Output 1: Strengthened knowledge, capacity and engagement for incorporating climate risks into long-term adaptation planning  supported through a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder engagement and dialogue platform

Output 2: Strengthened national and local capacities for effective monitoring and assessment of climate risks

Output 3 Reduced vulnerabilities of coastal communities in Hahake to climate hazards through coastal protection measures

Project details

Levels of intervention

  • Community
  • District
  • National

Source of funds

  • Green Climate Fund

Key implementers

  • National Governments
  • Non-Governmental Organizations
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Funding amounts

Total financing $US23,919,409 (GCF grant $22,656,409 + co-finance)
Co-financing: $1.2 million (Tongan Ministry of Finance)

Project partners

  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • Green Climate Fund
  • Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Tonga