Tonga Hosts Innovative Climate Finance Readiness Writeshop to Enhance Climate Resilience

March 7, 2025
Nuku’alofa, Tonga

The Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), in collaboration with the Pacific Community (SPC), successfully conducted Tonga’s first Climate Finance Readiness Writeshop from March 4-6, 2025, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s climate resilience strategy.

The three-day intensive workshop gathered key representatives from Government Line Ministries, Tonga Development Bank, NGOs, and civil society organizations to build capacity in accessing and effectively managing climate-related funding.

“This writeshop represents more than a training event—it’s a strategic investment in Tonga’s ability to secure and utilize climate finance effectively,” said Ms. Lu’isa Tu’i’afitu Malolo, Director for the Department of Climate Change. “By bringing together stakeholders from across different sectors, we’re developing a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to climate resilience.”

Participants focused on three primary objectives throughout the workshop:

1. Exploring the landscape of climate finance opportunities and identifying potential funding sources
2. Developing robust funding proposals for critical climate initiatives
3. Strengthening the operational capacity of the Tonga Climate Change Fund (TCCF)

In a powerful demonstration of hands-on climate action, participants and facilitators visited the Sopu coastal area on the second day of the workshop, where they actively participated in mangrove replanting efforts. The group planted and replanted mangroves to mark the writeshop, demonstrating their commitment to nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. This field activity highlighted the practical applications of climate finance in supporting natural coastal defense systems that protect vulnerable shorelines from sea-level rise and storm surges.

The writeshop culminated with the completion and validation of a climate change proposal intended for submission to the Adaptation Fund, led by Mr. Dirk from the SPC team. This collaborative effort demonstrates Tonga’s proactive approach to accessing international climate finance mechanisms.

Ms. Elsie Fukofuka, Country Manager in Tonga for SPC, emphasized the importance of building local capacity: “This writeshop empowers Tongan officials and stakeholders to develop compelling funding applications that address the unique climate challenges faced by small island nations.”

As global climate challenges intensify, Tonga’s proactive approach to climate finance serves as a model for other vulnerable nations seeking to strengthen their resilience through strategic financial planning and capacity building.