Fiji is elevating its global position in disaster-resilient infrastructure, as demonstrated through a pivotal meeting between Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad and Ramesh Subramaniam, Global Director of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). This significant gathering took place during the 2025 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings.
The discussions reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to enhancing systems for disaster risk financing and climate resilience, particularly following the launch of the Fiji Disaster Risk Financing Report. Professor Prasad emphasized that developing nations are losing nearly 20 percent of annual infrastructure investment to disasters, which underscores the urgent necessity for concessional and grant-based support from international partners and multilateral banks.
Subramaniam praised Fiji’s leadership in the domain of disaster resilience and proposed that the government consider co-chairing the CDRI starting next year. Talks are also underway to establish a regional CDRI office in Suva, which would enhance Fiji’s role as a center for resilience and collaboration on infrastructure across the Pacific.
Furthermore, the Infrastructure Resilience and Island States (IRIS) program is set to launch its next funding round in November, opening avenues for Pacific nations to secure financing for infrastructure projects aimed at bolstering resilience. Professor Prasad is scheduled for high-level meetings with entities such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, aiming to mobilize funding for Fiji’s sustainable development agenda.
This progressive agenda is rooted in an ongoing commitment to disaster risk financing strategies, which have seen Fiji invest over $600 million in recovery and rehabilitation efforts over recent years. The government has also established standby concessional agreements with international partners, including a $72 million loan from Japan, and it employs instruments like the World Bank’s Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option to expedite funding upon disaster strikes.
In the face of increasingly frequent climate-related disasters, Fiji’s approach combines improved anticipation measures with robust financing mechanisms and on-the-ground projects, such as evacuation center upgrades and multi-hazard early warning systems. This holistic strategy aims not only to protect lives and vital services but also to foster a more resilient future for communities in a region perpetually challenged by climate risks.
Fiji’s commitment to integrate disaster risk and climate considerations into its fiscal planning not only sets a standard within the Pacific region but also reflects an optimistic pathway toward sustainable development and enhanced resilience against the growing challenges posed by climate change.