The Promoting Pacific Island Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) project is a significant initiative aimed at addressing the pressing environmental and societal challenges faced by Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Nature-based Solutions (NbS), defined as strategies that harness the power of ecosystems to adapt to and mitigate climate change, enhance food, and water security, and reduce disaster risks, are at the core of this project. This project, aligned with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's "Resilient Ecosystems for Climate Change Adaptation" (RECCA) Activity, is driven by the growing recognition that integrating NbS into regional and national development frameworks is essential. PICs, highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, have historically underutilized these solutions. The PPIN project aims to change this by promoting the development of NbS policy and legislation, building regional awareness and capacity, and strengthening cooperation among PICs on NbS. NbS will be integrated into existing regional platforms like the Pacific Resilience Partnership and the Pacific Roundtable for Nature Conservation through NbS technical working groups to advise members.

The objectives of the PPIN project are threefold. Firstly, it aims to develop NbS policy and legislation in PICs, filling a gap that currently hinders their effective implementation. Secondly, the project seeks to raise awareness and build capacity for NbS in the region. This will include targeted capacity-building programs and the establishment of Communities of Practice, where stakeholders in various sectors can engage in peer-to-peer learning. Thirdly, the PPIN project aims to foster regional cooperation on NbS. This will be achieved by integrating NbS into existing regional platforms and developing economic and policy positions that strengthen the case for NbS in the region. Furthermore, the project recognizes the importance of gender, equity, and social inclusion in NbS policy at all levels and respects and includes indigenous knowledge and practices in the Pacific as keys to unlocking the potential of NbS.

The PPIN project's vision is clear: "people and ecosystems in the Pacific benefit from the use of NbS to address societal challenges, including climate change, natural disasters, and food security challenges." Its overarching goal is that "people and ecosystems in the Pacific benefit from NbS to address environmental and societal challenges."

By 2030, the goal is for countries and communities to benefit from NbS actions and investments. In the medium term, by 2026 the project aims for NbS to be integrated into regional frameworks and national laws and policies, for key stakeholders to have increased knowledge and capacity to plan and implement NbS projects, and for NbS to be consistently applied across the region.

Budget

NZD 4.4M

Duration

31 Aug 2022 - 30 June 2026

Focus Countries

Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga