TUVALU

Context

Climate vulnerabilities: Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world with a population of around 11,000 and a land area of 25.9 km2. Like other Pacific Island countries, Tuvalu faces a unique set of development challenges due to its small size, remoteness and narrow production and export bases. While these challenges remain, the risk from climate change threatens Tuvalu’s very existence. As a small island developing state, Tuvalu faces being submerged due to rising sea levels, coastal erosion and increasingly frequent natural disasters. Made up of nine tiny islands, two of which are close to being submerged due to rising water levels and coastal erosion.

National response: Climate change has been identified by the Government of Tuvalu and the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders as the greatest threat facing this and other small island countries. Communities in Tuvalu are battling climate change on multiple fronts, such as coastal erosion, soil salinization, reduced fish habitats due to ocean acidification, coral bleaching, rising sea water levels and increasing extreme climate events like typhoons and wave surges.

TUVALU

Tuvalu is the first country to implement LoCAL in the Pacific. LoCAL has entered a strategic partnership with the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) for implementation of capacity development and technical support to national and local governments. Given the context of climate vulnerabilities and risks in Tuvalu and the Pacific region in general, LoCAL-Tuvalu addresses climate change adaptation and resilience measures, climate-related disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness measures.


Flag	9 Districts	10,800 People

LoCAL Scoping Mission (2015)

LOCAL IN TUVALU

Districts Engaged

Adaptation Investments

5076

Beneficiaries

$381,615

Budgets (up to 2019)

Brief

The aim of LoCAL-Tuvalu is to improve the capacities of local governments to address climate change by increasing access to climate change adaptation financing through performance-based climate resilience grants (PBCRGs). The expected outputs are as follows:

An effective PBCRG system is established in Tuvalu and operational for additional funding
Inclusive, effective and accountable climate change mainstreamed planning and budgeting processes at the local level.
Climate change–resilient investments such as services and infrastructure, are managed efficiently, effectively and transparently by the participating communities through the PBCRG system.
A monitoring and evaluation system, and lessons learned will inform national policies. The integration of climate change measures in all steps of the local public financial management process.
Completed roll-out plans and capacity-building support for new communities by end of programme.

Action on climate change

The viability of subsistence-based livelihoods in Tuvalu is expected to be undermined significantly due to climate change. Consequently, the first and second cycles of PBCRG investments focused on two critical axes: water and sanitation, and disaster prevention and preparedness.
Water and sanitation: The key vulnerabilities and risks related to water are increased variability and decreased predictability of rainfall and safe water availability. To this end, six water catchment and harvesting systems were completed or planned in three communities. Five of these projects have been completed, with the final project to be completed by June 2020.
Disaster prevention and preparedness: Tuvalu is dangerously exposed to extreme climate events such as storms and cyclones. Two cyclone shelters are under construction in two communities to provide protection for more than 800 inhabitants.

Achievements

Tuvalu is the first country to implement LoCAL in the Pacific. A memorandum of understanding was signed between LoCAL and Tuvalu in December 2015. Subsequently, the LoCAL mechanism was adopted rapidly in Tuvalu and various strategic missions were held to prepare for implementation, which commenced in 2016. Notable achievements in chronological order, include:

Stories from the Field

Our Team

TUVALU

Government Partners:
In Tuvalu, LoCAL is implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Rural Development, Ministry of Local Government and Agriculture.

Videos from the Board 2015

Benin

Ghana

Gambia

Lesotho

Mali

Mozambique

Niger

Tanzania

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Cambodia

Lao PDR

Nepal

Tuvalu

International Workshop 2015

Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility Training

Context

TUVALU

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