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The proposal seeks USD 10 million in GCF grants to improve the capacity of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in 14 Pacific Island Countries. The project focuses on four components: improving governance and enabling environments, strengthening air and marine navigation services, enhancing climate prediction tools (specifically the PICASO software), and project governance. It aims to address critical gaps in human and technological resources, lack of user feedback on forecasts, and insufficient observation sites, aligning with the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy 2017-2026.

The GCF Board approved eight funding proposals totaling USD 387.5 million and accredited seven new entities. Key administrative outcomes include the approval of a USD 43.4 million budget for 2017 and the establishment of work plans for the Independent Redress Mechanism and Independent Integrity Units. The Board also discussed the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, allocating up to an additional USD 50 million to it.

As of March 2017, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has engaged with 111 countries on 172 readiness requests, committing a total of USD 27.4 million. The programme focuses on strengthening national designated authorities (NDAs), supporting the accreditation of direct access entities, and assisting with adaptation planning and strategic frameworks. While 83 requests have been approved (USD 24.2 million), only 48 have seen disbursements (USD 4.5 million). The GCF plans to process approximately 160 new requests in 2017 and is automating its administration through the Fluxx system.

The paper examines climate finance for 15 Pacific Island states from 2010 to 2014, finding that 748 million USD was committed, primarily as grants and project-based support. Adaptation received the largest share of funding (59%), with bilateral channels providing 72% of the total. While the Global Environment Facility was the dominant multilateral source through 2014, the Green Climate Fund and Pilot Program for Climate Resilience have provided significant allocations since 2015.

Between 2010 and 2014, US$748 million in climate finance primarily targeting climate change was committed to 15 Pacific SIDS, predominantly as grants. The funding was split between adaptation (59%) and mitigation (36%), with 72% sourced through bilateral channels, led by Australia. The vast majority of support (86%) was project-based, with a heavy concentration in creating 'enabling environments' and renewable energy. The analysis notes that Polynesian countries were more successful in attracting diverse funding than Micronesian countries, and highlights significant differences in flexibility and transaction costs between bilateral and multilateral funding sources.

Between 2010 and 2014, US$748 million in climate finance was committed to 15 Pacific SIDS, primarily as grants and delivered through bilateral channels. Adaptation received 59% of this funding, while 36% went to mitigation. The majority of support (86%) was project-based, with a strong focus on creating an 'enabling environment' for climate policy and planning.

The Reporting for Results-based REDD+ (RRR+) project is a joint initiative by the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) running from 2017 to 2019. It aims to help 21 tropical and subtropical forest countries develop the technical and institutional capacity to create accurate greenhouse gas inventories for the agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) sectors. This capacity is essential for countries to submit reports to the UNFCCC and unlock results-based REDD+ payments. The project provides tailored training based on IPCC methods, supports the submission of National Communications and Biennial Update Reports, and promotes gender equality in natural resource management.

Between 2010 and 2014, Vanuatu received US$49.4 million in grant-equivalent finance specifically targeting climate change, with a majority supporting mitigation. The primary sources of this funding were the Global Environment Facility, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, focusing on environmental policy, renewables, and disaster preparedness. Additionally, between January 2015 and September 2016, Vanuatu received further allocations from the Green Climate Fund, the LDCF, and the Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program.

As of November 2016, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) had approved 74 readiness and preparatory support requests for 61 countries, totaling USD 21.9 million. The programme focuses on strengthening national designated authorities (NDAs), supporting the accreditation of direct access entities, and facilitating adaptation planning. While cumulative commitments from 2014-2016 totaled approximately USD 24.6 million, projected demand for 2017 is expected to rise significantly to over USD 120 million, driven by increased interest in national adaptation plans and strategic frameworks. The GCF is also expanding its support for direct access entities and coordinating with international partners to streamline readiness support.

The Independent Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) assessed nine funding proposals across various regions. Key recommendations include the approval of renewable energy and financial inclusion projects in Mongolia, South Africa, Argentina, and the Pacific Islands, as well as adaptation projects in Bangladesh, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Samoa. While most were recommended for approval, several were subject to conditions regarding technical design (notably water systems in Bangladesh), operational track records (South Africa), and long-term maintenance plans (Vanuatu).

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Secretariat reports progress in its public and private sector pipelines, the simplification of funding proposal templates, and the expansion of readiness support to 45 countries. Key achievements include the signing of contribution agreements with five additional countries and the launch of a new website to enhance stakeholder engagement. The Secretariat also operationalized its accreditation framework, moving 11 applicants to stage II, and provided substantive support for the development of the GCF Strategic Plan.

The report details two readiness requests: one for Vanuatu to develop Climate Information Services (CIS) to support adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and one for Senegal to establish a pipeline of privately funded, grid-connected solar projects to address an acute energy crisis.

The document outlines a research initiative to break down barriers between disaster risk reduction (DRR), adaptation, and development. It argues that development processes often create the very risks they seek to mitigate, and proposes a framework based on understanding risk trade-offs, promoting 'equitable resilience' to address social injustice, and implementing adaptive governance. The brief highlights the Sendai Framework as a key opportunity to integrate these transformative practices globally.

The report examines community-based adaptation (CBA) in Vanuatu, specifically on the islands of Futuna, Motalava, and Vanua Lava. It argues that vulnerability is multidimensional and influenced by local power dynamics and cross-scale structural issues, such as global copra prices and national land laws. The author suggests that for CBA to be effective, NGOs must move beyond short-term technical fixes to support 'adaptive capacity' through equitable decision-making and rights-based approaches that empower marginalised groups, including women and people with disabilities.

The document examines the role of technical assistance (TA) in mobilizing climate finance, arguing that TA can be as valuable as financial assistance by addressing knowledge, policy, and risk gaps. Through case studies of GIZ programs in Chile, Mexico, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands, it identifies five key TA pathways: policy advice, project development support, data provision, program coordination, and institutional capacity building. The analysis estimates that GIZ-managed TA funding of €43 million mobilized between €37-233 million in public finance and up to €412 million in private finance, though it notes high uncertainty in quantifying indirect mobilization due to time lags and complex causality.

The report argues that carefully designed investment contracts can bridge gaps in national legislation to ensure that large-scale agricultural investments in developing countries promote sustainable development. Drawing on research from UNCTAD and the World Bank, it identifies five key benefits—such as job creation and the integration of local farmers—and five primary risks, including land loss and poor environmental management. The document outlines a three-stage contractual process (preparation, negotiation, and monitoring) and provides specific legal options, such as 'satellite plantation' clauses and community development agreements, to ensure investors meet their social and environmental obligations.

The guide argues that effective mainstreaming of disaster risk management (DRM) requires a supportive policy environment, strong leadership, risk knowledge, consistent financing, and innovation. It identifies key barriers, such as the compartmentalisation of DRM, climate change, and development into separate policy streams, and the lack of technical capacity for risk assessment. The document proposes solutions including strategic inter-ministerial coordination, the use of 'data-light' risk assessment methods, and the creation of political incentives by demonstrating the economic returns of risk-informed investments. It emphasizes that mainstreaming is a political process requiring inclusive partnerships and the navigation of vested interests to protect development gains from climate-related disasters.

The guide argues that effective mainstreaming of disaster risk management (DRM) requires a supportive policy environment, strong leadership, accurate risk knowledge, consistent financing, and innovation. It highlights that DRM is often compartmentalised from climate change and sectoral development, leading to 'risk-blind' decisions. The document proposes overcoming these barriers through strategic inter-ministerial coordination, the use of cost-benefit analyses to prove the economic value of risk-informed planning, and the engagement of the private sector. It emphasizes that mainstreaming is a political process that requires inclusive, multi-stakeholder platforms and visionary leadership to navigate vested interests and institutional inertia.

The document outlines the existential threats posed to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) by climate change, specifically sea level rise and ocean acidification. It emphasizes that while adaptation can reduce risks, SIDS face high per-capita costs due to a lack of economies of scale. The report advocates for integrating climate adaptation with broader development goals and transitioning to renewable energy to enhance energy security.

The report examines the legal and institutional landscape of Fiji regarding Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs), highlighting a significant gap between customary stewardship and formal legal recognition. While 87.9% of land is i Taukei (indigenous) owned, marine and freshwater tenure is vested in the State, creating contradictions with traditional 'i qoliqoli' fishing rights. The document details the growth of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) and the challenges posed by political instability, overlapping agency mandates, and the prioritization of extractive industries like mining over conservation. It argues for a comprehensive national protected area legislative framework to formally recognize ICCAs and protect them from encroachment.