Australia and Fiji formally ratify landmark agreement on Pacific resilience financing

Giovanni Torre Published May 6, 2026 at 11.50am (AWST)

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Sakiasi Ditoka. Image: Fiji Sun.

Australia and Fiji have jointly announced the formal ratification of the Pacific Resilience Facility Treaty, which they describe as a "landmark" agreement that places Pacific communities "in control of their own resilience financing".

The two national governments see the Treaty as an important step toward ensuring Pacific Island Countries have greater resources and control in addressing the growing impacts of climate change.

On Wednesday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Fiji's Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Sakiasi Ditoka, lodged ratification documents for the Agreement to Establish the Pacific Resilience Facility at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva in the presence of Secretary General Baron Waqa.

The PRF is the first Pacific-led, owned and managed community resilience financing facility. It will provide grants for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and projects that respond to loss and damage. It aims to "seize the economic opportunities of clean energy through resilient, community‑led projects", the two foreign ministers said in a joint statement after the documents were lodged.

The Pre-COP, to be hosted by Fiji and Tuvalu in October, will bring leaders to the Pacific to see climate impacts and solutions first-hand, with a special session at COP31 to provide a platform for pledges to the PRF.

Donors are encouraged to use this opportunity to announce new pledges to maintain momentum towards the 'USD1.5 billion for a 1.5-degree world' fundraising goal.

Tonga, Nauru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Niue have already ratified the Treaty.

"This is a clear reflection of Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' shared resolve to create a Pacific-led institution that puts communities at the centre of resilience financing," Ministers Wong and Ditoka said in their joint statement.

"This step paves the way for the initial call for proposals, set for launch at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau in late August 2026."