The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is launching the five-year Pacific-American Climate Fund (PACAM) in Suva on March 26 to help communities in Pacific Island countries adapt to effects of climate change.

The $24-million grant facility will provide grants to qualifying NGOs including private sector and academic institutions who will implement climate change adaptation measures in twelve countries in the Pacific: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

USAID/Pacific Islands Mission Director Gloria D. Steele said, “The Pacific-American Climate Fund will support initiatives that will help reduce long-term vulnerabilities associated with climate change and achieve a sustainable, climate-resilient development at community level.”

“This project demonstrates the U.S. Government’s continuing commitment to expand its engagement with the Pacific region,” Director Steele added.

USAID will also launch the Pacific-American Climate Fund in its regional offices of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and in Majuro, Marshall Islands.

The facility aims to support projects focused on climate change adaptation in the areas of natural resources and water management and livelihood development, and income diversification.

The Pacific-American Climate Fund will also help strengthen the organizational capacity of non-state organizations to ensure the sustainability of their efforts to meet the growing challenges of a changing climate.

On the day following the launch, non-state organizations interested in applying for Pacific-American Climate Fund grants may participate in a Pre-Bid Workshop.

Non-state organizations involved in efforts to enhance coastal, upland, or marine conservation, protection and management; coastal zone and water management; or agriculture, fisheries and other livelihood sectors may be eligible for Pacific-American Climate Fund grants.

For inquiries, please contact

USAID/Pacific-American Climate Fund at PACAMinfo@pgrd.org

USAID assistance in the Pacific Islands region supports programs that help communities adapt to the negative impacts of global climate change and environmental degradation; assist the government and civil society of PNG expand HIV prevention, care and treatment models; support the development of Fiji’s new constitution; and provide disaster mitigation, relief and reconstruction in FSM and RMI. For more information about USAID programs in the Pacific Islands, visit http://www.usaid.gov/pacific-islands.