The Pacific Resilience Fund is transforming
Pacific Peoples’ Partnership’s Pacific Resilience Fund (PRF) is transforming into an Indigenous Led Fund (ILF). The distribution of PRF and its complementary programming, are guided by a Pacific Islander Advisory Council (PIAC) of trusted members, all of whom are deeply involved in grassroots community development throughout the South Pacific
History
Initially, PPP created the fund to accommodate a growing desire in the Global North to support Pacific Islanders’ long-term efforts to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. The intention was to support programs that build communities’ long term resilience to climate change. This responsive and community directed fund filled gaps at the grassroots level following major disasters in the South Pacific; however, it is not a disaster relief program.
The Pacific Resilience Fund is supported by PPP’s ongoing work in longer term climate resilience programming and advocacy. Highlights have included empowering youth, in Port Vila, Vanuatu; Kastom Food Security, Erromango, Vanuatu; and rebuilding Loreto School in Levuka, Fiji.
The Pacific Resilience Fund Today
As an ILF, we believe when South Pacific Islanders direct the design, strategy setting, implementation, monitoring and funds disbursement, it results in empowerment, resurgence, and self-determination, leading to transformative impact understood by all stakeholders
The PRF is intended to build resilience in Pacific Island communities as they define it. While ultimately supporting the livelihoods and adaptation measures of Pacific communities facing the dual challenges of climate change and covid-19.
Phase 1
The PRF is in its trial phase for 2020/2021; throughout this process we are engaging in active listening and learning to better understand the needs of Pacific Island communities and allow for partners voices to be heard throughout the process, with the ultimate goal to refine the PRF and complimentary programs for Pacific Islanders.
Current Projects Funded
Living Islands:
Pohnpei – cultural preservation through youth engagement
Marshall Islands – supporting women in the Covid-19 response
Melanesian Women Today:
Research on successful (5+ years) women run businesses in Vanuatu with the intention of implementing strategic programs to support women entrepreneurs.
Save PNG:
Educational workshops on food sovereignty, traditional food sources, supporting women businesses
Samoa Social Welfare Fesoasoani Trust:
Supporting COVID response in Samoa by providing necessary materials (masks, soap, sanitizers) to different communities and employing youth to distribute materials as well as hosting workshops on health and safety.
Your generous donations towards the Pacific Resilience Fund have allowed Loreto School in Levuka, Fiji to build stronger and modernized school buildings, Wan Smol Bag in Port Vila, Vanuatu to reconfigure existing buildings into disaster evacuation spaces (and create new spaces for youth arts programming in the process), and the Erromango Cultural Association in Erromango, Vanuatu to increase food security during disasters by training community members in traditional food preservation methods.
The Pacific Resilience Fund, supported through the generosity of people like you, is directly available to South Pacific communities to invest in their resilience as they choose to define it.
URGENT APPEAL – PPP has just issued an urgent fundraising appeal to help respond to COVID and Cyclone Harold. Read more and contribute HERE