The Kiwa Initiative celebrates its 5th anniversary and launches two new regional projects
Nouméa, 22 May 2025 – On the International Day for Biodiversity, the Kiwa Initiative held its Strategic Orientation Committee (SOC) in Noumea to reflect on progress, mark its 5th anniversary, and announce two major new regional projects.
Since 2020, the Kiwa Initiative has supported 26 local and regional projects, engaged over 290 organisations, and reached more than 220,000 beneficiaries across Pacific Island countries and territories.
2 new regional projects:
- RESICO, led by the New Caledonian Agronomic Institute (IAC), supports rural communities in Vanuatu and the Loyalty Islands with sustainable agroecological practices and biodiversity conservation. Read more: RESICO: Biodiversity conservation to strengthen the resilience of rural communities
- Women’s Work, coordinated by the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT), empowers 500 women across the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau to promote local governance and food security through traditional knowledge. Read more: WOMEN'S WORK: Empowering Women to Restore Coastal Ecosystems and Strengthen Food Security in Micronesia
These two projects further strengthen the collective ambition of the Kiwa Initiative: to enhance the resilience of ecosystems, communities, and island economies to climate change through Nature-based Solutions.
“The Kiwa family will continue to grow in 2025 with new local and regional projects for the benefit of Pacific populations!” said Virginie Bleitrach, AFD Pacific Regional Director in New Caledonia and 2025 Chair of the Strategic Orientation Committee.
