News

EU to closely assist Pacific to access funds

December 15, 2015 12:28 am

The European Union is ready to assist Fiji and the Pacific islands access funds for climate change mitigation as it has always been a bureaucratic process applying for support.

EU’s head of Delegation to the Pacific Andrew Jacobs says there is a lot of money available but it has been difficult to get funds because of the lack of capacity or the small number of population.

Jacobs says this has been one of the challenges for many Pacific island countries.

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“Have found it difficult to compete perhaps with bigger countries in terms of putting together credible proposals and so we’re very conscious of that but the large amount of money that’s going to be coming through means our efforts in providing support to help the countries access those funds will certainly become important.”

Jacobs says accessing funds through the Green Climate Fund has always been competitive.

He adds Fiji has already benefited around FJD$60m which has already been used for the improvements in the Suva water system.

Jacobs says Fiji already has good access to the funds.