Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai (Surrey Centre, B.C.) concluded an official visit to Koror, Palau, from Sept. 2-4, where he represented Canada at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting. While in Palau, Sarai announced more than $13 million in funding for 3 projects to support economic development and climate resilience in the Pacific Island Countries as follows:
- $5 million for Markets for Change (Phase II) with UN Women to advance economic opportunities for 9,500 women market vendors across Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu;
- $4.5 million for the Melanesian Corridor project with Cowater International to help remote Indigenous communities in the outer islands of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu increase their resilience to climate-induced shocks;
- $3.6 million for Strengthening Small-Scale Fisheries in the Pacific Islands (Phase II) with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to help coastal communities strengthen their fisheries, improve livelihoods, and better adapt to the impacts of climate change and economic challenges.
The full release is available online. Contact Shanti.Cosentino@international.gc.ca.