Blue-Green Development in Kiribati: Sustainable community-based development for climate and pandemic resilience

Small island developing states in the Pacific face particular challenges due to their remoteness in the Corona pandemic and in adapting to the impacts of climate change. To reduce dependence on external supplies and services, the project is developing new strategies that combine new sources of income, ecosystem and coastal protection, as well as food security. To this end, it supports two urban local councils to develop, adopt and initiate the implementation of plans improving the resilience towards climate change and COVID (Climate Covid Resilience Plans). This promotes inclusive and sustainable community-based development in line with national policies and programmes. The implementation through traditional governance systems will demonstrate how increased participation and collaboration at all levels of government and society accelerates sustainable development.

Project data

Countries: Kiribati
IKI funding: 799,764.86 €
Duration: 08/2022 till 12/2025
Status: open
Implementing organisation: ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability e.V.
Implementing Partner: Commonwealth Local Government Forum Pacific

Kiribati Local Government Association

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State of implementation/results

Hosted by the Kiribati Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs (MCIA) on 16/08/2025, in the traditional maneaba on South Tarawa.
First Town Hall COP adapted to traditional governance, serving as a model for future Pacific events.
Opening included a welcome from the unimane (elders’ group).
President Te Beretitenti officially endorsed the COP process, making Kiribati one of three governments to do so; Australian High Commissioner Mark Foxe also gave opening remarks. Participants: MCIA, Minister for Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs, New Zealand and Australian High Commissioners, KiLGA Chairperson and board, Mayors of Betio Town Council (BTC) and Teinainano Urban Council (TUC).
Workshop concluded with the Ikarekebai Declaration, highlighting the spirit of mutirão (ikarekebai) to strengthen community well-being and confidence.

CCRPs finalized with TUC and BTC; adapted into official Climate Action Plans with local authorities.
Plans aligned with local governance structures to ensure long-term community resilience.

All ten communities now pursue livelihoods independently, mostly in land-based food production. Training cohorts (majority women) completed courses in horticulture, biochar, livestock, aquaponics, seaweed composting, and seagrape harvesting.
Following identified local investment gaps, KiLGA applied to ICLEI’s Transformative Actions Program (TAP) to scale up activities across Tarawa and Kiribati.

January until February 2025: CLGF facilitated an exchange visit from Funafuti, Tuvalu, on resilience and food production; inspired the first case study on I-Kiribati customary knowledge holders.
1 – 4/04/2025: KiLGA and MCIA joined the VI World Forum on Local Economic Development (WFLED) in Seville, Spain; MCIA Secretary Harry Tekaiti highlighted project impacts and economic development in South Tarawa.

Latest Update:
12/2025