INCREASING RESILIENCE TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IN TUVALU’S COASTAL AREAS AND COMMUNITY SETTLEMENTS
COMMUNITY-BASED ADAPTATION STARTS WITH NATIONAL SUPPORT
Adaptation to climate change starts at the national level. Many countries create a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), that includes key actions to reduce economic and social costs of climate change.
STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS AT ALL LEVELS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
With support from UNDP and funding from the Global Environment Facility’s Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Government of Tuvalu is working with communities on its outer islands to address climate change and its impacts.
As a result, Tuvaluan institutions and communities are getting better at planning, responding and adapting to climate change related damage. Together, they are coming up with solutions for adaptation, making sure that their knowledge and results are recorded and shared. Three central activities in this process are the installation and repair of water tanks, support to home gardens, and coastal protection measures.
HOME GARDENS ARE HELPING TO MEET FOOD DEMAND
Climate change can cause food insecurity, but the people of Tuvalu are fighting back: by growing vegetables and other products right in their back yard. The project, Increasing Resilience of Coastal Areas and Community Settlements to Climate Change in Tuvalu, which was borne out of Tuvalu’s National Adaptation Programme of Action, is putting fresh produce from home gardens on Tuvaluan tables.
PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN
For steady food production, access to materials and tools for home gardening is essential. The women in Tuvalu have shown an active interest in addressing climate change by growing their own food. Women’s groups in turn ensure that the necessary equipment reaches the women, including younger ones. Targeted training further helps to ensure that women receive the necessary expertise on home gardening techniques and climate change impacts on agriculture.
IMPROVING THE LIVES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
The project, locally known as the NAPA1 project, makes seeds and gardening materials available to families on Nukulaelae, putting better and more diverse food on the community members’ tables while saving them money.
I used to buy basic necessities, but through the project I received free seeds, watering cans, and even the chicken wire fence. I made my garden and it was very successful. My family ate the vegetables I harvested: cabbages, tomatoes, and cucumbers. This really helped our financial situation, as I don’t need to buy canned vegetables from the store anymore — Tausese Lotonu, Community Member, island of Nukulaelae
REINFORCING GARDENS HELPS PROTECT THEM
Basic gardening tools protect home gardens and improve produce quality. Chicken-wire fences, provided by the project, protect home gardens from destruction by animals such as chickens and pigs. Chippers that produce compost are also available to families.
LEARNING AND SHARING NEW SKILLS OPENS UP NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Community members are learning new home gardening techniques, for composting and planting, that improve the quality of garden soil and produce better crops. After learning, participants take their new skills back home to teach them to their fellow community members in turn.
For more information on the project, please visit the Increasing Resilience of Coastal Areas and Community Settlements to Climate Change in Tuvalu Project Profile.
© 2026 United Nations Development Programme
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