Fiji Government Plans Affordable, Climate-Resilient Homes

With increasing evidence of the impact of climate change, the Fiji Government will be providing affordable and climate-resilient homes. In collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Fiji Government signed an agreement to provide decent housing for the communities in the small island nation.

Fiji's Attorney-General, Aiyaz Saiyed Khaiyum said their aim is to support families who struggle to find a home due to rising land and house prices. Khaiyum said the government intends to make housing accessible for the ordinary Fijians. "Home ownership in Fiji is in fact quite low at the moment. We want to increase that. As Fijians, we need to know that we can own home as a strate title."

An analysis by IFC shows that the lack of affordable housing and land packages has contributed to the growth of informal settlements around Nadi and Suva. 14 per cent of the Fijian population lives in these settlements with limited infrastructure and access to essential services including water and electricity.

Vivek Pathak, IFC Director for East Asia and the Pacific, said the IFC will help increase access to finance for low and middle-income families so people can look into homeownership, regardless of the income level. "We know Fiji is vulnerable to natural disasters and the damage caused by cyclones in the past highlights the need for affordable housing which is both climates resilient and energy efficient."