FRISFiji Resilient Informal Settlements

Lami town, Fiji

Kalekana settlement

COMMUNITY-BASEDVULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

KALEKANA

Kalekana Settlement (Fiji) Community-Based Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Action Plan
(Abridged Version)
Copyright © United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Government of Fiji.
Coordinators:
Bernhard Barth, Inga Korte.
Authors:
Begoña Peiró, Sara Vargues.
Contributors:
Kolora Qativi, Kamsin Raju, Geeta Singh, Sunishma Singh, Lydia Ogden.
Design and Layout:
Lydia Ogden, Marion Reinosa, Begoña Peiro
Citation:
Peiró, B.; Vargues, S.: Kalekana Settlement (Fiji) Community-Based Vulnerability Assessment and Climate
Action Plan (Abridged Version). UN-Habitat, Government of Fiji, 2022.

Kalekana Settlement

CONTENTS
1.

Introduction					Page 5

2.

Methodology					Page 8

3.

Kalekana Settlement 				Page 10

4.

Climate Hazards and Perceptions 		

Page 11

5.

Climate Change and Future Risks		

6.

Vulnerability					Page 15

7.

Climate Action Planning 			

1.1 Location and Physical Details
1.2 Purpose of the VA and AP

4.1 Climatic features and hazards
4.2 Community perceptions of key impacts
5.1 Climate Change Projections
5.2 Extreme climate events future risk

Page 13

6.1 Vulnerable groups:
women, youth, elderly, people with disabilites
6.2 Exposure
6.3 Sensitivity
6.4 Adaptative capacity
7.1 Climate Resilience & The SDGs
7.2 Alignment to Fiji's National Plan
7.3 Prioritized shortlisted actions

Page 22KALEKANA

3

Kalekana kindergarden
UN-Habitat/Begoña Peiro

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Kalekana Settlement

5

INTRODUCTION
The Kalekana Settlement (Fiji) Community-Based Vulnerability Assessment (VA) and Climate Action
Plan (CAP) has been developed under the Fiji Resilient Informal Settlements (FRIS) project financedby the Adaptation Fund. This document is an abridged version of a comprehensive report, finalized in2020. FRIS works in 16 informal urban settlements that are highly vulnerable to climate change anddisaster risks, in four urban areas as part of a project implemented by UN-Habitat and executed by
the Ministry of Housing and Community Development and the Ministry of Local Government.
The high levels of physical, economic, social and environmental vulnerability in combination withpoor levels of disaster preparedness and adaptive capacity often lead to high climate-related hazard
impacts in informal settlements.
The VA and CAP guides the implementation of projects under component 3 of the FRIS project(Enhancing resilience of community level physical, natural and socio-economic assets andecosystems).
The overall objective of the project is to increase the resilience of informal settlements communities
in Fiji that are highly vulnerable to climate change and disaster risks. To achieve this, the project has
four components:
1. Institutional strengthening for enhanced local climate response
2. Local (community/informal settlement) resilience strengthening
3. Enhancing resilience of community level physical, natural and socioeconomic
assets and ecosystems
4. Awareness raising, knowledge management and communication.
Figure 1 Informal settlements that are part of the FRIS program in Lami Town, including Kalekana1

1. Prepared by: Kamsin Raju, Nadi Town Council

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Kalekana Settlement

1.1 LOCATION AND PHYSICAL DETAILSFiji is located in the western South Pacific. It has a total of 322 islands located between 177°E–178°W
and 16°S–20°S and a total land area of 18,333 km². Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are the two largest
islands. These two islands form up to 87% of the total land area and are also the most populous
areas nationally2. Fiji’s total population is 884,887 people, approximately 55.9 percent of whom
reside in urban areas3.
Fiji is among the countries with the highest disaster risk, ranking number ten according to the World
Risk Index (2018)4. Located in the Pacific Ocean’s tropical cyclone belt, cyclones are the mostfrequent hazards to affect the country (with around two to three cyclones occurring every year)5.
Additionally, the country has a high exposure to other environmental hazards, such as storm surge,
severe storm, flooding, landslide, drought and extreme temperature, earthquake, and tsunami. The
country is also vulnerable to rising sea levels, and more frequent and intense rainfall caused byclimate change.
Although Fiji is recognized as being one of the most developed economies in the Pacific6, signs ofsocioeconomic inequality are rising, particularly with the expansion of informal settlements7. The
5-year and 20-year National Development Plan was prepared by the government in order to addressdevelopment challenges. The plan’s objectives include a doubling of the real gross domestic product(GDP) per capita by 2036 and to provide universal access to all services, including housing, electricity,
clean and safe water and sanitation, high-quality education, and health care8. However, natural
hazards and climate change represent a major obstacle to the achievement of these objectives.
Environmental hazards have far reaching negative impacts across a number of sectors in Fiji,
including agriculture, housing, transport infrastructure, basic service provision, tourism and primaryindustries, among other. The majority of the country’s cities and towns are located on the coast andalong rivers, particularly exposed to seaborne and riverine natural hazards, cyclones, storm surges,
coastal and riverine erosion, landslides, floods and already occurring sea level rise due to climatechange. Moreover, mangrove deforestation and coral reef extraction for urban development are
reducing the mitigating benefits of mangroves and coral reefs in providing a barrier against storm
surges and cyclones. Given the increasing trends in urbanization and concentration of development
along the coast, costs related to natural hazard-induced disasters are expected to increase withtime.
Kalekana settlement is located 2.4 kilometers west of the center of Lami Town, inside of thetown boundary. Lami has a total area of 680 hectares and a total population of 24,637 people9.
As compared to urban population growth in Fiji, Lami’s urban population growth has been slower,with a 0.2 per cent per year in the town area and a 1.4 per cent in the peri-urban areas10. Kalekana
settlement covers an area of approximately 85,562 square meters (8.55 hectares), and measuresapproximately 670 meters in length between its longest points and 340 meters in width.

2. Fiji’s First National Communication under the UNFCCC, 2005; Fiji’s Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change, 2009
3. Fiji Bureau of Statistics. (2017). Population and Housing Census: Administration Report.
4. Heintze, H., Kirch, L., Küppers, B., Mann, H., Mischo, F., Mucke, P., Pazdzierny, T., Prütz, R., Radtke, K., Strube, F., Weller, D. (2018). World

Risk Report 2018. (p. 7). Retrieved from: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WorldRiskReport-2018.pdf
5. NDMO. (n.d.). Tropical Cyclones – Action Gide. Retrieved from: http://www.ndmo.gov.fj/images/Hazards/Tropical_Cyclone.pdf
6. Asian Development Bank (ADB). (2019). Pacific Finance Sector Briefs – Fiji. Retrieved from: https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/
publication/529841/pacific-finance-sector-fiji.pdf
7. World Bank (WB). (2017). Systematic Country Diagnostic 2017. Republic of Fiji. Retrieved from: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/529271512123603244/pdf/116491-revised-PUBLIC-ACS.pdf
8. Ministry of Economy Republic of Fiji. (2017). 5-Year & 20-Year National Development Plan. Transforming Fiji. Retrieved from: https://www.fiji.gov.fj/getattachment/15b0ba03-825e-47f7-bf69-094ad33004dd/5-Year---20-Year-NATIONAL-DEVELOPMENT-PLAN.aspx
9. Fiji Bureau of Statistics. (2017). Population and Housing Census: Administration Report.
10. City population, Fiji. http://www.citypopulation.de/Fiji.html

Kalekana Settlement7

1.2 PURPOSE OF THE COMMUNITY-BASEDVULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT & CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
The community-based VA and CAP aims to inform the wider planning processes at the town andnational levels, by providing an in-depth assessment on settlement level vulnerability, in addition toproviding recommendations for action. This document presents a summary of the report developed
under the project for dissemination. The original report includes additional information and a morein-depth analysis.
The VA aims to understand the level of vulnerability of systems in Kalekana, by following a multiscale approach. The VA has the following sub-objectives:
1. Increased understanding of the underlying causes of vulnerability.
2. Seeks to understand the perceptions on climate change and disaster risk from theresidents living in the settlement.
3. Seeks to understand the spatial dimension of exposed assets.
4. Identifies sources of livelihoods that may be vulnerable to the impacts of climate 		change.
Based on the findings of the VA, a CAP was developed to identify and prioritize potential communitylevel interventions. This aims to identify and prioritize climate change adaptation options that will
enhance the resilience of physical, natural and socio-economic assets and ecosystems at thecommunity level.

Resident of Kalekana Settlement
UN-Habitat/Begoña Peiro

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Kalekana Settlement

2

METHODOLOGY
Several data gathering methods have been employed in order to collect both the primary andsecondary data needed to conduct the analyses. The methodology is designed to support local andnational governments in identifying current and future drivers of vulnerability and to identify priorities
for climate change adaptation.
Community level data was collected around five key components: (i) Population; (ii) Urban use; (iii)
Natural resource-based production, (iv) Critical point facilities; and (v) Lifeline utilities. The datacollected from both primary and secondary sources provide information on climate hazards andvariability and support three main analyses: (1) Hazard exposure analysis; (2) Sensitivity analysis;and (3) Adaptive capacity analysis.

DATA COLLECTION
Primary data collection methods:•
Household survey (HHS)11•
Site visits and participatory mapping•
Key Informant Interviews (KII)•
VRA workshop

Secondary data collection methods:•
Census•Reports on climate change projections•
Spatial data available in GIS repositories

Figure 2 Analytical Framework
NATURAL RESOURCEBASED PRODUCTIONCRITICAL POINT
FACILITIES &INFRASTRUCTURE

URBAN
LAND USE &BUILDINGSDATA COLLECTION

COMMUNITYPROFILEPOPULATIONLIFELINE UTILITIESANALYSIS
HAZARDSPRIORITY AREASEXPOSURE

SENSITIVITY

ADAPTIVE
CAPACITYACTIONSAP phase

11. The HHS provides predominantly quantitative data on the household unit, and the community unit once aggregated. The assess-ment makes a distinction between household and house. Household refers to the family unit living in a same dwelling, and house refers
to the physical structure. When providing information regarding the HHS, the unit considered is the household. The household survey
covered 82 per cent of the households in Kalekana settlement. 149 households were surveyed, out of a total of 182 households thatwere identified in the settlement at the time when the HHS was carried out.

Kalekana Settlement

9

MAIN ROAD

DRAINAGES ACROSS
THE SETTLEMENTSANITATIONFACILITY

HOUSE IN POOR CONDITIONSHOUSES ON SLOPED TERRAIN

FOOTPATHS

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Kalekana Settlement

3

KALEKANA SETTLEMENT
Kalekana is a large settlement, with 182 households, and it is located on a hilly area, next to Wainiviokai
settlement which is also part of the FRIS project. The total population based on the household survey
conducted in Kalekana amounts to 782 people12, from which 400 are male and 382 are female. The
total estimated population is 959 people13. In terms of age distribution, persons aged from 0 to 24
years old comprise half of the total population (51%). The youth age group (15-24) accounts for 19
percent and 32 percent of the population are aged 0 to 15. There are eight people aged over 75 in
the settlement, and fourteen within the 70-74 age range. A large number of households (59 percent)have been living in Kalekana for over 40 years. The average household size is 5.2 persons, however
household sizes range from 1 to 20 people amongst those surveyed.
The community has an established community leader. His responsibilities include conveying
meetings with community members and acting as the focal point for outside organizations andinstitutions. He is also the Advisory Councilor for the Lami District and a representative of theCommunity-Based Sanitation Market. Based on the information collected during FGDs, there are four
sub-clans in Kalekalana (i.e., Moli, Vava, Areata and Bali). Each sub-clan has a leader (Turaga ni
Mataqali) and is linked to the community leader (Turaga ni Koro). In this way, there is a coordination
structure in place in the settlement. There is a Development committee established, which is led
by the community leader, the four leaders of the sub-clans and representatives from the women’s
and youth groups. This committee has as overall goal to explore development opportunities for thesettlement. There is also an established women’s group in the settlement, which is registered with
the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation. The function of the Women’s group is tosupport women’s interest and development within the community and to have a voice at the National
level. Other established groups include: the youth group, the rugby club, netball club, volleyball cluband the kids’ club. The kids’ club was established with the support of Save the Children.
12. 149 out of 182 households were surveyed. The total population is estimated to be 959 (for those households that were not surveyed, theaverage household size is used).
13. For those households that were not surveyed the average size of household is used.

181
182
1
959

Total number of houses
Total number of households
Uninhabited buildings
estimated people living in the settlement

85.562 m
19.434 m
165 m
65.963 m

2

2

2
2

Total area within boundary
Residential buildings area
Civic buildings area
Open space area

Blocks placed on roof to hold it
UN-Habitat/Begoña Peiro

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Kalekana Settlement

11

CLIMATIC FEATURES, HAZARDS, PERCEPTIONS
4.1 CLIMATIC FEATURES AND HAZARDSFiji is generally considered to be an oceanic tropical marine climate14. There are two distinct seasonsnamely, a warm wet season from November to April and a cooler dry season from May to October15.
Regarding climate variability, the major features driving climate in Fiji are16:•

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, which occurs every two to seven years,
four years on average. It is the most important influence on inter-annual climate variations in the
country. It strongly influences rainfall, temperature and tropical cyclones. Dry seasons during El
Niño event tend to be drier and cooler, with droughts being associated to these periods. On thecontrary, La Niña events are associated with floods, depressions and tropical cyclones.

•

The South Pacific Convergence Zone strongly influences the seasonal cycle, which is mostintense during the wet season and closer to the country17.

•

The trade winds bring orographic rainfall to the eastern parts of the country. Around 70% of thenational annual average rainfall occurred during the wet season (over the period from 1961 to2010).

4.2 COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS OF KEY IMPACTS
Based on primary data collected, residents face key challenges due to a number of climate-related
hazards, including cyclones, floods, extreme heat, and vector-borne diseases.

67%
39%
35%

of the households highlighted cyclone as themost problematic hazard affecting them.
of the households identified rainstorms
as the second most problematic hazardof households highlighted extreme heatas the third most problematic hazard.

14. Government of Fiji. (2019). National Climate Change Policy. Retrieved from: https://www.pacificclimatechange.net/sites/default/files/
documents/National-Climate-Change-Policy-2018---2030_0.pdf
15. Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Program (PACCSAP). (2014). Climate Variability, Extremes andChange in the Western Tropical Pacific: New Science and Updated Country Reports.
16. Government of Fiji. (2018). Climate Vulnerability Assessment – Making Fiji Climate Resilient.
16. Ibid

KEY FINDINGS
Kalekana residents reported being impacted in different ways by the recurrence of climate hazards:

77%

40%

27%

18%

15%

of respondents
identified damage tohousing stock as amajor concernof respondents wereconcerned with theimpact on their ability
to earn an incomeof respondents wereconcerned with thepossible temporary
relocationof respondents
were concerned
about their ability toprovide foodof respondents wereconcerned with theimpact on physicalhealth12

Kalekana Settlement

Cyclones were identified as being particularly problematic. TC Winston, which made a landfall in
Viti Levu on the 20th of February 2016, was highlighted as being the most damaging, impacting thecommunity in several ways. Among the impacts mentioned were damage to property (especially roof
structures), damage to crops and livestock. The community referred to TC Harold which took placeon the 8th of April 2020. Community representatives mentioned that the impacts from TC Harold
were lower and there were no impacts on crops or livestock, but that the strong winds had damaged
three houses.
Surface runoff is a common issue due to the saturation of the soil. Being located on a slope, Kalekana
experience frequent surface runoff, soil erosion and there are some areas were landslides are also
an issue. The lack of a continues drainage network leads to some areas being particularly affected,
such as the lower side of the settlement near Queen’s Road and the more inner areas of Kalekana thatare not located along Kalekana Settlement Road. Furthermore, Wainivokai, the settlement located on
the other side of Queen’s Road is also being affected by surface runoff.
Participants mentioned that trends have been perceived with regards to temperature increases,
extremely hot days and cool days. They reported an increase in temperatures and an increase in
number of extremely hot days. They mentioned thermal discomfort is a challenge in the settlement,
and that this issue throughout the year (both during dry and rainy season).

House in Kalekana
UN-Habitat/Begoña Peiro

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Kalekana Settlement

13

CLIMATE CHANGE AND FUTURE RISKS
5.1 CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTIONS17
2090

Extreme rainfall events are expected to increase, becoming more
frequent and intense.

2090

The total number of storms is likely to decrease over time, however. The
proportion of Category 4 and 5 tropical cyclones is likely to increase.

2090

Temperatures are expected to increase as well as temperature on
extreme hot days.

2090

Mean sea level will continue to rise, with projected increases of 38–87
cm by 2090 under the RCP8.5

2090

Ocean acidification is expected to continue increasing, leading to coral
reef bleaching and destruction.

2090

Landslides represent a significant risk that can increase in response toheavier rainfall.

Figure 3 shows the main hazards that affect Kalekana settlement and primary and secondary impacts that were reported by community members during participatory workshops18 19
2050

Surface airtemp. + 1.3º C

HAZARDSPRIMARY IMPACTS

SECONDARY IMPACTS

CycloneEffects on
fauna & flora

Fewer ecosystemservices

Flooding

Difficult tocatch fish

Lower
incomeRainstormLivestock
deathsMalnutrition

Extremeheat

CropfailureRelocation

Landslides

HealthissuesFewer jobs

Ocean
acidification

Lack ofdrinking water

Higher foodpricesDamage tohousesProperty
lossesDamage toinfrastructure

Accessibility
issuesMaximum air
temp. + 1.4º C

1% increasein rainAragonitesaturation-0.7 Ωar17. Based on: PACCSAP Program, (2014). Climate Variability, Extremes and Change in the Western Tropical Pacific: New Science and Updated

Country Reports.
18. Climate projections based on: PACCSAP Program, (2014). Climate Variability, Extremes and Change in the Western Tropical Pacific: New
Science and Updated Country Reports.
19. Surface air temperatures in the Pacific are closely related to sea-surface temperatures (SST), so the projected changes to air temperature
can be used as a guide to the expected changes to SST.

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Kalekana Settlement

5.2 EXTREME CLIMATE EVENTS FUTURE RISK
The assessment carried out relies on existing sets of climate change projections that are available
and were produced by the Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science Program (PACCSAP)20.

Cyclones:

Despite projections that tropical cyclogenesis will decrease, the intensity of cyclone events is
expected to increase. Increase in strong winds is expected to result in damage to housing stock andcritical infrastructure. Cyclones will impact livelihoods through damage to land and crops, livestockand by increasing difficulty in catching fish. Increased intensity of cyclones will impact on people’s
mobility and has the potential to displace vulnerable communities, both temporarily and permanently.

Extreme Temperatures:

Projected increase in temperature, in particular on extremely hot days, is expected to have significant
impacts on local health. Higher temperatures lead to lower water availability during the dry season.
Higher temperatures also increase the incidence of mosquitos, the risk of crop failure, and livestock
health impacts. This has a socioeconomic impact on communities by reducing income reliability
and increasing food insecurity due to increased food prices.

Rainfall:

Projections a wide range of change in annual rainfall, from increase to a decrease and with littlechange on the model average. Findings show that the effect of climate change on average rainfall
may not be obvious in the short or medium term, due to natural variability, with year-to-year rainfall
variability being generally larger than the projected change (except for models in the highest emission
scenario by 2090).
The frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events are projected to increase. This is expected
to damage crops and cause livestock deaths. Food security will increase due to crop loss. Despite
increased water availability, rainwater is difficult to capture without proper infrastructure, and flooding
is likely. Flooding will cause accessibility issues and damage housing stock.
20. PACCSAP Program, (2014). Climate Variability, Extremes and Change in the Western Tropical Pacific: New Science and Updated
Country Reports.

View from the upper side of the settlement
UN-Habitat/Begoña Peiro

6

Kalekana Settlement

15

VULNERABILITY
Kalekana's vulnerability was assessed through three lens-

EXPOSURE

SENSITIVITY

ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

6.1 VULNERABLE GROUPS:WOMEN, YOUTH, ELDERLY, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITESGender inequality in Fiji is a key driver of vulnerability to climate change with several studies
demonstrating that women and girls are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate-related disasters.
The increase of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and violence against children after disasters has been
widely documented by humanitarian agencies coordinating emergency response efforts21. Evidence
indicated that violence against children increased after TC Winston as a result of heightened stressand vulnerability from caregivers. Incidents of sexual violence were also reported after the two
tropical cyclones hit the Western division of Fiji in 2012 by women living in relief centers22. Moreover,people with disabilities and especially women are at particular risk of domestic violence due to theirintersecting vulnerabilities23. Additionally, unequal participation in governance and political processes
also limits women’s ability to influence important processes and decision-making in areas relevant toclimate and disaster risk management.
Most settlements under the FRIS program do not count with kindergarden facilities within theirboundaries. However, Kalekana is one of the settlements that has one. The Kalekana kindergarden
was built on 2006 and acts also as community hall and evacuation center. Community members
expressed that both areas are too small for the functions they serve. Despite the kindergarden being
located within the settlement's boundaries, a limited number of children under 6 were reported as
being engaged in education.
21. UN Women. (2014). Climate change, Disaster and Gender-Based Violence in the Pacific.
22. UN Women. (2013). The 2012 Fiji Floods: Gender Sensitivity in Disaster Management.
23. Government of The Republic of Fiji (GoF). (2017). Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank Group.

Kindergarden painted by artist under the FRIS project
UN-Habitat/Inga Korte

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Kalekana Settlement

6.2 EXPOSURE
Exposure is defined as the presence of people, livelihoods, species
or ecosystems, environmental functions, services, and resources,
infrastructure, or economic, social, or cultural assets in places andsettings that could be adversely affected24.
Kalekana occupies an approximate total area of 85,562 square meters (8.55 hectares). Being locatedclose to the coast and on a sloped site, its social, economic and natural systems are exposed tomultiple hazards. During the participatory workshop, community-members identified key locations,infrastructure and assets. Participants schematically demarcated the areas that are exposed to themain climate-related hazards that affect their community and discussed key impacts (see Figure 3).
FGD participants indicated that the areas with the highest slopes have suffered from slope failure
issues. Furthermore, participants indicated areas that are prone to floods. As shown in the map,
there are two areas located on lower ground, where floods have been particularly problematic.
Participants reported having witnessed flood levels up to one meter high in one of these areas,
and three meters high in the other area. FGD participants mentioned that they have perceived anincrease frequency of rainfall during the last ten years. Surface runoff is a common issue due tothe saturation of the soil. Given that Kalekana is located on a slope. This does not only lead to soil
erosion in some areas, but it is one of the major issues being experienced by many residents. The
lack of a continues drainage network leads to some areas being particularly affected, such as thelower side of the settlement near Queen’s Road and the more inner areas of Kalekana that are not
located along Kalekana Settlement Road. Furthermore, Wainivokai, the settlement located on theother side of Queen’s Road is also being affected by surface runoff.

24. IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland

Houses on a high slope
UN-Habitat/Begoña PeiroKalekana Settlement

Figure 3 Hazard exposure map developed in participatory workshops

17

18

Kalekana Settlement

Figure 4 shows the hazards that were highlighted by respondents as being amongst the three mostproblematic hazards for their household. While these are the hazards that residents perceive as
being problematic based on their experiences, it does not mean that other hazards do not pose risks
in the settlement.
Figure 4 The most problematic hazards identified by respondents in the settlement
Climate hazards
identified by respondents
as being among the top 3
most problematic in thesettlement

Climate hazards not
identified by respondents
as being among the top 3
most problematic in thesettlement

CYCLONERAINSTORMFLASH FLOODINGLANDSLIDESEXTREME HEATVECTOR-BORNEDISEASESSALT INTRUSIONWATER-BORNEDISEASESLIGHTNING& THUNDERSTORM

COASTALFLOODING

RIVER
FLOODING

DROUGHT

6.3 SENSITIVITY
Sensitivity is defined as the degree to which a system or species
is affected, either adversely or beneficially, by climate variability orchange25.

(i) Population
The dependency ratio in the settlement is 52, slightly lower than the national average of 54. Youngdependents make up 93 percent of the total dependents, whilst elderly people (aged over 65) makeup the remaining 7 percent. 65 percent young people (aged 15-24) in the settlement are neither in
employment, education or training. All individuals aged 6 to 16 reported being enrolled in education
programmes. However, children under 6 have limited access to early childhood facilities, as these arelocated outside of the settlement. There are 14 people with disabilities living in Kalekana according
to the information collected through the household survey.

(ii) Urban Land Use
The town council is responsible for ensuring that buildings are compliant with the building code.
However, often, compliance is not checked in informal settlements. There are residential buildings,
two churches, one community hall and a kindergarten in the settlement. 92 per cent of the buildings
25. IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland

16%of houses in
Kalekana
were built
before 1990.

97%of the houses havemetal roofs. 45%
are in below average
conditions

58%of the houses are builtwith metal exterior walls,
29% in wood, 12% concrete
blocks and 1% bricks

80%of the houses are on
stilts, 64% of which are
made of wood, the rest
are concrete.

38%of the stilts are lessthan 1m off theground.

Kalekana Settlement19

are one storey high. All the buildings have been constructed with light materials (e.g. metal, wood,etc.), which are often reused and already in poor conditions when the houses are assembled. 54 percent of the buildings are located on a flat terrain, 25 per cent in a medium sloped terrain and 21 percent on high slopes.

(iii) Natural Resource-based Production
Kalekana residents depend on natural resources for food and livelihoods. 35 per cent of thehouseholds said that they grow crops, making use of the open space near their houses. The main
crops being grown include cassava, taro, kumala (sweet potato), yam, ginger, breadfruit, banana,
coconuts, papaya, dalo and vudi. During FGDs, participants reported no major impacts from climatehazards on their crops. Some high intensity cyclones such as TC Winston had impacts on their crops,
while other cyclones such as TC Harold did not have major impacts. Climate change impacts on root
crops are expected to be lower as compared to grain crops. Expected impacts on cassava crops on
the short term (2030) are insignificant to low, and those on taro crops are low to moderate26. Other
climate-related impacts that are expected to increase, and that could present a risk to taro crops, isthe increase in pest incidences due to increased temperatures.
Dependency on fishing is not very high, with 21 per cent of the households reporting to fish frequently.
Residents from Kalekana access the ocean through Wainivokai settlement. During FGDs, participants
mentioned that they have not perceived a decrease in catch, and that there are in fact more fish
available than there used to be a decade ago. However, coral bleaching and ocean acidification
represent a threat to the availability of fish. The proportion of households relying on livestock forfood is very low, at 3 percent of households.

(iv) Critical Point Facilities & Infrastructure
Kalekana is located along on its lower side along Queen´s Road (the main throughway in Fiji). Thereis a paved road that crosses the settlement. As such, accessibility is one of the positive aspects of
Kalekana that many residents highlighted. Based on information identified during site visits and theFGDs, there are some sections of the road that are often damaged due to slope failure. Pedestrian
accessibility in the settlement is inadequate in most areas. Residents have built some footpaths incertain locations with materials such as concrete, gravel or wooden planks, but these do not form acontinuous and well-connected network. Moreover, the characteristics of the terrain make mobility
even more difficult. Elderly people and people with disabilities are amongst the vulnerable groups
that are affected the most.
There are two churches, one community hall and a kindergarten in the settlement. The kindergarten
and community hall are in the same two storey building. Several issues were reported with thisbuilding. Most notably, that windows are broken, and that it does not function as an evacuation
centre owing to its small size.

(v) Lifeline Utilities
Most households have access to piped water supply (86 percent of the surveyed households reportedthis). 93 percent of respondents said the quality to be good. However, pipes and connections areoften informally built by residents in a way that these can lead to damages and leaks. Like the othersettlements in the periphery of Lami Town, Kalekana does not have access to sewerage infrastructure.
Septic tanks are poorly constructed (including the pipe connections), leading to leakages and outlets
that lead to the nearby surroundings (e.g., drains dug by residents, bushes, etc.).
Kalekana households have access to rubbish collection services provided by the city council and 95
percent of households reported disposing their household waste in through this service. Nonetheless,garbage can be found spread across the settlement, particularly in those areas that are locatedfurther away from the Kalekana Settlement Road. 87 percent of households have access to electricity.
During FGDs, participants mentioned that they had been without electricity for approximately threemonths after TC Winston and two weeks after TC Harold. ‘Fuel-stacking’ is a common issue in all
households. This is generally formed by a combination of either kerosene or gas with fuelwood
26. Government of Fiji. (2018). Climate Vulnerability Assessment – Making Fiji Climate Resilient

20

Kalekana Settlement

6.4 ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
Adaptive capacity is the ability of systems, institutions, humans, andother organisms to adjust to potential damage, to take advantage ofopportunities, or to respond to consequences27.
Three different levels of adaptive capacity are analysed:(i) Independent Capacity,(ii) Collective Capacity,(iii) Institutional Capacity.

(i) Independent Capacity
Independent capacity is how individuals or families are able to respond and adapt toclimate hazards without assistance from the larger community or local government. Also
referred to as ‘autonomous’ adaptation. In this report the unit considered for the analysis
is the household28.
There is limited financial resources available at the household level. The average income is low
and access to financial assistance and social protection services is low. The Department of Social
Welfare, under the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation (MWCPA) is the lead agency
for social assistance in Fiji and administers the core social protection programs, which are: thePoverty Benefit Scheme (PBS), Care and Protection Allowance (CPA), and Social Pension Scheme(SPS), Food Voucher Program and the Free Bus Fare Program.

56%

households reported thatat least one member hadaccess to the free bus
fare program.

7%

households mentioned
having accessto the social pension
scheme7%

have access tothe food voucher program,and 3% to the poverty
benefit scheme.

38%

households reported
not having accessto any social
protection programs.

Most respondents reported having access to information on climate change, either throughtechnology (including radio, television, etc.) (93 percent), or through social media (36 percent). Only
3 percent of households reporting not having access to any information on climate change anddisasters.With regards to disaster preparedness, most households reported having access to early
warning systems (EWS).
73 percent of households reported receiving SMS alerts.
10 percent of households reported having an evacuation plan, but only 4 percent mentioned being
connected to a formal DRR network.
When asked about the types of post-disaster assistance that the household had received in the past,
87 per cent of the households reported not having received any kind of aid in the past.

(ii) Collective Capacity
Collective capacity is how well are communities, neighbourhoods or other groups able
to respond and adapt to climate hazards without assistance from government or otheragencies and institutions29.
27. IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland
28. UN-Habitat, 2014. Planning for Climate Change.

29. IbidKalekana Settlement

21

There is a lack of financial capital at the community-level, as there are no collective savings groups
or systems in place. Despite individual households reporting having access to early warning systems(either through radio or SMS), the community is not connected to a formal DRR network nor has
a formal evacuation plan. However, the community has initiated several actions to prepare andrespond to disasters through bottom-up approaches. There is a disaster management committee inplace, and existing groups (e.g., women’s group, youth group, church) that are utilized to prepare andrespond to disaster events.
Material resources, infrastructure and access to services are very limited in the settlement. With
only one access road leading to the settlement, transportation may easily be disrupted during an
extreme event. During the validation workshop, participants mentioned that there is a ‘community
nurse’ and that there are approximately 30 people who have been trained in first aid. Furthermore, theFGDs evidenced that community members know where people with specific needs (e.g., people withdisabilities, elderly, etc.) are living and there are bottom-up mechanisms in place to support them.
For example, the disaster management committee will warn people with specific needs (e.g., people
in wheelchairs, blind people, elderly, etc.) before a cyclone and will help them get to the evacuation
center on time. There are community leadership structures in place (e.g. established community
leader, community groups etc.) that have been effective following past disaster events. These
structures are functioning, and carry out activities such as the organization of regular meetings to
discuss community matters, small fund-raising activities, etc. These systems present opportunities
that can be tapped on in order to strengthen other aspects at the community-level such as stronger
mechanisms for disaster preparedness, response and climate change adaptation.

(iii) Institutional Capacity
Institutional capacity is how well an established government is able to, or would be able to,respond and adapt to climate hazards (e.g. organizational systems, policies, regulations,human resources, technological resources)30.
Fiji’s 5 –Year and 20-Year National Development plans lay out the country’s development agenda inrealizing the Sustainable Development Goals and Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris
Agreement.
Fiji’s National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) further articulates Fiji’s priorities in reducing present
and future climate risks in alignment to the National Development Plans. These Plans envisage
9.3 billion FJD expenditure on climate change adaptations over the next two decades. Despite this,financial capital remains lower than the identified needs.
The NCCP recognizes the important roles local government entities play in delivering the policy’s
objectives and in providing coordination at the community-level. At the moment, councils do nothave a budget dedicated to the implementation of climate adaptation activities but may accessfunds through specific projects (e.g., mangrove conservation projects in Lami Town Council). The
NAP is meant to provide mechanisms and arrangements that will allow to progress local government
facilitation, promoting bottom- up approaches at district and community levels.
The National Disaster Management Office carries out activities such as community awarenessprograms and disaster management trainings. However, informal settlements are often left out of
formal systems, networks and programs. For example, activities such as the community awarenessprograms have been carried out in villages, but not in informal settlements up to the date. Given that
informal settlements such as Kalekana are often located in highly exposed areas, combined witha high level of sensitivity, the introduction of awareness raising programs and improved disaster
preparedness are a priority.
30. Ibid

22

Kalekana Settlement

7

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
The main purpose of the CAP is to empower communities to identify community-level interventions
that will strengthen their resilience to climate change while driving development. On the one hand,the prioritized actions resulting from this process will lead to the selection of projects that are financially supported by the FRIS project. On the other hand, the CAP aims to support national and local
government decision-making, particularly in relation to upgrading of informal settlements and theirenhanced integration into the urban system.
Several community workshops held with local stakeholders (including vulnerable groups such as
women, youth, the elderly, and people with disabilities) helped to identify key vulnerabilities, climate
risks and identify adaptation options and priorities. Integrating quantitative datasets and community
perceptions during the VA phase allow for critical consideration of both community and scientific

7.1 CLIMATE RESILIENCE& THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALSAs stated in the National Climate Change Policy, vulnerability to climate change in Fiji has thepotential to derail and undermine progress against each of the SDGs31. Building climate resilienceis critical to the implementation of the SDGs. However, existing development deficits exacerbate
communities’ vulnerability to climate change. As such, the action plan prioritizes a holistic approachthrough actions that build climate resilience alongside sustainable development co-benefits.

7.2 ALIGNMENT TO FIJI’S NATIONAL PLAN
Fiji´s National Adaptation Plan32 (NAP) is aligned to international processes such as the SDGs of
the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction. It contains 160 adaptation measures that are to be prioritized over the five-year periodof the NAP, organized across a total of 10 components (five systems components and five sectoralcomponents). The actions included in this report are aligned and respond to the aforementioned
focus areas.

OPTION IDENTIFICATION & PRIORITIZATION
During the workshops, key climate-hazards were discussed, linking the options to these hazards andrelated impacts. Integrating quantitative datasets and community perceptions during the VA phaseallow for critical consideration of both community and scientific understanding of climate variability
and change. Similarly, the option identification process considered both community inputs, thatallowed the team to capture local and traditional knowledge, and technical inputs from experts. The
options identified were derived from the findings of the VA and prioritized based on a multi-criteria
assessment (i.e. link to hazards, SDG co-benefits, ease of implementation, urgency and cost).

7.3 PRIORITIZED SHORTLISTED ACTIONS
During the participatory workshops, potential adaptation options were co-designed and discussed. Some
examples include improved sanitation facilities that are resilient to floods, and rainwater harvesting tanks
to ensure continous access to water. Based on the long-list of adaptive measures (see Annex A), a short-list
was prepared and prioritized. Below is the table that includes the short-listed options and the results fromthe community ranking. These were also assessed against the following criteria: acceptability, community
31. Ministry of Economy, Republic of Fiji, (2019). National Climate Change Policy 2018-2030.
32. See: Government of the Republic of Fiji, (2018). Republic of Fiji. National Adaptation Plan. A pathway towards climate resilience. Retrieved
from: https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/NAPC/Documents/Parties/National%20Adaptation%20Plan_Fiji.pdf

Kalekana Settlement

23

support and technical feasibility. This work forms the basis for the selection of options that will be implemented aspart of the FRIS project. However, it must be noted that the fact that the options have been shortlisted does notmean that all of them will be implemented. The next steps of the project include further developing the priority
actions for their implementation. This will be done in a participatory manner and will involve technical experts (e.g.,
engineers, architects, etc.), representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Community Development as well asfrom the local government with support from UN-Habitat.
PRIORITZED OPTIONS

SDG
CO-BENEFITSCOMMUNITYRANKING

Interventions in physical, natural and social assets
Slope retaining structures1

Construction of an adequate stormwater drainage network

3

Improved sanitation facilities (resilient to floods and surface
runoff)2

Construction of adequate footpaths across the community

4

Waste containers (composting bins and waste segregation)

5

Trainings and awareness raising
Training on waste management following a participatory approach that identifies opportunities linked to livelihoods

5

Trainings on safe construction for hazard proof shelters for
low-income residents

2

WASH trainings that target adults and children

4

Disaster preparedness and response related activities

1

Training on financial literacy and social protection programs

7

Establish youth community groups and increase their skills andcapacity

6

Training on livelihoods linked to sustainable agricultural practices

3

The following activities were identified and shortlisted, aiming to supported the project implementation:•
Reinforce existing governance structures at the community-level to ensure project ownership.
•
Establish youth community groups and promote their participation in awareness raising and project
implementation activities that can increase their skills and capacity.
•
Engagement through design process of the retrofitting actions, following a participatory approach.
•
Awareness raising and trainings on maintenance requirements of sanitation facilities and drainages.
•
Awareness raising and trainings on maintenance requirements of composting bins.

24

Kalekana Settlement

ANNEX
Long list of climate change adaptation options
Interventions in physical, natural and social assets
Trainings and awareness raising activities
Activities that support the project implementation

These actions were identified as part of the longlist of adaptive measures, and were short-listed forfurther prioritization.
EASE OFIMPLEMENTATIONURGENCY

COST

TOTAL

Community involvement in elimination of larval habitats(through clean up campaigns and awareness raising)

2

2

3

7

WASH trainings that target adults and children

2

3

3

8

Awareness raising campaigns that promote moresustainable options to solid waste management

2

3

2

7

Training on waste management following a participatory
approach that identifies opportunities linked to livelihood
options

2

3

3

8

Trainings on safe construction for low-income residents

2

3

3

8

Incorporating informal settlement areas to be covered byrelevant authorities (including compliance with building
codes)

1

2

1

4

Development of catalogue of hazard proof options for lowincome residents that takes into consideration local andaffordable materials that are available

2

2

3

7

Low-cost retrofitting to strengthen existing household
structures, especially roofs

1

3

1

4

Identify financial support options and promote informal
settlements upgrading and regularization of land tenure

1

3

2

6

Localized interventions to improve the housing conditionsof those structures that are identified as being in the worst
conditions

2

2

3

7

Set up disaster management committees to discussdisaster preparedness and response regularly

3

3

3

9

Plan and define evacuation routes

3

3

3

9

Link community level early warning system to formal
networks, city-wide disaster response communications
technologies and procedures.

3

3

3

9

Evacuation drills

3

3

3

9

Reinforce existing governance structures at thecommunity-level to ensure project ownership as theprocess progresses

3

3

3

9

OPTIONS

SDG
CO-BENEFITS

Population key area

25

Kalekana Settlement

Interventions in physical, natural and social assets
Trainings and awareness raising activities
Activities that support the project implementation

These actions were identified as part of the longlist of adaptive measures, and were short-listed forfurther prioritization.

EASE OFIMPLEMENTATIONURGENCY

COST

TOTAL

Strengthen existing youth community groups and promote
their participation project activities

3

3

3

9

Diffusion of assessment results to provide insights on thefindings and promote further action

3

3

3

9

Strengthening community engagement and participation inresilience planning processes

3

2

3

8

Formalization of land tenure, land subdivision andupgrading

1

2

1

4

Awareness raising and clean up campaigns to prevent
ecosystem degradation

3

2

3

8

Provide alternative low-cost cooking technologies that will
reduce the dependency on mangrove firewood

2

2

2

6

Provide adequate waste management options, as waste
is currently being dumped by the community in the nearby
surroundings

3

2

3

8

Trainings and awareness raising on sustainable fishingtechniques and climate change impacts

2

2

3

7

Trainings and awareness raising on sustainable andclimate-resilient agriculture techniques and crops

2

2

3

7

Urban farming area and cyclone-proof storage units forlivelihood materials

2

1

3

6

Slope retaining structures and stabilization

3

3

2

8

Construction of an evacuation center

2

2

3

7

Road improvements, particularly last segment

2

2

2

6

2

3

3

8

OPTIONS

SDG
CO-BENEFITS

Population key area

Urban land use

Natural resource-based production

Critical point facilities

Lifeline utilities
Construction of an adequate drainage network

26

Kalekana Settlement

Interventions in physical, natural and social assets
Trainings and awareness raising activities
Activities that support the project implementation

These actions were identified as part of the longlist of adaptive measures, and were short-listed forfurther prioritization.

EASE OFIMPLEMENTATIONURGENCY

COST

TOTAL

Improved sanitation facilities (resilient to floods andsurface runoff)

2

3

3

8

Improved access to piped water supply

1

3

2

6

SDG
CO-BENEFITSOPTIONS

Lifeline utilities

The table below shows the criteria and scores used for the prioritization.
3

2

1

Urgency

3 = High (action is directly
linked to the most pressing
issues identified through theVRA)

2 = Medium (action issomewhat linked to the mostpressing issues identified
through the VRA)

1 = Low (action is derived
from the VRA, but notamong the highest priorities
identified)

Ease ofimplementation

3 = High (action can be
implemented within the project´s timeframe and can be
implemented without external
support)

2 = Medium (action can be implemented within the project´stimeframe but would require
some external support)

1 = Low (action cannot be
implemented within the project´s timeframe and would
require significant support)

3 = High (action can be fully
covered by the project´sfunding)

2 = Medium (action canbe mostly covered by the
project´s funding but would
require some external funding)

1 = Low (action requires
significant external funding)Criteria

Cost

ADAPTATION FUNDHELPING DEVELOPING COUNTRIESBUILD RESILIENCE AND ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE
The Adaptation Fund finances projects and programmes to help the mostvulnerable communities in developing countries adapt to the negative
effects of climate change.

RISE-UPRESILIENT SETTLEMENTS FOR THE URBAN POOR
RISE UP aims to improve the socio-economic prosperity of the urban
poor by reducing the impact of natural disasters, enhancing urban basic
services and community resilience.

KALEKANA