North Tarawa, Kiribati, 27 July 2026 – The Kiribati National Expert Group on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (KNEG) concluded its three-day Directors’ Retreat from 24 to 26 July 2026 in North Tarawa, bringing together representatives from government ministries, statutory bodies, civil society organisations, the private sector, and development partners to strengthen national coordination on climate change and disaster risk management. Established under the Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Act 2019, KNEG serves as Kiribati’s principal strategic coordination and technical advisory body for climate change and disaster risk management. 

The retreat was led by the KNEG Secretariat under the Office of Te Beretitenti (OB), Mr. Jiope Rusiate, who welcomed participants and reaffirmed the importance of collaboration in strengthening Kiribati’s climate governance. “The active participation and constructive contributions of all stakeholders will be instrumental in reviewing and endorsing the Technical Working Group Terms of Reference,” he said. “These outcomes will provide a stronger foundation for coordinated action as we work together to build a more climate-resilient Kiribati.” 

Participants represented the Office of Te Beretitenti (OB); the Ministries of Finance and Economic Development (MFED), Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD), Education (MOE), Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE), Information, Communications and Transport (MICT), Culture and Internal Affairs (MCIA), Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI), Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs (MWYSSA), and Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR); the Kiribati Meteorological Service (KMS); the Kiribati Police Service (KPS); the Kiribati Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI); the Kiribati Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (KANGO); and the GCF Readiness 2 Project team. 

The retreat gave members an opportunity to review progress since the previous KNEG meeting, discuss national priorities, and strengthen the governance arrangements supporting climate change adaptation, mitigation, disaster risk reduction, and climate finance coordination. Participants received updates from the Climate Finance Division (CFD) on progress over the past nine months, including two climate finance proposals developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Office of Te Beretitenti under the Loss and Damage Fund, and MCIA, which are now awaiting funding approval. Members were also briefed on the Expression of Interest for the Climate Finance Investment Fund, submitted the previous month, and the CFD reaffirmed its commitment to supporting ministries in developing high-quality climate finance proposals aligned with national priorities. 

Representatives from the GCF Readiness 2 Project, which commenced in 2024 and is scheduled to conclude in 2026, presented progress on initiatives to strengthen Kiribati’s climate finance architecture. These included development of the GCF Readiness 2 Communications Strategy, redevelopment of the MFED website, establishment of a Climate Finance Portal, and preparations for financial management and climate finance training for KNEG Directors and technical officers, with a training provider expected to deliver this training in September 2026. 

A key focus of the retreat was the review of the Terms of Reference (TORs) for KNEG’s Technical Working Groups, which coordinate national action on climate change and disaster risk management. Participants reviewed TORs for six groups: National Emergency Response Coordination; Climate Adaptation; Climate Mitigation; Loss and Damage; Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Project Coordination; and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

Discussions generated valuable recommendations to strengthen governance arrangements, clarify institutional roles and responsibilities, and improve representation across sectors. Participants agreed to expand Technical Working Group membership to include civil society and private sector representatives such as KANGO and KCCI alongside relevant government divisions and endorsed the adoption of a standard TOR template to ensure consistency across all groups. Discussions also clarified how Island Councils and local communities are represented within TWG structures, including the role of Island Disaster Committees in linking national coordination with community-level engagement, and considered how language describing community vulnerability might be balanced with a stronger emphasis on local capacity and resilience. Participants further highlighted the importance of gender-balanced nominations, improved monitoring and data sharing, reduced duplication of climate and disaster risk management initiatives, and clearer reporting arrangements to keep the Technical Working Groups responsive to national priorities while supporting regional and international commitments. 

As nominated representatives of KNEG Directors, participants agreed that endorsement of the Terms of Reference would proceed by a show of hands once final revisions were incorporated, with a recommendation that the Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Act 2019 be reviewed to clarify endorsement arrangements for future KNEG meetings. Following detailed deliberations, four Technical Working Group Terms of Reference were approved to progress through the Government endorsement process. The Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Project Coordination Technical Working Group was adopted in principle, pending further refinement, while the UNFCCC Technical Working Group Terms of Reference will undergo further bilateral consultation between the Office of Te Beretitenti and MELAD before being presented for endorsement at a future KNEG meeting. 

Participants also joined a virtual technical session, presented by national database consultant Kanaan Ngutu, on the development of Kiribati’s CCDRM Centralised Data Hub, currently in its design phase. The session highlighted how the platform will improve data sharing, monitoring, reporting, and evidence-based decision-making by serving as a central repository for climate change, disaster risk management, vulnerability assessment, and project information. The Data Hub is expected to strengthen coordination across government agencies and development partners while supporting national planning, policy development, climate finance programming, and long-term resilience. 

The retreat concluded with agreement on KNEG’s priorities, work programme, and meeting schedule for the remainder of 2026. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration across government, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, faith-based organisations, and the private sector to support coordinated implementation of Kiribati’s climate change and disaster risk management priorities. 

In his closing remarks, Assistant Secretary Motire Etekia thanked all participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions throughout the retreat. “I would like to sincerely thank all participants for their commitment and constructive contributions over the past three days,” he said. “Your active participation has been instrumental in strengthening KNEG’s coordination mechanisms and advancing our shared climate change and disaster risk management priorities. I also extend my sincere appreciation to the Climate Finance Division, through the GCF Readiness 2 Project implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), for its generous support in making this retreat possible. This partnership continues to play an important role in strengthening KNEG, enhancing national climate governance, and supporting Kiribati’s efforts to build resilience to the growing impacts of climate change.”

The retreat was supported by the Climate Finance Division of MFED through the GCF Readiness 2 Project, reflecting the shared commitment of the Government of Kiribati and GGGI to strengthening institutional capacity, improving access to climate finance, and fostering coordinated action on climate change and disaster risk management.