The Phase One Closure Workshop of the Fiji Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) Project, implemented under the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), provided an important moment for reflection on the progress made in strengthening national systems for climate transparency. The workshop brought together stakeholders to review achievements, share experiences, and consider the lessons emerging from the first phase of work focused on improving climate data collection, management, and reporting systems. 

A key reflection from the workshop came from Ravneeth Dewan, Climate Finance Advisor embedded with the Fiji Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC)  through the NDC Partnership, who has worked in the climate space for over six years and was part of the early technical discussions and project team that shaped the CBIT project. He reflected on the original challenge that informed the project’s design, noting that at the time there was a major issue around climate data collection and accessibility. He explained that CBIT was developed specifically to address this gap and to make it easier for institutions to access and use reliable data for reporting and decision-making. This foundational challenge shaped the entire direction of the project and its focus on improving transparency systems. 

He further reflected on the significance of seeing the project move from concept to implementation. Having been part of the early mitigation team and initial discussions with partners, he shared that it was rewarding to see the idea materialize into a functioning system. He expressed that there was a sense of satisfaction in witnessing a long-standing challenge being addressed in a practical way, particularly in relation to improving how climate data is collected and used. He also highlighted that one of the most important improvements has been the potential for more timely reporting to international processes, noting that in the past reporting had often been delayed due to fragmented systems. 

A major milestone of Phase One, as reflected during the workshop, has been the strengthening of climate finance data and its use in both international engagement and domestic policymaking. He explained that understanding how much climate finance has been received in-country, and how much is still needed, is essential for effective planning. This information not only supports national policy development but also strengthens the country’s position in international negotiations such as the annual COP meetings. With clearer data, the country is better able to articulate its needs to development partners and donors, while also identifying how domestic policies and investments can help address existing financing gaps. This shift represents a significant improvement in how climate finance information is used for strategic decision-making. 

The reflections also highlighted how improved transparency systems go beyond reporting obligations and contribute directly to better governance. With more structured and reliable data, decision-makers are now better equipped to identify gaps, prioritize interventions, and align climate action with national development goals. This has strengthened coordination between technical teams and policy institutions, ensuring that climate data is not only collected but also actively used. 

At the same time, the workshop discussion emphasized that Phase One has laid an important foundation, but there is still work ahead. The experience of implementation showed that while broad systems have been established, there is now a need to deepen the work in specific sectors to improve the quality and usefulness of data. There is growing recognition that future phases should focus more closely on priority sectors such as the energy sector, to generate more detailed and actionable insights. This reflects an understanding that transparency systems must continue to evolve and adapt to changing national priorities and reporting requirements. 

Overall, the Phase One Closure Workshop demonstrated that the CBIT Project has made meaningful progress in addressing long-standing challenges in climate data management and transparency. It has moved the system from fragmented processes toward a more coordinated and functional approach, while also strengthening the use of data in both reporting and decision-making. The reflections from stakeholders underscored that this progress is not only technical but also institutional, as it has strengthened ownership, improved coordination, and built confidence in the national transparency system. As the project moves into its next phase, the focus now shifts toward deepening and refining these gains, ensuring that climate data systems continue to evolve into tools that actively support climate action, finance mobilization, and national resilience planning. 

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GGGI Pacific

Kelly Vacala, Regional Communications & Knowledge Sharing Lead| Kelly.Vacala@gggi.org