Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 25 March 2026 – Tonga took a decisive step toward strengthening its climate resilience and unlocking international climate finance with the successful opening of a three day Climate Finance Training Workshop and Write shop, hosted by the Ministry of Finance with funding from the United Kingdom’s Small Islands & Developing States Capacity and Resilience Program (SIDAR) and the Government of Australia’s Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) project, that are both implemented in Tonga by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). 

Opening the workshop, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Sisilia Finau emphasized that for Tonga, climate change is not a distant threat, but an everyday reality experienced through stronger cyclones, saltwater intrusion, and increasing pressure on livelihoods. She stressed that investing in climate resilience today is far more cost-effective than bearing the escalating costs of inaction in the future. 

A key milestone highlighted during the workshop was the Ministry of Finance’s ongoing pursuit of Direct Access Entity accreditation to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with technical support from GGGI. Once accredited, Tonga would be able to access climate finance directly, enabling faster deployment of funds and greater national ownership over climate priorities. 

“Accreditation is only the first step,” the Deputy CEO noted. “What truly unlocks climate finance is a strong pipeline of bankable, high impact projects. This workshop is about turning our national priorities into fundable concept notes.” 

The workshop brought together officials from across government ministries, development partners, and technical experts to strengthen practical skills in climate finance access and absorption. Over the three days, participants collectively drafted at least two ready to submit climate project concept note aligned with Tonga’s national development and climate goals. 

GGGI’s Polynesia Representative, Ms. Shomi Kim, highlighted “the issue is not the absence of funds, but a lack of well prepared, investment-ready proposals that connect national priorities with global capital. This workshop is a catalytic step to strengthen Tonga’s climate finance readiness and build a quality pipeline of bankable climate projects.” 

Ms. Kim noted, “The workshop will strengthen both Tonga’s ability to access climate finance and its capacity to absorb it effectively, especially at the community level, were impact matters most.” 

The training also incorporated community engagement insights to ensure that climate finance reached vulnerable populations and supported inclusive and resilient development outcomes. GGGI, CFAN, and partners under the UK supported Climate Absorption Programme reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Tonga beyond the workshop, including through continued project development and funding mobilization support. 

The key climate finance topics covered include climate finance fundamentals and access to international climate funds; problem analysis and theory of change; development of bankable climate project proposals; financial and economic analysis; climate finance instruments; application of GCF investment criteria and project prioritization; gender and youth mainstreaming; and hands-on preparation of climate project concept notes. 

By the close of the workshop, Tonga emerged not only with draft project concepts, but with a strengthened technical team, a clearer climate investment pipeline, and renewed momentum to transform climate ambition into tangible action for the people of Tonga. 

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For more information, visit:  https://gggi.org 

GGGI Tonga

Lano Fonua, Senior Program Officer and Climate Finance Advisor| Lano.fonua@gggi.org

GGGI Pacific

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