São Tomé, 14 October 2026 (ECA) — São Tomé and Príncipe has launched the RESIslands initiative to strengthen climate risk assessment, institutional capacity and preparation for climate investment, with an emphasis on protecting communities and the essential services on which they depend.
Opening the national launch, Minister of State for Economy and Finance H.E. Gareth Haddad do Espírito Santo Guadalupe recalled the December 2021 floods and their consequences for communities: damaged infrastructure, disrupted agricultural livelihoods and difficulties reaching schools and health services.
He stressed that rebuilding roads, bridges and other infrastructure must also reduce their vulnerability to future events. Better risk information, stronger planning and effective early warnings, he explained, can help identify vulnerable infrastructure and communities before disaster strikes.
The minister also emphasised that warnings must reach people in language they understand, and that communities hold knowledge essential to identifying risks and preparing responses. Investment in prevention, he argued, protects lives while helping safeguard scarce public resources.
Funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), RESIslands is a 30-month readiness initiative supporting nine members of the African Island States Climate Commission (AISCC).
In São Tomé and Príncipe, the initiative will support national capabilities to assess risks, strengthen climate information and prepare investment proposals aligned with the country’s priorities.
“The ambition is to transform national priorities into concrete actions and investments, with lasting benefits for people,” said Kjartan Fjeldsted, ECA Programme Management Officer.
Fjeldsted highlighted the country’s natural assets, including its marine environment, forests and biodiversity, and the importance of protecting the foundations of agriculture, fisheries and sustainable tourism. He also recognised São Tomé and Príncipe’s active contribution to regional cooperation through the AISCC.
Antonio Aranibar, acting United Nations Resident Coordinator, underscored the importance of community participation and ensuring that knowledge remains available within the country.
“Farmers, fishers, women’s and youth organisations, and local authorities must participate in identifying risks and defining solutions,” he said.
Aranibar emphasised that the value of the initiative would lie in the effective use of its tools: informing investment decisions, incorporating risks into territorial planning and infrastructure, strengthening institutional cooperation and preparing projects capable of attracting finance.
Presenting the initial consultation findings, Helmute Barreto, RESIslands Country Lead for São Tomé and Príncipe, reported that 29 stakeholders had been mapped across seven institutional categories and 57 training needs identified across eight institutions.
The assessment highlighted needs in climate and marine information, geographic information systems, resilient infrastructure, coastal management, climate finance and institutional planning. It also identified coastal communities as having very high interest in the project but limited influence, reinforcing the importance of their inclusion in decision-making.
The next steps include validating the training-needs assessment with the institutions concerned and prioritising capacity-building activities. The disaster risk management presentation also examined the relationship between national coordination, local committees, early warning and community-level preparedness.
Landry Ahouansou, Regional Manager, Green Climate Fund (GCF), emphasised that readiness support should develop lasting institutional capabilities and help countries move from national priorities towards stronger investment proposals and, ultimately, tangible benefits for people.
Closing the launch, H.E. Nilda Borges da Mata, Minister of Environment, Youth and Sustainable Tourism, called for stronger coordination, data sharing and practical application of existing knowledge. She stressed the importance of retaining information within national institutions and developing the skills needed to turn priorities into viable project proposals.
RESIslands supports the preparation necessary to pursue future climate investment. Its success will depend on national ownership, effective cooperation and the use of stronger evidence to address the priorities of communities.
Issued by:
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Economic Commission for Africa
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