Port Louis, Mauritius, 25 September 2026 – The Government of Mauritius and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) launched the RESIslands Project today, a new initiative to help Mauritius and eight other African Island States manage climate risks, build resilience and access international climate finance. Held in Port Louis and bringing together around 40 government officials, regional partners and stakeholders, the national launch marks the start of the project's implementation in Mauritius.
Funded through the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Programme with a grant of approximately US$4.95 million, RESIslands is implemented by ECA in partnership with the African Island States Climate Commission (AISCC) and covers nine African Island States. Out of the total budget, 250,000 USD is allocated to the project's implementation in Mauritius. As a Small Island Developing State, Mauritius faces mounting exposure to sea-level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather events, changing rainfall patterns and water stress, with direct consequences for its infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, water security and biodiversity. RESIslands will help the country strengthen national systems for integrated climate-risk management and build a stronger pipeline of bankable, climate-resilient projects.
The Junior Minister of Agro-Industry and Blue Economy, Dr Arvin Boolell, stressed that “stronger institutional capacity, better use of climate and disaster-risk information, and closer regional cooperation are essential to enable island States to respond effectively to increasingly complex climate risks. He noted that the impacts of climate change are already affecting coastal communities, water resources, ecosystems and economic activities.”
The launch will strengthen coordination between institutions working on climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, climate information and development planning, and will help identify priority areas for technical assistance and capacity development. It will also raise awareness of opportunities to mobilise Green Climate Fund and other international climate finance and initiate the identification of a pipeline of potential bankable, climate-resilient projects. By connecting Mauritius with the eight other African Island States participating in RESIslands through AISCC, the initiative will open the door to regional knowledge exchange, peer learning and collaboration on climate resilience.
UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius & Seychelles underscored that “For Mauritius, climate change is already a reality. We see its effects in the coastal areas, in changing weather patterns, in pressures on water resources and ecosystems, and in the increasing exposure of communities and economic activities to extreme events.
As an island nation, these issues are particularly important. But they are not issues for one sector or one institution alone. They cut across the economy and the development priorities.”
In the opening speech, ECA underlines Mauritius’s achievements in climate resilience and its scope for climate action, “Over the years, Mauritius has made great strides in its efforts to strengthen climate resilience and put in place a strong disaster preparedness framework. Thanks to its highly developed financial sector and investment grade credit rating, Mauritius also has strong potential to act as a sustainable finance hub for the region, to help channel both public and private investment into environmental conservation, blue economy, and natural capital, as well as mobilize funding for timely disaster response.”
Following the launch, national stakeholders will work with ECA and AISCC to translate the project's objectives into concrete national action, including agreement on immediate next steps for implementation and continued engagement across government, development partners, the private sector, academia and civil society.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org