The Commission will present its findings to the Fiji Government and request that the situation of the 27 villages, and their residents, be included in its Standard Operating Procedure for relocation of villages, released in April 2023. The report of the consultations, along with a press statement, will be published on the Commission’s website to advise the public and other stakeholders of its findings, the priorities of the residents affected, and the remedies they seek. Lessons learned What helped the project to be effective? ● ● ● Leadership: The Commission Chairperson made the project an organisational priority, inviting the participation of all staff, regardless of their role. This leadership helped facilitate effective planning, implementation and internal collaboration. Teamwork: Ensuring all Commission staff, regardless of their role, were involved in the community consultations fostered a strong sense of teamwork and a shared commitment to delivering the Commission’s mandate. Respect: Demonstrating respect for tradition, protocols, the Vanua and the land helped build trust with communities and ensured their active participation in the consultations. What could be done differently? ● ● Time: Additional time to conduct the activity would have allowed the Commission to visit more communities and collect more information. Funding: With a longer lead time, the Commission may have been able to source and allocate additional funding to extend the activity’s reach and impact. Ongoing engagement Through the talanoas hosted by the APF in 2022, the Commission has strengthened its relationships with IGMs in the Pacific, including the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat for the Pacific Environment Program (SPREP). The report of the consultations will provide further opportunities for the Commission to engage with the IGMs and share the experiences and aspirations of Fijian communities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This information could be used in different ways; for example, it could be referenced in climate change policy documents by PIFS or used by SPC or SPREP to develop technical support for human rights, social development, governance and other community-based projects. In turn, recognition by the IGMs of the Commission’s findings and recommendations can add weight and credibility to the Commission’s domestic advocacy for a human rights-based approach to support communities impacted by climate change and promote people-centred development. - 16 -