In Pacific Small Island Developing States, the COVID-19 pandemic intensified existing challenges related to food security, nutrition and climate resilience. It emphasized the importance of Pacific agriculture and domestic food systems for food security, economic development, resilience to shocks and self-sufficiency.

The severity of the pandemic’s economic impact varies between countries depending on their dependence on imported food, integration with global supply chains, the significance of the tourism industry and their natural resources.

Launched in 2022, the Pacific Islands Rural and Agriculture Stimulus (PIRAS) Facility is a collaboration between IFAD and the Australian Government. PIRAS is a regional initiative aiming to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on rural households. The programme supports food system and economic recovery by prioritizing food self-reliance, improving local nutrition and developing sustainable, equitable agricultural livelihood opportunities for rural communities in Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

To catalyze the mobilisation of resources needed to meet communities’ needs, PIRAS is delivered through existing IFAD-funded projects and programmes. In partnership with governments, farmers’ organizations and civil society, PIRAS:

• Expands knowledge and coordination around production, distribution and consumption of nutritious local foods;
• Improves food and nutrition security;
• Enables safe post-harvest handling and local food preservation;
• Facilitates functioning local food markets, strengthens market linkages and transfer of business skills, especially for women and youth;
• Supports the economic recovery of Small and Medium Enterprises, producers’ organizations and agribusinesses through sustainable businesses and access to social security; and
• Promotes data collection and information sharing to enable timely, informed response planning and policy coordination around local foods.

PIRAS funding totals US$8.1 million, with contributions from a US$3 million IFAD grant funded through the RPSF, Australia supplementary funds of AU$5 million and US$1.5 million from the UN COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Fund.

For more information on PIRAS, please contact Tamara Nicodeme, PIRAS Regional Coordinator (t.nicodeme@ifad.org).