Suva, Fiji – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Government of Fiji, key implementing partners of the Fiji Rural Electrification Support Project (FREF), and with support from the Australian Government Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership – has officially launched a field mission to 22 rural communities across the Eastern Division, spanning Lomaiviti, Kadavu, and Lau provinces.
The mission aims to collect detailed socio-economic and geotechnical data, while engaging local communities to ensure their knowledge, values, and voices shape the design and delivery of sustainable solar hybrid mini-grid systems earmarked to be installed over the next 18-24 months. Phase 2 of the FREF project kicks off with visits to eight selected villages in Lomaiviti Province.
The joint team – comprising representatives from UNDP Pacific Office, the Department of Energy, Ministry of Cooperatives, iTaukei Affairs Board, Arizona State University (ASU) and Geo-Tech consultants – will carry out the following four activities across the eight Lomaiviti communities:
- Site assessments: Evaluate land tenure, GPS mapping, environmental risks, and infrastructure access to confirm the technical feasibility of each village site for solar mini-grids.
- Community engagement: Conduct inclusive consultations to understand household and community energy needs—such as lighting for schools and clinics, cold storage, and small-scale appliances—with special attention to women, youth, elders, and persons with disabilities.
- Socio-economic mapping: Collect baseline data on livelihoods, gender roles, and local institutions to help identify productive-use opportunities for electricity.
- Cooperative dialogue: Facilitate discussions to build awareness on equitable ownership and participation through the iTaukei Trust Fund Board.
The mission to Lomaiviti runs from 2 to 30 July 2025. Subsequent missions are scheduled for Kadavu Province (early to mid-August) and Lau Province (mid-August to mid-September). Following the conclusion of fieldwork, a total of 17 out of the 22 proposed communities will be selected for FREF Phase 2 tender issuance, expected to be advertised by the end of September 2025. Communities to be visited by the joint team will be clearly informed that support from FREF is dependent on technical and financial viability assessments.
The FREF project is made possible through the support from the Governments of Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. These investments are playing a pivotal role in advancing Fiji’s goals for climate resilience, inclusive development, and sustainable energy access.
For more information contact:
Vineil Narayan, FREF Project Manager | UNDP Pacific Office | (E) vineil.narayan@undp.org