Research on Community Resilience in Kiribati

The Australia Pacific Climate Partnership (Climate Partnership) has commissioned the Institute of Sustainable Futures (ISF) from the University of Technology Sydney to undertake an analytical study aiming to explore and document insights about community’s lived experiences in responding to climate and disaster risks and building resilience. 

Researchers from ISF have worked closely with Live and Learn Kiribati to learn about perceptions and experiences of resilience to climate change and disasters in Kiribati. The research forms part of the Climate Partnership’s monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) portfolio of work, with community resilience case studies also underway in Fiji and Timor Leste.

During 26 March – 1 April 2024, the research team undertook interviews, focus group discussions and a community workshop with women, men, youth, people with disabilities and older people in Betio, Kiribati, to hear about diverse experiences of climate change, how climate change affects different groups, and ways they each demonstrate resilience. Climate pressures such as extreme heat, coastal erosion and water insecurity were raised by all groups, while the pressure of over-crowding in Betio (where population density is higher than Tokyo) was seen as exacerbating the impacts of these issues. Community members prioritised ikarekebai (sharing information and working together), sustainable natural resource management, and continuation of cultural knowledge and practices as existing strengths they would like to build upon for community resilience into the future. Young people in particular emphasised strengthening access to finance, economic opportunities and mobility into the future.

Participants of Live and Learn’s ‘Atoll Food Futures’ program also spoke of how increasing their family’s food security through creating compost and vegetable farming had numerous positive outcomes that supported their resilience. Findings and lessons from Fiji, Kiribati and Timor Leste case studies are expected to be shared over the coming weeks which would help inform approaches to best community-level resilient development relevant to inform the Australian aid program and other stakeholders.