The Philippines has secured its first Adaptation Fund (AF)-financed project worth USD 10 million during the 44th Board Meeting of the Adaptation Fund held in Bonn, Germany last April 8 to 11, 2025, to boost the resiliency of communities in Tawi-Tawi to the impacts of climate change.

The project entitled ‘Harnessing the water-energy-food nexus to address and adapt to climate change impacts in Tawi-Tawi’ aims to support communities in securing climate-resilient water access by increasing the adaptive capacity of the municipalities of Sibutu and Sitangkai.

The project will be implemented through various components throughout the project’s lifespan. This includes deploying resilient water supply systems integrated with existing renewable energy infrastructure in Tawi-Tawi, supplying local capacity building for sustainable water management, building the local communities’ resilience and strengthening their livelihoods, and providing knowledge management to scale up the project’s activities in the Philippines.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as the Designated Authority of the AF, shepherded the development of this project with other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the adverse impacts of and risks posed by climate change in the water management sector in the Tawi-Tawi province are adequately addressed.

The project will be implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

“This project is fully aligned with our National Adaptation Plan, which emphasizes securing food supply while nurturing our natural resources and sustaining livelihoods as one of our core strategies in our fight against climate change,” Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said.

The Environment Chief added that the project showcases how the water-energy-food nexus recognizes the interconnectedness of vital resources and leads to more effective climate solutions.

“By enhancing water security, we are not only safeguarding the livelihoods of our seaweed farmers but also reinforcing the economic foundations of the communities affected by climate change,” she added, underlining the multifaceted benefits of the initiative.

The Philippines, through the Department of Finance (DOF), is a member of the AF Board representing the Non Annex I Parties (mostly comprising developing countries).

“This project is not only the country’s first access to the Adaptation Fund. It is, more importantly, an assertion of our promise that no Filipino will be left behind in our nation’s pursuit of climate resilience and sustainable development,” Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said.

“By placing communities like Tawi-Tawi at the forefront of global climate financing, we are doubling down on our commitment to ensure that we uplift the lives of every Filipino, especially those most at risk,” he added.