Dr Tekini Nakidakida
Pacific policy action representative and Deputy Secretary Agriculture Department, Fiji, lead UNFCCC COP agriculture negotiator
Dr Tekini Nakidakida is currently the Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterway and Sugar Industry. Earlier, he has served as the Principal Researcher for Land Resource Planning and a Senior Agronomist in the Crops Research Division under the Ministry of Agriculture. He is Fiji’s lead agriculture negotiator under the UNFCCC for the past 10 years and represents PSIDS agriculture negotiations to every Climate Conventions since 2017.
Dr Nakidakida has over 20 years of experience in the regional and national agricultural landscape, particularly in the areas of climate resilience, soil and crop management, and sustainable agricultural systems. He holds Graduate degrees in Agro-bioresources Science and Technology from the University of Tsukuba in Japan, and Undergraduate studies on Crop Science and Agricultural Management at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji and Samoa.
ABSTRACT
Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), including Fiji, are among the most vulnerable regions to climate change, with increasing threats to agriculture, food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity. Having a practical implementation framework for translating Talanoa—the Pacific tradition of inclusive dialogue and collective decision-making—into concrete agri-climate action, is key. Recognizing decision 4/CP-23 “Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture”, Fiji has integrated approaches centered on policy realignment, climate-smart agriculture, knowledge building and innovation, sustainable financing, value-chain development, nature-based solutions, and inclusive capacity building into the Ministry of Agriculture work plans. Any existing framework within PSIDS can include the above with key interventions on integrating agri-climate priorities into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national adaptation plans, promoting water-efficient and soil-conserving farming systems, strengthening climate information services, expanding blended finance and climate-risk insurance, and enhancing resilient agricultural value chains. An emphasis on ecosystem restoration through agroforestry, mangrove rehabilitation, and watershed management while ensuring the meaningful participation of women, youth, Indigenous communities, and smallholder farmers is recommended. Countries to have a phased implementation roadmap that outlines immediate and medium-term actions. Success depends on strong partnerships among governments, regional organizations, development partners, the private sector, and local communities, supported by transparent governance and measurable resilience indicators. This translation from dialogue to implementation, such framework provides a pathway for Fiji and other PSIDS to accelerate climate-resilient agricultural transformation, strengthen adaptive capacity, and contribute meaningfully to regional and global climate commitments while safeguarding livelihoods, ecosystems, and sustainable development.