Suriname has reached an important milestone in strengthening its climate resilience. On 28 January 2026, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) formally approved the Project Identification Form for a major climate adaptation initiative in the District of Coronie, unlocking more than USD 3 million in climate financing. The approval confirms that the project meets international standards for climate impact, institutional readiness, and financial integrity.

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with other national stakeholders. Preparation support was provided through the Small Island Developing States Capacity and Resilience Programme of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This collaboration played a critical role in enabling Suriname’s successful access to GEF resources.

Coastal Coronie is Suriname’s smallest and driest district, and one of the country’s most climate‑vulnerable areas. Rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns with increasingly severe dry seasons, and growing salinization of soils and groundwater are putting mounting pressure on local communities and the surrounding ecosystems.

These challenges are already undermining traditional agricultural systems, particularly coconut and rice production, and threatening the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Many households face limited access to irrigation, reliable freshwater sources, climate-resilient crop varieties, and timely climate information. Without targeted adaptation measures, the district risks declining agricultural productivity, income losses, and heightened vulnerability.

The GEF-financed initiative will directly benefit more than 3,300 residents, with a strong focus on smallholder farmers, women producers, and rural communities. The project aims to strengthen climate resilience through integrated investments in water security, climate-smart agriculture, institutional capacity building, and sustainable livelihood development.

The project will furthermore enhance climate information systems and institutional capacity by generating localized climate and hydrological data, developing plantation-level vulnerability maps, and introducing climate-informed agricultural planning tools. Training and technical support will strengthen land and water governance, enabling better investment and farming decisions that reflect future climate risks.

To address increasing water scarcity, the project will invest in improved water management measures, including rainwater harvesting, small reservoirs, micro-irrigation technologies, improved drainage, salinity control, and assessments of groundwater development potential. These interventions will reduce drought exposure, improve water availability for agriculture, and help mitigate saltwater intrusion.

Farmers will also gain access to climate-smart agricultural technologies such as drought- and salinity-tolerant crop varieties, agroforestry and intercropping systems, improved soil fertility and water-retention practices, efficient irrigation methods, and integrated pest and nutrient management. To ensure long-term economic resilience, the project will support women-led enterprises and community producer groups, strengthen coconut processing and agro-processing value chains, promote climate-adapted livelihoods and diversified cropping, and improve market access for climate-resilient products.

Coronie will serve as a national living laboratory, with successful approaches replicated in other climate-vulnerable districts, including Nickerie and Saramacca.

The project aligns with the National Adaptation Plan, Suriname’s Nationally Determined Contributions, national agriculture and food security strategies, and GEF-8 priorities for climate resilience in Small Island Developing States.

In the coming period stakeholders will be consulted, and the project initiation plan will be formulated to carry out the Project Preparation Grant for this important initiative.