Great Sea Reef

The Great Sea Reef has been part of the Fijian lifestyle for centuries, providing sustenance and protection and supporting a diverse range of industries from fishing to tourism. This unique landscape was facing numerous challenges - such as rapid population growth, urban expansion and frequent intense cyclones. The Fijian government along with local communities designated a number of marine protected areas (MPAs) and set aside areas for continued fishing and economic use, but Fijian officials knew a more comprehensive plan was needed. 

Led by Fijian government ministries, a partnership with WWF-Pacific, the Lab, The Earth Care Agency and other partners was created in 2017 that launched the Great Sea Reef Resilience programme. The aim was to ensure the reef and coastal ecosystems were healthy and resilient to climate change by developing holistic land and marine use management, financial systems for regenerative production and strengthening systems for removal of waste and pollution.

The Lab supported the Great Sea Reef Resilience programme by facilitating a flow of funds to catalyse stakeholder engagement and early stage scoping of sustainable investments. The Lab carried out a comprehensive analysis of the multiple regenerative sectors and from there developed the financial tools to strengthen and assist private sector enterprises. The eventual result of this work was the formation of Matanataki, a dedicated financial partnership which sources investable businesses and attracts international investors, including private investors and international development institutions.