Scaling up the adoption of EbA solutions using behaviour-centred design: The case of Vetiver grass for riverbank erosion control in Fiji

EbA, like other climate solutions, requires substantial human behavioural changes. But so far, the role and implications of behaviour change have largely been overlooked, oversimplified, or incomplete. A more nuanced understanding of the determinants of human behaviour – and the role of behavioural change – in supporting the scaling up of climate adaptation solutions and the implications for developing and implementing ambitious climate policies is needed. Using a pilot case of the adoption of Vetiver grass for riverbank rehabilitation to reduce damages from floods in Fiji, this project aims to understand how to design behaviourally informed EbA solutions and the differences it can bring for scaling up actions. The implementation of a pilot approach in a vulnerable river catchment in Fiji – as well as the development of policy recommendations to incentivise the uptake of EbA in Fiji – strengthens the evidence base for applying behavioural analysis in the implementation and scaling up of EbA solutions. Insights gained from the project should inform the design and implementation of other ongoing and future EbA programs and related policies in Fiji and beyond.

Project Status

“Planting for Resilience” is a project bringing together climate adaptation experts from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), behavioural change scientists from Rare’s Center for Behavior & the Environment, and government officials from the Fijian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

The project seeks to leverage insights from behavioural science to accelerate the uptake of EbA solutions among vulnerable communities in Fiji. In particular, a case study was developed to explore the extent to which a specific EbA solution promoted by the Fijian government – the use of vetiver grass for riverbank rehabilitation against flooding- was adopted in four communities in Tailevu province and the factors that influence adoption among targeted communities.

Across the four rural villages, a series of semi-structured household interviews were undertaken in February 2023, coupled with village transect walks and participatory maps, focus group discussions with women, men and youth, and semi-structured interviews with experts at the national and provincial levels to understand past interventions.

Data was analysed using the behavioural driver model (BDM) developed by UNICEF in 2019. We found that there was very limited uptake of the vetiver in the selected communities. Based on the data collected, the research team identified six core variables that seemed to influence farmers’ behaviour in relation to using vetiver against riverbank erosion. These factors seem to currently matter the most in the selected communities and they should be prioritized in future interventions. A report that summarizes the project process and results is currently being prepared.