𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒: First Citizenship Granted Under Nauru’s Climate Resilience Programme

An IMGW Exclusive News Report

Dubai-based German family among inaugural recipients as island nation turns investment into adaptation

In a landmark development for the Republic of Nauru, IMGW News can exclusively reveal that the first citizenships have now been officially granted under the country’s Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme (ECRCP). This ambitious initiative aims to secure the island’s future against the existential threat of climate change.

The inaugural recipients are a German family of four, parents and two sons, currently residing in Dubai. Having recently exited a well-established family business in Germany, they reportedly sought a “Plan B” citizenship aligned with values of impact investment. Their decision to acquire Nauruan nationality was driven by the programme’s focus on funding long-term climate adaptation and resilience, particularly the government’s Higher Ground Initiative to relocate communities away from coastal risk zones.

“We know that small nations can lead with big ideas and that with vision, integrity and international partnership, we can turn vulnerability into strength”

– President David Adeang

“We are very pleased to announce that the first citizenships have been officially granted,” said Edward Clark, CEO of the Nauru Program Office. “This is a major milestone for the Government of Nauru and for the programme, with valuable contributions raised that will go towards tackling the impact of climate change on the island. The entire process was efficient, taking approximately four months from application to grant. This first approval will provide confidence to other applicants who are considering the programme as a credible and timely solution.”

Henley & Partners, the international advisory firm, represented the first successful applicants. In a statement to IMGW News, the firm noted:

“Henley & Partners is incredibly proud to represent the first applicant to be successfully granted citizenship under the Republic of Nauru’s Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme. This is a clear example of how investment migration, when properly designed and governed, can channel capital toward climate resilience measures and create a more sustainable future.”

The programme, first unveiled at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, is unique among global investment migration schemes for being explicitly climate-focused. It channels investor contributions into critical infrastructure projects, including water desalination, food security, renewable energy, and inland housing development. According to the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, Nauru ranks among the five most climate-vulnerable nations globally and is the most at risk in the Pacific.

President David Adeang, speaking in an earlier IMGW interview, called the programme “a strategic response to urgent environmental and economic challenges” and a model for other small island developing states.

“We know that small nations can lead with big ideas and that with vision, integrity and international partnership, we can turn vulnerability into strength,” he said.

While the Nauru government remains cautious about external scrutiny, mindful of challenges faced by other citizenship-by-investment programmes, it has underscored its alignment with IMF, OECD and FATF frameworks. Rigorous due diligence, engagement with international institutions and transparent fund governance remain central to its approach.

The successful granting of the first citizenships marks more than just a procedural step. It signals the emergence of a new category of citizenship, one rooted not in privilege, but in planetary stewardship. Nauru, though physically small, may be setting the pace for a bold reimagining of how mobility, capital and climate action intersect.