Over 570 residents of Tikopia now enjoy reliable access to clean water, improving daily life for local communities.
Over 570 residents across four communities in the Faea District and one in the St John Community of Ravenga District now have reliable access to clean water, following the completion of a locally driven water project supported by development partners.
For over 20 years, communities relied on rainwater collection and an aging water system installed in the early 1980s. Over time, the system deteriorated, eventually leaving only a single standpipe—often dry—serving several villages. Droughts, increasingly frequent due to climate change, further strained already limited access to safe water.
The recently completed St Luke Community Faea Water Project, which began in June 2023, constructed two water dams and installed 31 standpipes across five communities. As a result, 576 people now have a more consistent water supply for drinking, cooking, and washing.
“This project has relieved one of our longest-standing burdens,” said Mr. Pae Seivaea, Chairman of the St Luke Community. “For years, we had to carry water long distances—mothers, children, everyone. Now, clean water is right in front of our homes. It is truly changing our daily lives.”
The project is implemented under the Small Grants Programme funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Solomon Islands. It is part of broader efforts to support community-led solutions in remote areas vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
UNDP’s Team Leader for Resilience and Climate Change, Mr. Barnabas Bago, acknowledged the determination of Tikopia’s residents in delivering the project. “This is your success,” he said. “Water is life. It is a vital resource for human survival, and too many communities in Solomon Islands still live without reliable access to clean and safe drinking water. You are fortunate, and you’ve earned it through your hard work and partnership with relevant stakeholders.”
The project contributes to both national and international development goals, including the Solomon Islands National Development Strategy Objective 2—focused on addressing basic needs and improving food security—and UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Source: UNDP
