Pacific outer island communities facing severe water insecurity will benefit from an expanded regional effort to strengthen access to safe and reliable drinking water, supported by new funding from New Zealand that brings total investment to NZD20.55 million. The initiative now covers all eight atoll and low-lying countries most at risk from drought, limited freshwater sources and the growing impacts of climate change.

The expansion brings Kiribati into the current phase of the project, restoring participation across all eight atoll and low-lying countries. These countries include the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu. Many outer island communities within these nations depend almost entirely on rainwater or limited groundwater supplies, leaving them highly vulnerable as climate change increases the frequency and duration of dry periods.

This regional effort builds on progress made since the launch of the Strengthening Water Resilience of Pacific Outer Island Communities project in April 2025. The additional funding will enable further upgrades to community and household water systems, the installation of new rainwater harvesting infrastructure, groundwater assessments and capacity building for local technicians. The partnership also strengthens community engagement approaches that draw on traditional knowledge and promote inclusion of women, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups. .