LocationsBuilding Resilience: Empowering Local Carpenters and Plumbers to Strengthen Water Quality and Security for the Marshall Islands
January 8, 2025
ACWA Builders installing gutters and downpipes on an Existing Community Building .
Mejatto, Republic of the Marshall Islands: As part of the Addressing Climate Change Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) project, the first on-site carpentry, plumbing, and masonry training has been successfully conducted on Mejatto Island. This training, led by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), focused on empowering four local carpenters and plumbers—referred to as ACWA Builders—with the skills necessary to upgrade rainwater harvesting systems (RWH) in their communities.
This inaugural mission marked the start of the second phase of the ACWA project, which aims to enhance local capacity by upgrading existing community building rainwater harvesting systems in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and connecting them to newly installed Flatpack Modular Tanks (FMTs). During the training, ACWA Builders collaborated with UNDP’s Chief Technical Advisor and Field Engineers to upgrade the RWH system on the Mejatto Warehouse and connect it to a recently installed 9,000-gallon FMT. These upgrades are designed to improve water storage capacity, enhance water quality, and build resilience against the increasing threat of drought.
The training covered essential topics such as roof repair, fascia board installation, RWH plumbing, pressure plumbing, soak pit construction, and tap stand installation. These sessions provided both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, enabling the ACWA Builders to acquire the practical skills needed to implement and maintain water infrastructure improvements in Mejatto and future projects across other atolls and islands.
“This training taught us so much, especially about plumbing and other essential skills needed for the upcoming construction work,” said one of the ACWA Builders.
“The community members were always there to support us, and they were genuinely happy with the upgrades, especially now that the rainwater harvesting systems are operational. As ACWA Builders, we’re excited to continue working on other islands and atolls, knowing the positive impact these improvements will bring,” they said.
The mission also included meetings to align the installation plan with the community’s needs and expectations. These meetings fostered strong community engagement, with members actively participating in the sessions. This collaborative approach blended traditional knowledge with modern practices, ensuring the development of sustainable water management solutions tailored to the community's unique needs.
The project's Chief Technical Advisor conducting a training session with ACWA Builders.
The upgrades to the Mejatto Warehouse marked the first step in a series of planned improvements to all community buildings in Mejatto. This milestone not only demonstrates the impact of the second phase of the ACWA project but also highlights the critical role ACWA Builders will play in driving future water system upgrades across the Marshall Islands.
“This mission demonstrates how engineers, ACWA Builders and community volunteers can build on each other's knowledge and experience to ensure high quality and sustainable water infrastructure,” said Kieren Davis, Chief Technical Advisor for the ACWA project.
“The skills developed here in Mejatto will empower the ACWA Builders to take the lead in future works across the remaining atolls and islands,” he added.
The ACWA Project, funded by the Green Climate Fund, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the European Union, enhances the ability of Marshallese to adapt to increasing climate risks, particularly extreme droughts and coastal inundation. Running from 2020 to 2027, the project works to: improve household and community rainwater harvesting and storages, secure groundwater resources from contamination, and strengthen the technical capacities of national and subnational institutions and key stakeholders to integrate climate change risks into water governance processes.
For more information contact:
Yuki Yamada | Communication Specialist for Climate Resilient Water Security Project, UNDP Pacific Office | yuki.yamada@undp.org