Locations
UNDP staff and school students on Tikopia Island.
Tikopia Island, Solomon Islands: After more than two decades of hardship and limited access to clean water, four communities in the Faea District and one St John Community in the Ravenga District of Tikopia Island are finally celebrating a sustainable solution to their water woes. This achievement is thanks to the Small Grants Programme funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and administered by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office.
Tikopia, one of the outer islands of Temotu Province, is among the most remote territories in Solomon Islands. With a population of around 1,200 people living in 20 coastal villages, service delivery by the Government of Solomon Islands is challenging due to its remoteness. Despite its modest size, Tikopia is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and strong communal traditions. Its lush environment supports a subsistence lifestyle based largely on fishing, gardening, and the cultivation of crops such as taro, bananas, and coconuts.
For over 20 years, these communities relied on rainwater collection and a damaged water system built in the early 1980s. Continuous use had deteriorated the system to a single standpipe, which was often dry. Periods of drought, intensified by climate change, frequently left families scrambling for water, compounding the social and economic vulnerabilities of this cyclone-prone and geographically isolated island.
The newly completed St Luke Community Faea Water Project, which began in June 2023, marks a transformative moment for the five beneficiary communities on this remote Polynesian outer island. Through the construction of two water dams and a network of 31 standpipes, 576 people now enjoy reliable access to clean water for drinking, cooking, and washing—right at their doorsteps.
"This project has relieved one of our longest-standing burdens," said 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 completion of this project reflects UNDP’s commitment to community-driven development in Solomon Islands and the Pacific region. The project will directly contribute to improving the resilience and wellbeing of local populations.
Barnabas Bago, UNDP Team Leader for Resilience and Climate Change, applauded the dedication of the local community in completing 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."
Bago emphasised how the project aligns with both national and global development goals, including Solomon Islands National Development Strategy Objective Two: Poverty alleviated, basic needs addressed, and food security improved across the country; and the UN Sustainable Development Goal Six: availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The project is funded by the GEF through the Small Grants Programme, which supports community-based initiatives worldwide. It empowers local organisations to implement practical solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, contributing to sustainable development and improved quality of life.
As Tikopia’s communities turn on their taps with pride and relief, the success of the Faea Water Project stands as a powerful example of how local action, with the right support, can create lasting change and impact within even the most remote communities.
For more information please contact:
Daniel Gonzalez, Communications Specialist, UNDP Solomon Islands Office, daniel.calderon.gonzalez@undp.org
