Locations
The visit to RMI highlighted UNDP’s commitment to long-term, inclusive, and community-led solutions in the North Pacific nation.
In March 2025, the UNDP Pacific Office conducted a mission to the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) to engage with national stakeholders, civil society, and international partners. The visit reinforced the urgency of sustained development support and highlighted UNDP’s commitment to long-term, inclusive, and community-led solutions in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations.
UNDP Pacific Resident Representative Tuya Altangerel meets with Hon. Farrend Zackios, Vice Chairman of the Council of Iroij, to open the mission with a dialogue.
The mission opened with a courtesy call to the Honorable Vice Chairman of the Council of Iroij, who emphasised the enduring impacts of the nuclear legacy and the pressing need for improved access to food, healthcare, and connectivity in remote atolls. In his welcome remarks, the Vice Chairman commended the Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) project—implemented with the Government of the RMI and supported by the Green Climate Fund, Australia, and the European Union—for its role in improving access to safe water across neighboring atolls and islands, recognising it as a valuable contribution to community resilience. Calls to support women entrepreneurs and promote cultural preservation through initiatives like the 2026 Pacific Women’s Expo reflected a clear desire to strengthen livelihoods and stem outmigration.
Meeting with the National Nuclear Commission: Chief Commissioner Ariana Tibon Kilma and Commissioner Alson Kelen discuss ongoing nuclear legacy efforts and opportunities for collaboration.
RR Tuya with the ACWA team at the project’s warehouse in Majuro, which stores critical infrastructure materials for rainwater harvesting and water system installation across the atolls.
Discussions with the National Nuclear Commission underscored institutional capacity gaps and the challenges of accessing resources for legacy projects, including a planned museum and broader public education efforts. Opportunities were identified to draw from global experience, such as UNDP Kazakhstan’s approach to nuclear issues, and to expand partnerships around cancer care, data collection, and technical assistance through the deployment of experts under the UN Volunteers programme.
By 2100, with an anticipated 1-meter sea level rise, Laura is projected to be fully submerged. MCAP Project Manager Shaun Kies-Ryan demonstrates the urgency of climate adaptation through groundwater monitoring and community mapping.
An inter-agency discussion with Deputy Chief Secretary Catalino Kijiner, EPA General Manager Moriana Philip, and CCD National Adaptation Plan Coordinator Betine Rose Lakjohn, focusing on coordinated approaches to climate resilience.
The meeting with Women United Together in the Marshall Islands (WUTMI) offered a clear perspective on the social realities facing women and communities. From supporting survivors of gender-based violence through Safe Havens to advancing early childhood development, WUTMI continues to play a critical role in community empowerment. Strengthening coordination with police, mayors, and local governments was seen as essential to ensure long-term impact. Discussions also highlighted the importance of reaching the Marshallese diaspora—particularly the 30–40 percent living in the United States—and the value of integrating Marshallese values into programs to ensure meaningful local ownership. Continued advocacy on nuclear legacy issues further underscored WUTMI’s leadership in advancing inclusive and culturally grounded development.
Cross-sector coordination emerged as a central theme in meetings with the Office of the Chief Secretary, the Environmental Protection Authority, and the Climate Change Directorate. Lessons from the ACWA project were seen as a springboard for scaling integrated water systems, improving disaster preparedness, and enhancing capacity through twinning approaches and partnerships with regional agencies like the Pacific Community (SPC).
At Waan Aelon in Majel (WAM), RR Tuya visits a learning space where out-of-school youth build solar-powered canoes—part of a cultural revitalization and sustainable transport initiative led by the NGO.
RR Tuya with H.E. Paul Wilson, Australian High Commissioner to the RMI. Australia remains a committed development partner, supporting water security and community resilience through the ACWA Project.
Site visits brought these conversations into focus. In Rong Rong, a Flatpack Modular Tank installed through the ACWA project has provided reliable drinking water for two years, maintained by students and staff. In Laura, the Managing Coastal Aquifers Project, implemented with SPC, demonstrated practical groundwater monitoring techniques to address salinity and protect coastal aquifers—an increasingly urgent priority in the face of climate change.
RR Tuya with H.E. Hirohisa Soma, Japanese Ambassador to the RMI, reaffirming Japan’s support for disaster resilience, energy access, and community-based development.
UNDP team visits Marshalls Christian High School in Rong Rong, home to the first ACWA flatpack modular tank installed in RMI. Two years on, the system continues to provide clean water for students and the wider community.
Groundwater monitoring in Laura Municipality, where the MCAP team assesses salinity levels and aquifer sustainability in response to saltwater intrusion and sea-level rise.
International collaboration remains critical. Meetings with the embassies of Australia and Japan reinforced shared priorities such as climate action, institutional strengthening, and disaster response. Australia reaffirmed long-term support for ACWA through 2027, while Japan emphasised cultural engagement, human resource development, and continued dialogue on nuclear legacy issues.
The mission concluded with a debriefing with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, reviewing outcomes in water, health, and effective governance. Conversations with the Japan International Cooperation Agency also explored shared initiatives in economic diversification and local capacity-building—particularly through closer engagement with JICA volunteers and UNDP.
RR Tuya with Hon. Hilton Kendall, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Transportation, Communication and IT, during the mission debriefing at MOFAT, highlighting continued partnership and program alignment.
As RMI continues to navigate overlapping challenges shaped by geography, history, and climate vulnerability, the mission reaffirmed a clear message: national ownership, regional cooperation, and long-term engagement remain essential to building a more resilient future. Strengthening national systems is not only about meeting today’s needs—it is also about building the conditions that might someday welcome back Marshallese people who have long been away from home.