Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands – On Wednesday, October 16th, 2024, a symbolic signing ceremonybetween the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme Pacific Office (UNDP) took place at the Cabinet Conference Room in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). This ceremony was organized by the Government of Republic of Marshall Islands (GoRMI) and UNDP through the Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) Project, funded by Green Climate Fund (GCF) and co-financed by GoRMI.

Her Excellency Ambassador Barbara Plinkert, EU Ambassador to the Pacific, visited the Marshall Islands to present her credentials to H.E. Hilde C. Heine. The ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Heine, along with key dignitaries, including the Minister of Finance and EU Focal Point, Hon. David Paul.

The EU is contributing an additional EUR 6,000,000 over the next four years to complement GoRMI’s co-financing for the ACWA Project, further enhancing climate-resilient water security. The Government of RMI and the EU recently signed a Financing Agreement to support water security through the ACWA Project. UNDP and the EU will also sign a Contribution Agreement for the project.

In his welcome remarks, Koji Kumamaru, ACWA Project Manager, emphasized the significant impact of the EU’s contribution, particularly in improving water security in 24 remote atolls and islands. “It has been my privilege to serve the ACWA Project for the past four years, as this project exemplifies the strong leadership of GoRMI and UNDP in adopting a transformative, sustainable approach to ensuring long-term access to clean and safe water, while strengthening national and community resilience to future climate change impacts,” Mr. Kumamaru said.

H.E. Ambassador Plinkert expressed her pride in supporting the ACWA Project, stating she has only heard of positive things about the ACWA Project during her stay in Majuro. 

“We are proud to join this effort. We value our relationship with the RMI and look forward to strengthening it further alongside UNDP.” Ambassador Plinkert said. “The EU remains deeply committed to supporting Pacific nations in their fight against climate change. Our contribution is not just financial; it is a demonstration of solidarity with the RMI in combating this global challenge.”

In his closing remarks, Hon. Minister David Paul described the ACWA Project as a flagship initiative of the government, with strong collaboration between stakeholders and traditional leaders.

“The human body is made up of 60% water, which is why this project is so crucial—without water, we cannot survive. Over the years, we’ve seen droughts and rising sea levels threaten our freshwater resources. The ACWA Project plays a vital role in helping our communities become more resilient to climate change,” Minister Paul stated.

The ACWA project has a value of more than US$24 million including a substantial contribution from the Government of RMI and represents UNDP’s largest investment in the Northern Pacific from 2020 to 2027. It aims to enhance the ability of Marshallese people to adapt to increase climate risks, particularly extreme drought events and stormwater inundation by improving household and community rainwater harvesting (RWH) and storage structures, securing groundwater resources from contamination; and strengthening technical capacities of national and sub national institutions and key stakeholders. 

The ACWA project has been made possible through funding from the Green Climate Fund, the Government of the RMI, and more recently, the Australian Government.

For more information, please contact:

Leandra Carolina Flor, Communications Specialist | UNDP Pacific Office | (E) leandra.flor@undp.org