Climate Change Resilience
The village of Takarano is located north of the island of Abaiang in Kiribati, with a population of 71 households (2010 Census). Addressing water needs is a national and community priority, with many households relying on water from open wells which are often at risk of contamination from[poor sanitation and other human activities. Climate change adds to the problem, resulting in reduced water supply or salination of the ground water from rising sea levels.

The SPREP-USAID project is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works and Utility (MPWU) and Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD) targeting water security at the household level with funding from USAID.

Five villages on Abaiang have been selected with Takarano as the first to undergo training in the operation and maintenance of the tamana pump. The locally designed pump is simple to operate and reduces contamination by allowing pumping from closed wells.
Sixty households of Takarano have been selected, based on water assessments conducted by the SPREP-USAID National Project Coordinator and MPWU, to receive tamana pumps through the project.
SPREP-USAID-Tamana-Water-Pump-Training-Abaiang-Kiribati
Photo: Locals assemble components of the tamana pump at Takarano. Photo Azarel Maiai/SPREP

"The training is the first phase of implementation, focusing on building capacities of households to operate and maintain their pumps and consequently strengthening community ownership and project sustainability," says Mrs Azarel Maiai, SPREP Climate Change Technical Officer.

The training was supported with funding from USAID and implemented by the technical team from MPWU, NZ Volunteers, KIRIWATSAN and SPREP. The two day workshop was attended by 60 members from Takarano village.

The SPREP-USAID Project is a member of the Kiribati-Whole of Island approach and will conduct similar training for the remaining project sites on Abaiang.

For more information please contact [email protected]