Last month Tokelau declared a state of emergency due to a severe shortage of water. Immediate help was provided by SPREP and other partners however it is critical to develop a long term solution to the challenges of water shortages.
SPREP was thus delighted to recently sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tokelau to improve long term water security.
This initiative was undertaken as part of the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Plus Project (PACC+).
PACC is a regional programme which 
helps Pacific Island Countries and Territories adapt to climate change in three areas – coastal management, water resource management and, food production and security. PACC+ is an addition to this project with funding support from AusAID.
Through PACC+, Tokelau will help ensure there is safe and sufficient water for all Tokelauans in response to the immediate and longer term impacts of climate change. At the same time, it will also focus on preventing the loss of land from the effects of climate change.
"We have formalized the welcome of Tokelau as part of the PACC + Project with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SPREP and Tokelau. It is through a culmination of partnerships that we are able to help Tokelau," said SPREP Director-General, David Sheppard.
The PACC+ project will be implemented on three atolls in Tokelau – Atafu, Fakaofo and Nukunonu.
PACC+ is funded by the Australian Agency for International Development for which SPREP and the UNDP are the implementing partners.
There are currently 14 Pacific island countries that are a member of the PACC, including Tokelau.
Nauru, Niue, Marshall Islands, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu have projects that address water resource management; Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, and Vanuatu are concentrating on coastal zone management; and Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Palau and the Solomon Islands have projects that focus on food production and food security.