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GGGI Signs Project Agreement with Vanuatu Government to Implement Solar Water Pumping Project

On February 12, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Ministry of Climate Change and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources signed a Project Agreement for the joint implementation of a 2-year project funded by the Government of Luxembourg, which aims to enhance climate resilience through solar power-driven access to water in rural areas of Vanuatu.

The Agreement was signed by Ms. Katerina Syngellakis, Pacific Regional Representative of GGGI, Mr. Jesse Benjamin, Director General of the Ministry of Climate Change and Mr. Arthur Faerua, the Director General of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Mr Erickson Sammy, Director of the Department of Water represented Mr Faerua, while also present was Mr Antony Garae, Director of the Department of Energy.

Mr. Benjamin said that “We appreciate GGGI’s support in accessing climate finance as responding to climate change is the big challenge facing the Small Islands Countries like Vanuatu. We are happy to have signed this Project Agreement with the GGGI to officially kick-off the solar-based water pumping project and start implementation. We very much look forward to making a success story with GGGI and the Department of Water”.

Mr Erickson Sammy, Director of the Department of Water, Mr. Jesse Benjamin, Director General of the Ministry of Climate Change and Ms. Katerina Syngellakis, Pacific Regional Representative of GGGI

Under the Agreement, the Department of Water Resources (DoWR) and Department of Energy will work in close collaboration with GGGI as implementing partners to ensure successful delivery of the project and maximize the benefits on the ground for the selected rural communities.    

Ms. Syngellakis commented that “GGGI is proud to be able to support the Government of Vanuatu in addressing water-energy nexus to meet the water needs of households, communities and micro-businesses. Targeting 30 rural communities, the project will enable sustainable local management of the systems to increase resilience and sustainability through the design and installation of solar powered water systems and capacity building activities.”

“The Ministry of Climate Change and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources signed an MoU of institutional cooperation in 2018 and this project builds on that agreement to implement a specific action” said Director of Water, Mr Erickson Sammy. “There are many islands in Vanuatu struggling with water supply and this project will assist in meeting Government targets for safe, reliable water supply for all”, he added.  With a total funding of EUR1.5 million, the project will be implemented over 24 months. The next step for the project will be consultations with stakeholders, including a baseline assessment to collect the information necessary for the design of the solar powered water pump systems and planning for the capacity building activities.