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• Past Interventions
• Current Issues for Samoa
• Programme Response

The effective social and economic development of Pacific Communities is dependent on three essential inputs, namely energy, water and information and communication technologies. The Community Lifelines Programme aims to improve the Pacific Communities’ access to these essential inputs.

To achieve this in Samoa, SOPAC has provided assistance in response to specific requests and through a number of general regional initiatives. A summary of these activities and initiatives is provided below:

Past Interventions

Community Lifelines Programme has assisted in the development of the water, energy, and information and communication technology sectors in Samoa.

The Water Resources and Sanitation Unit has been involved in numerous water activities in Samoa. Apart from providing technical assistance to Samoa water departments and utilities the program generally teaches communities to maintain fresh water supplies. Despite the high rainfall and abundant surface water sources, Samoa frequently suffers from water shortages. In 1996 SOPAC was requested by European Union to undertake a National Water Resources Master Plan Study. The final draft of the study, which could address the problem of poor water catchment management, was submitted to the Samoa Water Authority.

To further develop the water supply system, in 1997 a Water resources Assessment –was conducted on Manono Island. The overall purpose of the mission was to provide technical assistance to the Western Samoan Water Authority (WSWA) by assessing in a joint mission of the WSWA, the Apia Observatory and Water and Sanitation Programme (WASP) the water resources on Manono Island, Samoa. A specific objective was to produce a comprehensive report through which the actual drinking water problems on Manono Island can be solved with water resources available on the Island.

At the request of the Apia Observatory, the Water ad Sanitation Project (WASP) was also invited to Samoa to inspect the existing stream gauging stations and to instruct Observatory staff on the use of stream measuring equipment. The opportunity was also taken to visit other water sector organisations based in Samoa. This was followed by other surveys like the preliminary water resources survey of Savai’i. The idea was to collect low flow data for most of the major rivers and streams on Savai’i to add to the very limited existing database.

The Samoa Water Authority requested SOPAC’s assistance to develop a Groundwater Manual covering issues on siting and design of boreholes, drilling, pump tests etc. SOPAC then developed groundwater guidelines to assist technical staff in the assessment, testing and monitoring of groundwater, and aquifer and well testing. Hydrological Investigations & Groundwater Assessment was conducted by SOPAC and a SWA group of geoscientists to determine hydrogeological potential in Northern Savai’i. To this end SOPAC has executed a groundwater assessment using geophysics in order to provide background information for this water supply feasibility study.

SOPAC also assisted with the development and application of the Samoa national database for the long-term storage of water resources and related information and building the capabilities and providing technical support and backup facilities. The proposed output of the task was "to improve the national capacity in handling and storage of water sector data required for the sustainable development of the nation's water resources." The work was co-ordinated by the Meteorology Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Meteorology and largely involved working with staff of the Hydrology Section of the Division.

World Water Day celebration was a highlight in 2001 when it coincided with the Pacific Water Association AGM in Apia, Samoa. SOPAC took a lead role in organizing public awareness raising events. Since December 1999, in collaboration with SPREP, SOPAC has been developing a Water Education and Awareness kit targeting students between the ages of 9-13 years old. The Water Resource Unit is still collaborating with UNESCO and SPREP with regards to World Water Day.

The Energy sector support in the region dates back to the early 1970’s where the energy programme was based at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. The focus of the programme was primarily on energy planning and management and the development and implementation of renewable energy systems. This was later expanded in 1989 to cover the petroleum sector and, in 1992 the electric power sector for which activities now lie with the Pacific Power Association. In 1998 the core regional energy programme and its suite of activities were all transferred to SOPAC aside from petroleum matters, which remained with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Hence SOPAC now provides support to its member countries across a range of activities.

In 1998 funding assistance was given to Samoa to allow the completion of the original EU-funded Pacific Regional Energy Program (PREP) and schools education programme.

In the field of policy development, SOPAC assisted with the initial formulation of the Samoa National Energy Policy and more recently further support through the Pacific Island Energy Policy and Strategic Action Planning (PIEPSAP) Project. PIEPSAP has developed a Terms of Reference, which had been approved by the Government of Samoa as a basis for guiding the work on development of the Samoa National Energy Framework.

In a related area, training on energy data collation and management was carried out at the Energy Office. An Energy Information Database and the Energy Supply and Demand Database were also installed – a tool specifically aimed at improving Energy Planning.

Renewable energy potential studies included the assessment of Samoa’s biomass potential, a study on the use of wave power, off the coast of Savai’i and an in-depth study on the potential of coconut oil as replacement for diesel. These studies have all shown that the current reliance on imported fossil fuels can be decreased, if the right policy frameworks are put in place. SOPAC is also planning a wind energy assessment project in conjunction with UNDP to further diversify the renewable energy provision of Samoa.

SOPAC has also assisted in the reduction of energy use by carrying out Energy Audits – at the UN organizations: WHO, UNESCO, UNDP, FAO. Through its current Demand Side Management Project, a training workshop was convened following a request by the Electric Power Corporation to reintroduce the basic concepts of energy auditing and conduct energy audits. The intention was also to layout the framework for DSM activities in Samoa. Two sites have been identified to host 2 DSM pilot projects to demonstrate and encourage consumers to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy costs, and promote the use of alternate energy sources.

One of the latest activities SOPAC is undertaking Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa is the PESTRAN Project –The intended goal of the PESTRAN project is the reduction of GHG emissions from the transport sector of PICs (particularly in the 3 participating PICs). The purpose of the project is the promotion of environmentally sustainable ground transportation systems for improving energy use efficiency in transport, and for improving public transportation systems.

Although Samoa has benefited from a number of SOPAC’s regional energy sector initiatives and activities that have included resource assessments, training programmes and workshops, specific activities followed year after year. This included:

• Wave Power Development Study - To assess the feasibility of constructing a wave energy plant on the South coast of Savaii.
• Biomass Resource Assessment - To enable Samoa to sustainably manage their biomass resources by providing up-to-date information and training on biomass resource assessment and policy formulation and identification of demonstration projects.
• Cocogen Project - to assist the Government of Samoa in defining, formulating and finalizing an Operational Program (OP)-6 MSP Brief to submit for GEF financing in the promotion of coconut oil-based power generation, and accompanying barrier removal activitiesâ€?.
• Copra Oil for Power Generation and for Transportation project - evaluate the use of copra oil as an alternate fuel source to traditional fossil fuel (in particular diesel fuel), thus increasing the knowledge of bio-fuel potential in the region, and if applicable and feasible establish one bio-fuel project in a selected Pacific island country. SOPAC has informed that they are keen to cooperate with the Cocogen in terms of sharing information and also about identifying investment opportunities in the sector.

Training and assistance in computer system development remained a priority, since the existence of the SOPAC Regional Data Centre. Tutorials and systems upgrades were carried out in a number of countries including Western Samoa. Apart from its own upgrade the centre provided equipment and software, and advice to various organization in Samoa.

Training in form of GIS Workshop attracted a lot of participants from government department. Four government departments are now using GIS technology. However, despite the growing interest in GIS, there are still relatively few trained GIS practitioners in Samoa. Most GIS projects have been developed with technical assistance from expatriate specialists. Outside specialists are still required to deal with many ongoing maintenance and development issues. One way of achieving this is to conduct short in-country GIS training courses. The advantages of this approach over sending participants overseas on training courses are that:

IT Training is essential to maintaining skill level of technical staff. Other organizations that have benefited from our IT specialist include:

1. Meteorology Division- A two weeks training attachment was also provided to the System and a LAN/WAN installed.
2. Department of Lands, Survey and Environment –administrators also received assistance in Information Systems.
3. Telecom Samoa – offered recommendations for Internet connections.
4. Post and telecommunications Department - An Internet gateway was installed and training provided to staff during a week consultancy.
5. SPREP - Implemented Data Project which involved the deployment of Database System and training of staff,

Samoa is one of fourteen Pacific nations currently benefiting from the SOPAC/EU Project “Reducing Vulnerability of Pacific ACP States. This project has recently provided Samoa with a Map Server and also procured high-resolution satellite imagery for the whole country. Training was provided to produce GIS backdrops out of the images and to utilise the image data for on-screen digitising.

Samoa continuously benefits from training workshops and courses run by the three Community Lifelines Programme sectors including University Hydrogeology courses and ICT and Energy attachments for the country’s government officials.

Current Issues for Samoa

Within the context of the three pillars of sustainable development, there are a number of critical issues that have been identified by Samoa through national and regional mechanisms. Many of these issues are critical in relation to the achievement of Samoa’s longer-term vision and fall within the work programme component areas of the Community Lifelines Programme. In terms of the globally recognised pillars of sustainability, namely environmental, economic and social issues, the relevant identified key issues and concerns are summarised below:

• Fragmented management approach and lack of understanding of related issues in the water resources sector (both the Department of Lands and Environment and the MAFFM have catchment responsibilities and there is little coordination between water users).
• Need to develop a water resource Master Plan.
• Limited community involvement in water resource management.
• Insufficient knowledge and understanding of water resources and responsible management.
• Excessively high consumption of water as a result of inefficient use of existing supplies and supply leakage.
• Cyclone damage and land clearance threaten ability of water catchment areas to hold water.
• Need promotion of viable renewable energy development.
• Need to develop an energy policy with strengthened involvement of all related departments.
• Need careful monitoring of government-owned energy supply companies and facilities.
• Increase in non-biodegradable and hazardous wastes, particularly in urban areas.
• Enforcement of waste management controls constrained by lack of personnel.
• No central reticulated sewerage system.
• Disposal of hospital waste.

Programme Response

Tackling these issues requires a pragmatic approach from Samoa’s partners, such as SOPAC. The Community Lifelines Programme provides assistance through both regional projects and specific activities that respond to individual country requests.

Regionally, Samoa’s needs are being addressed along with other South Pacific member countries through:

• The continual assessment of wind development and energy resources, the provision of technical assistance and training of staff in this area, and the provision and maintenance of a database which will assist the decision making and capacity building of concerned and relevant human resources;
• The development of energy resources that incorporate new and related technologies, the improvement of community access to and awareness of these energy resources, in order to ensure sustainable management;
• The development of cost effective and suitable technology such as Geographic Information Systems GIS and Remote Sensing on spatial data for the region that is accessible for relevant stakeholders, regionally and internationally; the development of intranet and internet technologies; relevant support to the government departments concerned, and ensuring the accuracy of available data;
• The provision of technical advice on water and sanitation in the region, its proper management and awareness of waste management; the development of strategies that will reduce member islands’ vulnerability to drought;
• The review of existing policy and legislation in water, energy and relevant information and communication technologies that relate to SOPAC work programmes; representation of Pacific concerns at global forums, and the coordination of regional action plans in these areas.