Community Lifelines Programme for the Marshall Islands
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 access to these essential inputs in Pacific communities through three key components: Resource Assessment, Development and Management; Asset Management and Advocacy Governance.
SOPAC has provided assistance to specific requests from the Marshall Islands and implemented general regional initiatives that filtered down to implementation at a national level.
Past Interventions
Interventions in the Marshall Islands that relate to the Community Lifelines Programme involved the development of the Energy, Water and Information and Communications sectors.
Several interventions was undertaken to assist the water sector. Initial assessments of the groundwater sources of the Majuro Atoll were conducted in the mid 90s. A proposed small-scale water treatment plant piloted in a few atoll countries to curb the saltwater intrusion of the freshwater lens was recommended for Laura in Majuro because of the freshwater lens located there. This never got off the ground. However considerable study was made into the Action Plan of a National Water Strategy for the Government of the Marshall Islands. Further initiatives to assist the water sector of the RMI included a Regional Meeting of Stakeholders in Wastewater Management in 2001 and the construction of a water quality databases for the Marshall Islands Environmental Protection Authority, to better facilitate access to the valuable water quality data on freshwater sources, the lagoon, on the water supply system and on the wastewater ocean outfall gathered over the years by the EPA. Assistance was also provided to the outer islands, of the Marshall Islands in particular Ebeye to assess the water and sanitation status of the island through the identifying of wastewater disposal methods; ongoing sanitation initiatives and projects, the administration of the structures related to sanitation projects and identify further possible avenues of support by SOPAC (Bower and Overmars, 2001).
The Marshall Islands relationship with the United States has provided sufficient supply of energy sources into the country placing a strain on the economy. Past assistance from SOPAC metered towards the long-term sustainability of this sector begun with the review of the Marshall Islands National Energy Demand/Supply database compiled in 1998.
2001 saw the establishment of GIS in the Marshall Islands through their collaboration with SOPAC. The GIS establishment was made possible through the funding of AusAID, and enhanced the management of natural resources and utilities of relevant authorities (water utility, Lands Department, EPA, NDMO) in the Marshall Islands. Previously established GIS was channelled in from the United States. A key project the Marshall Islands was assisted with utilising GIS, was in the mapping of the vegetation cover of Majuro (a necessary activity to determine the infiltration of saltwater on freshwater due to sea level rises) and the introduction of the necessary tools (hardware and software) that would enable the monitoring of the fauna.
Current Issues for Marshall Islands
Within the context of the three pillars of sustainable development, there are a number of critical issues that have been identified by the Marshall Islands through national and regional mechanisms. Many of these issues are critical in relation to the achievement of the Marshall Islands’ 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:
- Capacity of the Majuro water supply to meet dry-weather demand is inadequate.
- Need to increase access to safe drinking water.
- Need to promote water efficient appliances.
- Need for training and capacity building of water supply operator.
- Need to incorporate and enforce rainwater harvesting into building design.
- Dependence on imported fossil fuels.
- Need to utilise the Marshall Islands’ potential for renewable energy sources.
- Provision of current energy services to outer island communities is inadequate.
- Need for training in science and information technology skills.
Programme Response
Current interventions that aim to improve the Marshall Islands Resource Assessment; Development and Management of these three essential inputs (energy, water and information and communication technologies); the management of these assets as well as it’s advocacy and governance through the provision of technical assistance, information, development and implementation of the appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks; are underway in the Marshall Islands. In general the Community Lifelines will support the Marshall Islands as the need arises 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.
More specifically, these initiatives are:
- World Water Day campaigns
- Pacific Type II Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Water Management
- Regional Hydrology Training Programme
- Regional Water Demand Management Programme
- Regional Water Quality Monitoring Programme
- Strategic Planning for Water Resources Management
- Pacific Programme for Water Governance
- Dialogue on Water and Climate
- Support to Member Countries in Intranet/Internet Development
- Groundwater Solar Pumping Assistance
- National Energy Policy Statement
- Demand and Supply Database
- Energy Unit Structure
- Support to Member Countries in ICT Development
- Establishment of National GIS.
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