ChildFund CEO Josie Pagani and Director of Programmes Maria Trogolo visited the Embassy to explain the context and to share the results. 

Access to fresh water is a problem in Kiribati. Fresh groundwater is limited and increasingly affected by seawater intrusion. Droughts put additional pressure on available water supplies. Schools are particularly vulnerable: When rainwater tanks run dry, students sometimes need to bring water from home or rely on untreated water.

The 21 drinking water systems funded by the Netherlands serve around 4,585 students. ChildFund Kiribati has made extra efforts to ensure local ownership and sustainability beyond the Dutch grant project. The systems were installed by a local engineering company and each school nominated a focal person who received training in daily operation, maintenance and troubleshooting.

While the Netherlands supported the installation of the water systems, their continued monitoring and maintenance have been incorporated into ChildFund Kiribati's wider Impact Pacific programme, funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Helping small island developing states (SIDS) such as Kiribati to achieve their development and climate adaptation goals is a key priority of Dutch development and climate policy. Organisations such as ChildFund Kiribati are indispensable in translating these ambitions into tangible results for the communities most affected by climate change.