What We Do?

Tuvalu

Introduction

Co-operation between Tuvalu and the European Union dates back to 1978.� Funding under the successive ACP-EU agreements has steadily increased.� Since the late 1990s support has concentrated on outer island development.

Under the 9th EDF, covering the years 2003-07, the 9th EDF indicative financial allocation for Tuvalu was 3.3 million, plus the remaining balance of 665,136 from the 6th and 7th EDF added to the A-envelope, and 0.7 million under the B-envelope. The focal area of EC-Tuvalu co-operation was the social development of the outer islands delivered through the Outer Island Social Development Support Programme (OISDSP), which covers the entire National Indicative Programme. Based on the conclusions of the 2004 Mid-Term Review, the European Community agreed to increase the A-envelope by 500,000. This raised the A-envelope indicative allocation to 4,465,136. To date, 99% of the 9th EDF has been utilised, with the operational element concluding on 9 September 2007. The outcomes of interventions under the 9th EDF include the following:

Primary school construction has been completed on four of five outer islands: Nukulaelae and Nanumaga in 2005, and Nui and Niutao in 2006, as intended in the 9th EDF Financing Agreement. Construction of the fifth and final outer island primary school, to be funded under the 9th EDF, on the central island of Vaitupu began in April 2007, partially funded (about 65-70%) by the 9th EDF, with completion expected by the end of 2008. The Vaitupu school is also the largest outer island primary school constructed to date.

In each year of the 9th EDF's operation (beginning in 2003 through September 2007) the OISDSP has delivered primary school supplies and equipment. Such supplies and equipment include: 1) textbooks; 2) notebooks, paper, pencils, etc.; and 3) the complete fit-out of the new primary school classrooms (in Nukulaelae, Nanumaga, Nui, and Niutao) with student and teacher desks, chairs, cabinets, bookshelves, etc. (The existing Nauti Primary School in Funafuti was similarly outfitted.) Although primary school supplies were under-funded in the national budget from 2003 to 2005, beginning in 2006 budgetary support for primary school supplies, including funding for textbooks, significantly increased to levels that more accurately reflect actual school needs. Note: school supplies and equipment were also supplied to Motufoua Secondary School during the operational phase of the OISDSP (through September 2007).

Waste collection and disposal systems are in place in Funafuti, and in general are working satisfactorily in ways foreseen at the inception of the 9th EDF OISDSP. Current shortcomings in waste management will be addressed under the 10th EDF. This will include: 1) improving and expanding all waste management activities in Funafuti; and 2) introducing waste management services in the outer islands, specifically modelled on the relative success of the waste management programme in Funafuti.

Waste management procedures were developed and refined during the operational phase of the 9th EDF (2003-present and ongoing through September 2007). New procedures continue to be explored and new waste management techniques identified, both which will require external funding to implement. Drafting and enacting waste management legislation has been identified as a priority issue to establish formal regulatory guidelines and legal backing for enforcement of all aspects of waste management in Tuvalu. Drafting and enacting comprehensive waste management regulations will be undertaken under the 10th EDF.

Household water storage capacity has significantly increased on the outer island of Nui. A Non-State-Actor designed and managed project successfully installed nearly 110 plastic household water tanks with a 6,000 ltr. Capacity each, roughly doubling the islands rainwater storage capacity and significantly increasing the utilisation of rainwater catchment where it already existed (e.g., household rooftops) but was previously under-utilised. Where households had no previous water storage capacity (relying solely on community water cisterns), rainwater catchments were put to use. Plans are to extend this project to the other seven outer islands in Tuvalu under the 10th EDF. There are plans to construct new large-scale municipal water catchment and storage capacity under the 10th EDF, and through utilisation of the 9th EDF B-envelope, for which the financing agreement was endorsed by the EC in 2007.

The rainwater catchments and storage systems at Motufoua Secondary School were partly repaired and renovated under the 9th EDF. Motufoua Chapel was constructed and roof rainwater catchment was connected by underground piping to existing Motufoua water storage facilities. Though the additional rainwater catchment and the volume of rainfall it captures is presently unknown, the volume is considered to be significant.

During the discussion in the programming process for the 10th EDF, key strategic directions contained in the EU Pacific Strategy have been taken into account while agreeing on the development response strategy for the European Community support. In this framework, the EU Strategy's focus on the sustainable management of natural resources in the Pacific provides a clear, result-oriented opportunity for the Tuvalu - EU development cooperation under the 10th EDF with the focal area of water and energy (water and sanitation in particular). See 10th EDF Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme: http://ec.europa.eu/development/icenter/repository/scanned_tv_csp10_en.pdf The EU has made an indicative allocation of 5.0 million under the 10th EDF. The 10th CSP/NIP was signed by Tuvalu and endorsed by the European Commission in Tonga, in October 2007. The 10th EDF Response Strategy in Tuvalu will concentrate on water and sanitation (including waste management) as the focal sector. The collection and storage of fresh water on Funafuti, as well as in the outer islands, has been and continues to be problematic, with far too little rainwater catchment and not enough water storage capacity nationwide. There is no underground fresh water lens on Funafuti, where nearly 50% of the population live, and only four of eight outer islands possess potable sources of underground water. Rainfall can be infrequent and there are regular periods of drought that can last months. On Funafuti, to provide sufficient water supplies to cover the lengthiest periods of drought (usually 1-2 months) residential and municipal water catchment and storage capacity needs to increase by a minimum factor of three and a maximum of five. The solution to water shortages in the outer islands lies primarily in increasing individual rainwater catchment and storage capacity through the procurement of household water tanks for every outer island household. Improper disposal of household refuse in the form of solid and (to a lesser extent) organic waste poses a direct threat to the sanitary and environmental balance on every island, especially Funafuti where the problems are greatest. On those islands where there is potable underground water there is a growing danger of contamination. In the absence of other donors in this sector, this warranted a response to the various waste management/pollution issues confronting Tuvalu in order to improve overall public health and sanitation.