The EU announces WST 8.8 million grant payment to support water resilience and climate change adaptation in Samoa

The European Union (EU) has today announced the payment of €3 million (approx. WST 8.8 million) grant to the Government of Samoa. This payment is made under the European Union-Samoa Water Sector Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation programme, which promotes access to sustainable, safe and affordable water, improved sanitation and hygiene services and climate change adaptation.    

he European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Ms Jutta Urpilainen, announced the payment in the margins of the new Samoa Agreement signature in Apia. In her announcement, Commissioner Urpilainen said the payment reaffirmed the excellent cooperation between the EU and Samoa, and further demonstrated EU’s support to Samoa’s climate change adaptation and water sectors.  

This support also forms part of the EU's Global Gateway strategy to deliver sustainable and trusted connections with partner countries. Global Gateway is underpinned by “Team Europe” where the EU and its Member States work on the priorities of partner countries. In the Pacific, the Team Europe Initiative named the “Green Blue Alliance for the Pacific and Timor-Leste” has seen close to €540 million being mobilised for the Pacific region.

The funding, in the form of budget support, is one of the central pillars of the continued partnership between Samoa and the EU. It will provide continuity and added value to the implementation of Samoa’s ‘Water for Life: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Plan (WASH) 2020 – 2025’.

Like a number of Pacific Island Countries, Samoa is vulnerable to the existential threat of climate change and natural hazards. Climate change is disrupting weather patterns, leading to extreme weather events, unpredictable water availability, exacerbating water scarcity and contaminating water supplies. Such impacts have drastically affected the quantity and quality of water as well as had serious implications for public health.

Therefore, the budget support will work towards more integrated, comprehensive and strategic Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) policy, while also addressing climate change and disaster risks. Its ambition is to add more focus on inclusion and equity by improving the water quality and safe sanitation for people living in vulnerable situations, including those living in rural areas, particularly, women and children. 

This first payment under this programme has become possible after Samoa demonstrated important progress in the implementation of the Water for Life: Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Plan and the pre-agreed actions related to public finance management.

Background

1. The European Union (EU) and the Government of Samoa signed a Financing Agreement of EUR 13.5 million (approximately SAT 38 million), solidifying the EU’s commitment to Samoa, and demonstrating its dedicated allegiance in the climate change and water sectors in December 2022.
2. The new funding, in the form of budget support under the new EU NDICI Framework, is one of the central pillars of the continued partnership between the EU and Samoa.
3. This action builds on the previous Sector Reform Contract on Water & Sanitation. It will provide continuity and added value to the ‘Water for Life: Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Plan (WASH) 2020 – 2025’ (the ‘Sector plan’) by improving the economic sustainability of the sector as well as institutionalising the monitoring and evaluation activities in the sector. The action works towards more integrated, comprehensive and strategic Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) policy, addressing also climate change and disaster risks. Its ambition is to add more focus on inclusion and equity by improving the water quality and safe sanitation for people living in vulnerable situations, including those living in rural areas including those living in rural areas, and in particular, women and children.  In the context of challenging economic times, progress towards universal access to safe/treated water and sanitation services must be balanced carefully, building on previous achievements in the sector.