In June 2022, the Government of Kiribati declared a state of emergency in response to the severe drought. Consult Australia is a proud co-founder of humanitarian response agency and RedR who was on the ground to help.

Kiribati is a nation of low-lying atolls in the central Pacific Ocean that has acutely felt the impacts of climate change, enduring repeated seasons of critically low rainfall.

The Australian Government responded swiftly, providing funds to support the installation of 100 solar distillation units in outer island communities to convert well water into safe drinking water.

Australia also provided a further $2 million to support Kiribati to maintain drinking water supply. This included the installation of a high-quality desalination plant for Kiribati’s capital, Tarawa, including generators and technical, operations and maintenance services. The project also provided support for a UNICEF package focussed on water, sanitation and hygiene,  provision of portable water storage bladders and flatbed trucks to distribute water to local communities and deployment of technical advisers with expertise in water and engineering.  

Australia Assists is the Australian Government's humanitarian civilian deployment program. With RedR Australia as implementing partner, technical specialists are deployed to help communities, partners and nations prepare for, respond to and recover from natural hazards and conflict.

Australia Assists deployees, Val and Kirsty, were sent to support Kiribati’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE) as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) advisors.

Australia’s funding also supported Australian non-government organisations (NGOs) to work with the Government of Kiribati and local NGOs to help deliver sustainable and inclusive access to drinking water in South Tarawa and the outer islands.

Another Australia Assists deployee Maureen contributed to the project as a Disaster Risk Management and Response Coordination Specialist.

In Kiribati, Val worked in consultation with the local community of Ubwanteman Village on Abaiang Island to find a safe and sustainable drinking water supply.

The main issue on Abaiang, Val said, is not lack of water. “The main issue is high salinity of this water.”

The solution was to provide a solar-powered pump to move water up to an elevated tank. This water could then be piped to 11 water points constructed throughout the village.

Val said it was important to work alongside the community in design and implementation which proved to be the most effective and sustainable process.

As a civil engineer specialising in water, Australia Assists deployee Kirsty has experienced drought firsthand in Australia. 

Securing safe drinking water requires both immediate and longer-term solutions. Where infrastructure is installed, it is important that it can be operated and maintained in a sustainable manner. 
A desalination plant can provide a long-term solution for a drought-prone country, as long as it can be serviced and maintained. It’s also important that it doesn’t impact on existing fresh water resources and the marine environment. 

Kirsty undertook research, and consulted with MISE and other ministries, to prepare a cabinet paper on regulation of desalination plants. In addition, she assisted with some smaller scale solutions, including designing suitable solar pumped water supply systems to provide drinking water for communities in the Outer Islands.

Australia Assists deployee Kirsty (left) deployed to Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE) in Kiribati to support the drought response as a WASH and Logistics Advisor.

Maureen works to support coordination and strengthen ties between Kiribati’s Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Office of Te Beretitenti (President) and other government ministries. In January 2023, Maureen facilitated the review of the current drought response plan with the National Drought Committee. 

Access to messages about water restrictions or changes to distribution points is an important aspect of inclusion, Maureen explained. “We work closely with Kiribati Red Cross and ChildFund, given that they’re the ones on the ground working closely with the community, to ensure that the messages are being passed on to disability organisations.”

Engaging community can provide opportunities for mutual learning and building capacity. 

Barry, MISE’s Water Sector Coordinator, has valued the capacity-sharing approach of the Australia Assists team. “It’s very helpful to the Ministry itself to build our capacity and learn a lot of skills and lessons,” Barry said. 

Barry, MISE’s Water Sector Coordinator worked alongside Australia Assists deployee Val to bring safe drinking water to Ubwanteman village

Working with the local communities also enables ownership and sustainability of drought response actions. 

Tataua Biio, the Chairman of Ubwanteman Village, readily acknowledges the difference the new water system has made to his community. “Now that fresh water has reached the village, we feel different,” he said. “We are happier and healthier.”