KIRIBATI: Kiribati Water Sector Reform

The Republic of Kiribati is one of the smallest, most remote and geographically dispersed countries in the world, which creates significant economic growth and service delivery challenges. Its capital South Tarawa has a reticulated water supply system which covers about two thirds of its population and is operated by the Public Utility Board (PUB). However, water is only supplied up to two hours every 48 hours at very low pressure, and below quality standards. The utility’s operational and financial performance indicators are largely inadequate (non-revenue water of more than 90 percent, less than 40 percent of operational costs recovered).

The South Tarawa Water Supply Project (US$15 million IDA grant), to be initiated late 2019 in co-financing with the Asian Development Bank and the Green Climate Fund, focuses on improving water services and strengthening the water and sewerage services provider PUB to improve the sustainability of services. In this perspective, a PPIAF grant has been mobilized to support the design and transaction of the performance-based O&M contract which will underpin PUB’s institutional strengthening efforts supported by this project.