I thank you all for availing your time to be here. Thank you also to our team at the World Bank who
are connecting remotely from around the world. Talofa from beautiful Samoa!
We are gathered here today to celebrate the successes and to officially close the PPCR ECR Project. I
thank the Lord of his endless blessings and protection throughout.
I would like to speak briefly on the background of the PPCR ECR Project:
Samoa is one of three countries that was selected for participation in the Pilot Program for Climate
Resilience (PPCR) for the Pacific region in 2009 and provided funding for Phase 1 to conduct a
national level plan (Climate Resilient Investment Plan – CRIP – and identify priority investments. On
10 September 2013, the PPCR Sub-Committee approved the total funding of US$14.6 million (or
about $37.5 million Samoan Tala for Samoa’s PPCR – ECR Project).
The development objective of the Project is to support coastal communities in Samoa to become more
resilient to climate variability and change.
Whilst we celebrate the achievements made at the closing of a challenging yet rewarding project
today, we also embrace the many lessons learned throughout its implementation.
I would like to briefly mention a few key achievements and lessons learnt:
 One of the key investments of the project included strengthening data platforms for spatial
hazard mapping through financing of a comprehensive light detection and ranging system
(LiDAR) throughout the country. This supported CIM plans update and many other climate
resilient development investments since then.
 The PPCR ECR Project has delivered a total of 100 climate resilient investments in 100
villages and 22 district level investments in 18 districts to enhance the resilience of
communities. This represents about 70% of the total project funding. These sub-projects were
identified and prioritized following a nationwide risk and vulnerability assessment undertaken
as part of the Community Integrated Management Plans (CIM Plans) review and update
process. The priorities were screened and selected for funding using the CIM Plans priorities

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and the CSSP and District Sub-Project Plan (DSP) processes that the Climate Resilience
Steering Committee oversees.
 The 100 village sub-projects which benefitted 100 villages across Samoa delivered
through CSSP focused on the implementation of spring pool rehabilitation and
replanting, safe haven construction, mangrove and coastal replanting, water and waste
management, escape routes, rainwater harvesting and storage systems using bulk
procurement. Rainwater harvesting sub-projects helped many of the villages during
the recent covid pandemic and lockdown.
 The 22 climate resilient investments identified from the CIM Plans process for 18
districts were implemented using the DSP process under the oversight of the CRSC.
The 22 climate resilient investments were priorities identified from the CIM Plans (a
community led consultation process). Examples of district sub-projects funded and
completed:
1) enhanced the resilience and improve quality of life of communities
residing in areas further away and at a higher elevation from the coast
through ensuring access to consistent treated and clean water supply in
Faleasiu/Lepale area, inland of Nofoalii/Leulumoega area, Satapuala and
Saleaumua new borehole establishments to extend piped networks;
2) enhanced the climate and disaster resilience of coastal communities
through improved access and emergency road, upgrade existing evacuation
access routes, reconstruction of box culverts to accommodate large volume of
water flow during heavy rainfall season or tropical cyclone season, replanting
and upgrade of spring pools to supplement piped supply during prolonged
extreme weather events and natural disasters covering Palauli West
(Satuiatua), Falealili (Siuniu), Gagaifomauga III (Aopo), Aleipata Itupa I lalo
and Lotofaga,
3) Enhanced and built resilient communities through strengthening their
management approaches and build local capacities of farmers, communities
and field professionals through a community based fisheries management
approach and an agroforestry investment through partnerships with local
organizations such as SerendiCoco and Women in Business.
4) built environmental and promote social and economic resilience through
investments in marine and coastal environment to withstand adverse impacts
of climate change on coastal marine biodiversity in districts of Aleipata Itupa
I Luga, Aleipata Itupa I Lalo and Falealili and protected area management of
the middle and upland forest of Savaii in Gagaifomauga II district and build
environmental resilience of upper catchment areas and montane/cloud forest
to climate change and promote social and economic resilience in
Gagaifomauga II district (Aopo).

 Lessons learnt include:
 We take seriously the ongoing dialogue with communities through village and district
level engagements as done when reviewing and updating the CIM Plans as well as the
engagement through CSSP using civil society organizations, this collaboration needs
to be strengthened going forward.
 The need to continue strengthening the oversight and coordination by the CRSC,
CRICD of climate resilient investments to ensure there is coordination, less
fragmentation in climate change projects and establish a clear linkage to our
development process including regular reporting to the Cabinet Development
Committee and others.
 The continuation of workable partnerships including using non- government
organizations and the private sector to deliver community services through the CSSP
and the DSP will continue.
 The use of the bulk procurement experiences for rain water harvesting systems is
encountered especially in managing the contract and the use of the appropriate

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clauses of the contract in a timely manner to fast track implementation and improve
the performance of local suppliers (at the same time deliver value for money) should
be encouraged.

The PPCR ECR Project has not only benefitted our villages and district communities but also civil
society and the private sector. We have received positive feedback from a follow up end of project
survey that was conducted with support from the Bank that some of the investments carried out in the
villages has helped families cope with the impact of the COVID pandemic lockdown. Through the
PPCR ECR Project we have started to “build community resilience to climate change to deal with
multiple shocks”.
To conclude, I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the government to thank all the village
and district representatives for your contributions. A special thank you to the World Bank team for
your ongoing support throughout the years. We appreciate the ongoing partnership with the Bank.
Thank you also to the project management services team – KVA Consult Ltd and all our technical
advisors who have worked to support the PPCR ECR Project.
Thank you to CSSP, MNRE and all our implementing agencies (LTA, MWTI, SWA and MAF) for
the ongoing support – we have proven that the multidisciplinary approach worked and as a team we
have assisted each other achieve and successfully complete this project.
Last but not least, thank you to the MOF teams and all of the staff who were involved and supported
the PPCR Project.

Thank you, Soifua.