The importance of regular transportation and access to outer islands in   in Tuvalu plays a critical role in the successful implementation of community based conservation and sustainable development projects.

To address this, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) recently supported the government of Tuvalu to procure a 30 meter vessel.

The MV Talamoana is designed to carry up to 15 persons. She will be used by the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) 2 Project to transport expert teams and as essential equipment to the outer islands.

Nine islands make up Tuvalu. Nanumea, for example, is located about 400 kilometres from Funafuti and is closer to Kiribati, while Niulakita stretches some 220km from the capital, and is closer to Rotuma.

The vessel will enable teams of government officials and project personnel to plan missions to outer islands. The NAPA 2 is a four-year project focussing on implementing three priorities outlined in Tuvalu’s National Adaptation Programme of Action.

They are the coastal fisheries, disaster risk management and integrating locally-specific climate change concerns into existing outer Island Strategic Plans and mobilising resources.

Source: UNDP

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