Public Group on Water and Sanitation

Introduction

The Cook Islands are classified as an Upper Middle Income Country and has one of the highest GDP per capita in the Pacific, although with big disparities in income between islands. The Cook Islands Government indicated its preference to maintain water and sanitation as the focal sector (the full document can be found here). Based on identified priorities in the country and its continuity with previous cooperation, this choice was endorsed by the EU.

Focus Sectors budget

Water

Overall objectives

The overall objective of the Water and Sanitation sector is to contribute to the sustainable economic growth of the Cook Islands, through a viable management approach of its natural resources and ecosystem.

Country Context

The key challenges for water supply relate to the geographical dispersion and the consequent high cost of providing services to the island, as well as the general shortage of appropriate qualified staff in the sector.

The National Sustainable Development Plan 2011-2015 seek to improve the management and quality of water resources through an integrated approach. This includes improvement in water quality through better sanitation, implementing a waste minimisation programme and providing appropriate facilities and incentives to support the purpose of achieving zero waste. A sound sanitation sector policy was adopted in December 2013 providing overall policy orientations as well as budgeting, monitoring and evaluation tools.

Specific objectives and the main expected results

SO1 - Improve water quality through better sanitation measures

• R.1. The Cook Islands sanitation policies and regulatory frameworks are strengthened, monitored and their compliance enforced, with due regard to the environment and the consequences of climate change.

.