The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$111 million (ST$310 million) project to address cross-cutting climate adaptation challenges of flood risk management, sustainable and reliable water supply, and renewable energy security.   

The Alaoa Multipurpose Dam Project is supported by a grant of almost US$100 million (ST$272m) from ADB’s Asian Development Fund (ADF), which provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable countries. 

It is replenished every four years by the ADF’s donor countries. The Ireland Trust Fund for Building Climate Change and Disaster Resilience in Small Island Developing States will contribute US$400,000 (ST$1.1m) and the Government of Samoa will provide more than US$11 million (ST$30m).

The project will support the construction of a multipurpose dam to reduce flood risks in the capital, Apia, provide a reliable and sustainable source of water supply and provide support on flood risk management systems, capacity building, and biodiversity conservation and management. A run-of-river small hydropower plant will also help to reduce Samoa’s dependency on imported fossil fuels for power generation.

“ADB is grateful for the partnership with the Government of Samoa in preparing this project. Extensive assessments and technical analyses were undertaken to ensure that the infrastructure design will incorporate robust climate and disaster-resilient features,” said ADB Director General for the Pacific Leah Gutierrez.

“A noteworthy component of this project is the establishment of an innovative biodiversity offset trust fund. This will ensure no net loss of biodiversity to Samoa’s natural environment. The fund will also ensure sustainable financing for biodiversity protection and enhancement” she said.  

To ensure the robustness of dam safety, ADB has engaged an independent panel of experts, which has provided an additional robust technical review of the project.

Close consultations with stakeholders, including affected villages, government agencies, and civil society organisations and nongovernment organizations were integral to project preparation. Around 60 extensive consultations and meetings were conducted within the five-year project preparation period, except during the pandemic.