Kiribati : Outer Islands Transport Infrastructure Investment Project

Transport / Road transport (non-urban) - Transport policies and institutional development - Water transport (non-urban)

Kiribati is one of the most remote and geographically dispersed countries in the world. It is composed of 33 small islands, spread across 3.5 million square kilometers of ocean. Approximately 55% of Kiribati's total population of 115,847 live on the main island of Tarawa which includes the capital, South Tarawa, and the remaining inhabitants are spread across the outer islands. These are low-lying atolls which are highly exposed to the effects of climate change, including sea-level rise and increased intensity of rainfall and wind from tropical cyclones. Access to goods and services on the outer islands is limited and large numbers of inhabitants are moving to the more urban capital which provides employment opportunities, access to higher education and specialized social services.

A safe and resilient transport infrastructure is essential for connecting Kiribati's population to economic opportunities and social services, particularly for those living on the outer islands. It is also a key to achieving the objective of the Government of Kiribati to stem-the-tide of migration from outer islands. This requires substantive improvements to (i) safety of inter-island maritime navigation, (ii) resilience of outer island access infrastructure, and (iii) institutional capacity of key government agencies, namely the Ministry of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE).

The safety of inter-island maritime navigation is a major concern in Kiribati due to the lack of nautical charts which are the most fundamental tools to ensure safe navigation and prevent potential vessel groundings that can result in fatality as well as pollution. The government does not have the necessary resources or expertise to carry out hydrographic surveys which are required to produce nautical charts. The hydrographic surveys also provide essential information to plan and develop maritime infrastructure, such as configuration of sea floor, water depths, and locations of aids to navigation. This is a binding constraint to the development of outer islands.

The outer island access infrastructure is not adequate and resilient in several key areas. The aids to navigation (AtoNs) which are markers used to guide vessels need replacement and many are completely missing. The markers currently in place were not designed durably to withstand the conditions. The outer islands lack ship-shore berthing infrastructure such as boat ramps and jetties, and passengers often must wade several hundred meters in water to reach land. Such passage is particularly dangerous to children and elderly commuters. On the landside, the intra-island crossings (causeways) are in degraded condition, hindering connectivity, and lack climate resilient features such as proper drainage and erosion control. The institutional capacity of the key government agencies is inadequate to enable sustainable development and maintenance of transport infrastructure in the outer islands.

As an atoll nation, Kiribati is low-lying and highly vulnerable to climate change and disaster risks. The outer islands are exposed to a number of hazards, including rising sea levels, heavy rainfall, drought, and storm surges. The most serious potential impacts are from a combination of extreme high tides and wave events, heavy rainfall, and windstorms, and this is primarily due to their frequency and potential for causing significant damage.

The proposed project is in line with the Kiribati 20-year vision 2016-2036, which sets the country's development goals and long-term planning framework. Its overall objective is to 'bolster national efforts in transforming the lives of an I-Kiribati (people) and economy into a resilient, wealthy, healthy and secure nation . The project is consistent with ADB's Strategy 2030 priority of strengthening institutional capacity, particularly in small island developing countries. It is also aligned with ADB's Pacific Approach in reducing costs by improving domestic and regional connectivity through transport infrastructure, managing risks, and enabling value creation, and in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. The proposed project is also included in ADB's Country Operations Business Plan for 11 Small Pacific Island Countries, 2020-2022.

Access to economic and social infrastructure in the outer islands improved

Safety and resilience of transport connectivity in Abaiang, Beru, Nonouti, and Tabiteuea South improved

Safety of interisland navigation improved

Resilience of outer island access infrastructure improved

Enabling environment strengthened

Contract has been awarded to UKHO (ADB $523,336.78) for the hydrographic surveys on 2 Dec 2020.

The RFP for the hydrographic surveyor has been issued, deadline is on 27 May 2022, and is expected to be awarded by 25 August 2022.

Design-build contractor for the ATON and maritime

works will commence after completion of the hydrographic survey by Q3 2023.

The bidding documents for the design-build contractor are being prepared and will be finalized by Q4 2022

Design-build contractor for the ATON and maritime

works will commence after completion of the hydrographic survey by Q3 2023.

The bidding documents for the design-build contractor are being prepared and will be finalized by Q4 2022.

All procurement will be undertaken in accordance with the ADB Procurement Policy - Goods, Works, Nonconsulting and Consulting Services (2017, as amended from time to time) and Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers - Goods, Works, Nonconsulting and Consulting Services (2017, as amended from time to time).

In accordance with ADB's Alternative Procurement Arrangements (APA) mechanism, as detailed in the ADB Procurement Policy, referenced above, ADB signed a Procurement Framework Agreement (PFA) with the World Bank on 3 December 2018. Under the PFA, each cofinancier acknowledges that their respective procurement frameworks are consistent with international good practice and promote economy, efficiency, fairness, transparency, value for money and fitness for purpose, facilitating mutual reliance on cofinanced projects.