IsraAID Vanuatu Completes Successful Rainwater Harvesting Project
IsraAID Vanuatu successfully completed a comprehensive rainwater harvesting training program, which improved water supply to eight communities in Vanuatu’s North Efate. The initiative, funded by the Canadian Embassy in Australia through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), ran from August 2024 through March 2025. With the project’s completion, local communities have gained critical skills in sustainable water management, which will serve their communities for generations to come.
The program developed knowledge and practical skills within communities, enabling them to construct, operate, and maintain effective rainwater harvesting systems. Training sessions were conducted at four strategic locations: two sites on Emau Island and two in Takara.
“Access to clean water remains a critical challenge for many communities in Vanuatu, with numerous villages relying heavily on rainwater harvesting for their daily needs,” said Gayle Deighton, Country Director of IsraAID Vanuatu. “This project has empowered community members with the technical skills to maximize their rainwater collection capabilities and ensure more sustainable water security.”
During the hands-on training sessions, participants installed water tanks secured with steel cables onto concrete slabs and fitted gutters with first-flush systems. First-flush systems, which help maintain clean water by preventing dirt and contaminants from entering storage tanks, often function inefficiently due to poor gutter installation that disrupts proper water flow.
The project has equipped community members with valuable knowledge about proper tank sizing, water consumption management, maintenance requirements, and water quality improvement measures. These skills enable communities to make more informed decisions about their water infrastructure and maximize the effectiveness of their rainwater harvesting systems.
“We’ve seen immediate improvements in how communities approach their water management,” said Piter Visser, IsraAID’s Technical WASH Specialist. “Participants are now able to identify design flaws in existing systems and implement solutions that significantly increase water collection efficiency and quality.”
IsraAID began working in Vanuatu after Category 5 Cyclone Pam displaced a quarter of the country’s population in 2015. Since then, IsraAID’s long term humanitarian mission has focused on Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, nutrition, and mental health needs, alongside prevention of Gender-Based Violence, building community resilience in the face of ongoing climate disasters. Since 2024, IsraAID is also registered in Australia, reflecting the organization’s commitment and deepening ties in the Pacific region.
IsraAID Vanuatu, along with the participating communities, extends its gratitude to the Canadian Embassy for their support through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. This partnership has successfully addressed a widespread need in communities where rainwater harvesting serves as the primary water source.
-ENDS-
CONTACT:
Gayle Deighton
Country Director – Vanuatu
Email: [email protected]
Shachar May
Press Officer
Email: [email protected]
PHOTOS:
Photos of IsraAID Vanuatu’s work in North Efate can be downloaded for use here. All photos should be credited to IsraAID.
Notes:
IsraAID is a leading international humanitarian non-governmental organization, based in Israel. Since 2001, IsraAID has become synonymous with a rapid response to humanitarian crises and a long-term commitment to working with affected communities. During and after emergencies, IsraAID partners with communities to re-build their lives – and their futures – together. As of March 2025, IsraAID has responded to more than 100 emergencies, in more than 65 countries.
