Past assistance

The EU provided assistance worth almost €12 million between 2008 and 2013 under the European Development Fund (EDF), most of it for water and sanitation, to promote public health, economic growth and environmental protection:

• upgrading septic tanks in water treatment facilities to international standards, primarily around the Muri lagoon, benefiting up to 10,000 people.
• technical assistance and capacity building for the office of the National Authorising Officer and civil society.

•  technical assistance for the Ministry of Marine Resources with and interdisciplinary assessment (biodiversity, Water Quality, Hydrology & rehabilitation) of the Muri lagoon to address impacts of public sanitation and a feasibility study for a centralised laboratory

Other projects funded

• €4.6 million from the EU's Sustainable Energy for All initiative to support renewable energy projects in the outer islands.
• Aid to construct a cyclone shelter on Pukapuka, following Cyclone Percy which damaged three-quarters of the houses there in 2005.

Future assistance

EU funding under the EDF in 2014-20 – €1.4 million – will focus entirely on water supply and sanitation.

Cooperation with other donors

Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) – specific infrastructure issues related to the water and sanitation sector.

EU/NZ Energy Access Partnership – energy-related projects

Asian Development Bank – energy related projects.

Regional funding

The Cook Islands will also benefit considerably from regional activities under the forthcoming EDF Regional Indicative Programme for the Pacific.

Funding for 2014-20 under the EDF