To support the Government of Tuvalu’s long-term goals for improving water and sanitation infrastructure in Funafuti, the Asian Development Bank initiated the Funafuti Water and Sanitation Project, targeting resilience and service reliability over a 20-year horizon. A critical component of the project was understanding how climate and geophysical risks affect water and sanitation infrastructure, both now and into the future.

Alluvium was engaged to deliver the Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) for the project. Our team conducted a comprehensive literature review, analysed historical and projected climate data, and assessed geophysical hazards such as flooding and drought. We developed hydroclimatic datasets, including daily rainfall and drought time series, to inform the design and resilience of rainwater harvesting and sanitation systems. Our work supported flood risk modelling and infrastructure planning, helping to identify climate-adapted infrastructure designs and avoid maladaptation.

The CDRA provided the climate rationale underpinning strategic investment decisions in Tuvalu’s 20-year water and sanitation master plan, ensuring a robust, climate-resilient approach to development.