The Rabaul District in East New Britain Province is one of the first districts in the province apart from Pomio district and in the country to roll out the PacFresH20, a project aimed at protecting fresh water and increasing resilience.
The official country launch of the PacFreH2O project was held on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Somare Memorial Park in Rabaul, witnessed by the Minister of the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM) and his delegation, the Provincial Member, Rabaul MP and his DDA Board members and project implementing partners such as Water Aid, GIZ and others.
When giving the keynote address, the Minister for the Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Sir Ano Pala, said that this is a German funded project, a 20 million Euros (PGK104 million) trilateral cooperation between Germany, PNG and Solomon Islands.
He explained that the PacFresH2O project will be rolled out between 2026 and 2031 to selected high risk communities, schools, health facilities and markets with the following approach.
1. Climate- resilient water supply systems will be rehabilitated and installed.
2. Improved sanitation and hygiene facilities.
3. Climate and hydrological monitoring stations will be installed to work together with the National Weather Service.
4. Conservation initiatives.
5. Establishment of District Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) Committees and
6. Alternate livelihood opportunities.
Minister Pala said that as a disaster-prone province and district, we have to be prepared and respond accordingly when disaster strikes.
He also announced that Rabaul is the first district in PNG to receive a fully DNPM-funded WaSH project of this scale, with priority for the people of Matupit who have endured for decades living in the shadow of a live volcano with inadequate access to clean and safe water.
This will also complement the PacFresH2O project.
Also present to witness the launch was the member for Rabaul Dr. Allan Marat, who expressed his gratitude towards the Minster for National Planning & Monitoring, implementing agencies and the German Government, for identifying and selecting Rabaul District to pilot this important project.
“Germany and Rabaul have a long history since the colonial days of German- New Guinea and we are privileged to renew those ties again with this vital water resilience project,” Dr. Marat said.
He said such projects will empower communities to be resilient and improve family’s livelihood and also encouraged the district to take ownership of the project.
Meanwhile, Rabaul District Administrator Freddy Lemeki, commended all partners for their efforts in successfully launching the PacFresH2O program and added that this will also complement the recently launched District WaSH 5 Year Development Plan.
