Vaisigano River Integrated Flood Management Project (ADB-58296-001)

Regions
  • East Asia and Pacific
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Countries
  • Samoa
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Financial Institutions
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB)
International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.
Project Status
Proposed
Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.
Bank Risk Rating
B
Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."
Borrower
Government of Samoa - Ministry of Finance
A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.
Sectors
  • Climate and Environment
The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.
Investment Type(s)
Grant
The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.
Investment Amount (USD)
$ 35.00 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Primary Source

Original disclosure @ ADB website

Updated in EWS Mar 14, 2026

Disclosed by Bank Jan 6, 2026

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Project Description
If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

According to the Bank’s website, the GOS requested ADB to support the ongoing climate adaptation management program to strengthen resilience and implement climate resilient flood management activities in the lower Vaisigano River catchment as a separate grant. The proposed Vaisigano River Integrated Flood Management Project would primarily focus on reducing flood risks in the lower Vaisigano River in Apia by establishing climate resilient infrastructure. The project will build on the activities undertaken by the GCF-funded UNDP-implemented project and will complement the ADB-financed Alaoa Multipurpose Dam Project.

Samoa, with a total land area of 2,934 km2, comprises two main islands, Savaii and Upolu, and several smaller islands. An estimated 97% of the total 219,000 population reside within 5 km of the coastline. Export of fisheries and agricultural products are the main income, while most of its fuel and commodities need to be imported. Like most Pacific states, Samoa is economically vulnerable and ecologically fragile because of its geographical location, isolation, limited resources and exposure to global economic crisis. The dual health crises, the measles outbreak in late 2019 and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, significantly impacted Samoa's economy. Following the reopening of Samoa's borders in August 2022, the economy was estimated to have grown by 6% in fiscal year (FY) 2023. Growth of 4.2% is projected for FY 2024 as visitor arrivals gain momentum and mobilization of public spending provides additional stimulus.

Early Warning System Project Analysis
For a project with severe or irreversible impacts to local community and natural resources, the Early Warning System Team may conduct a thorough analysis regarding its potential impacts to human and environmental rights.

Environment: B
Involuntary Resettlement: B
Indigenous Peoples: C

Investment Description
Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

The financing amount is $35,000,000, which will be financed on a grant basis by ADB’s Asian Development Fund.


Contact Information
This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

No contacts available at the time of disclosure

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form

ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.

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