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The NWRP provides a framework for leadership and coordinated action in the supply of safe, adequate and financially, technically and environmentally sustainable water services to rural, outer island and urban communities in Kiribati and for the protection, conservation, sustainable use and efficient management of Kiribati’s water resources. It is directed at improving the welfare and livelihood of I-Kiribati and represents the vision of the Government of Kiribati (Gook) for the water sector

Biodiversity in Kiribati has always been challenged economically, politically, socially and even judicially. Capacity constraints emanating from limited financial and human resources, limited technical capacity, limited scientific based data and poor monitoring and evaluation of the progress of the national biodiversity action plans have undermined the country’s effort to protect and conserve biodiversity effectively. As a nation with very limited resources, Kiribati cannot afford to sit back and allow the serious degradation to continue.

The NWRP provides a framework for leadership and coordinated action in the supply of safe, adequate and financially, technically and environmentally sustainable water services to rural, outer island and urban communities in Kiribati and for the protection, conservation, sustainable use and efficient management of Kiribati's water resources. It is directed at improving the welfare and livelihood of I-Kiribati and represents the vision of the Government of Kiribati (GoK) for the water sector.

Water is a vital, strategic resource that underpins human well-being, health, cultural and spiritual values, sustains environments and provides development opportunities. The nature of coral islands and atolls, demographic trends, the widely dispersed villages, crowded urban centres, climatic variation and change and the impacts of human activities all combine to impose significant risks to water supplies for island communities and their environments. The challenges faced in the water and sanitation sector in Kiribati are amongst the most difficult in the world.

The Gilbert Islands contain the bulk of the population (> 90%) but have about 35 % of the land mass. All the islands are privately owned by the indigenous people, but most of the land on South Tarawa, the capital, is leased by Government for development purposes. East of the Gilbert group lies the Phoenix Islands. One of its island, Kanton (also known as Canton) hosts less than 100 people and the remaining 7 atolls are uninhabited, except Orona, which is used for trial to harvest the natural resources for economic gain. All the islands in the group are owned by Government