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This paper examines the potential for renewable energy technologies to promote sustainable development in rural areas in Pacific island countries. The paper examines the link between access to energy supplies and sustainable development

This Flood Management Action Plan (FMAP) was developed in response to the Government of Samoa’s request for flood management assistance on particularly in the urban areas surrounding the capital of Apia. The need for flood management was first identified in Samoa’s work plan for the EDF 8 project in WS 3.4 and 3.5 pertaining to hazard assessment and risk reduction. The Plan has been developed as part of the regional EDF 8 Project Reducing Vulnerabilities in the Pacific ACP States, executed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC). The implementation of the Plan should also consider the following documents, which had been developed in conjunction:| Samoa Floodplain Management: A Guideline for Planning and Development Assessment 2007| Samoa - Capacity Building in Flood Risk Management – Technical report SOPAC/EDF8 Project No : ER0069a

The Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) is currently executing the project Reducing Vulnerability in Pacific ACP States with funding from the European Development Fund (EDF). The project has the objective to reduce Pacific ACP States' vulnerability to natural disasters affecting their coasts through the development of an integrated planning and management system which targets: hazard mitigation and risk assessment; alternative sources of aggregates for construction; and water resources and sanitation. Major activities undertaken through this project with participating countries are: -assessment of aggregate resource supplies to mitigate the impact of unsustainable aggregate mining from the coastline; -development of bathymetric maps, 3D bathymetric and hydrodynamic models spatial databases relating to resource use, exploration and survey, and vulnerability to disasters; and -investigating and raising awareness about coastal processes.

The Marshall Islands is a relatively small country of about 70 square miles in land area spread over an expanse of ocean of more than 700 square miles. As such we are vulnerable to a range of natural and human-induced hazards perhaps more so than our larger island neighbours in other parts of the Pacific. Recognising the vulnerable nature of our country we have embarked on this endeavour to identify risk reduction and disaster management measures and activities that will help to make our country a better place to live and our people more safe and secure.

SOPAC is committed to sustainable development through capacity building and works to reduce poverty and strengthen resilience in the Pacific by supporting the development of natural resources, in particular non-living resources. SOPAC work investigates natural systems and the management of vulnerability through applied environmental geosciences, appropriate technologies, knowledge management, technical and policy advice, human resource development and advocacy of important Pacific issues.