ADRA Samoa has completed a major round of shelter projects across Samoa, providing safe homes and sanitation facilities for vulnerable families while also opening a new climate-resilient evacuation shelter in Savai‘i.
The organisation announced the successful completion of Phase 5 of its Shelter and Hygiene Facility Assistance Project, which delivered 26 new safe shelters and 26 hygiene facilities between February and June 2025. The project supported 20 families in Upolu and 6 families in Savai‘i, with over 190 people now housed in improved conditions.
The work was carried out in partnership with the Government of Samoa, and supported by the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD), the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Finance, with additional contributions from contractors and private sector partners including TN Construction, Bluebird Lumber and Hardware, the Electric Power Corporation, and the Samoa Water Authority.
During a joint site visit in June, officials from MWCSD and ADRA Samoa visited the villages of Vailele, Malie Tai & Uta, Vaisau, and Sapunaoa Falealili, where the newly completed shelters offer residents improved safety, privacy, and sanitation. Each household received a shelter with dedicated toilet and shower facilities aimed at reducing the spread of disease and promoting health.
In a separate but related initiative, ADRA Samoa also marked the opening of a new evacuation shelter in the village of Papaloa, Salelologa on Savai‘i. Built through ADRA’s Participatory Approach for Safe Shelter Awareness and Build Back Safer programmes, the structure was developed with direct input from the community to strengthen disaster readiness and climate resilience.
The Papaloa shelter includes accessibility features such as a ramp, separate indoor toilets for men and women, a food preparation area, lighting and ceiling fans, and a rainwater harvesting system. It will serve not only as an evacuation centre during extreme weather events, but also as a meeting place for village committees and community programmes.
The shelter was made possible through ADRA’s Negotiated Partnerships and Climate Finance for Community Resilience programming, with funding support from NZMFAT, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, and in-kind contributions from GWA Group NZ.
ADRA Samoa acknowledged the collective support that made these projects possible, including the leadership of local village councils, the Government of Samoa, donors, and the communities themselves.
“These initiatives are a clear example of what we can achieve when we work together,” ADRA Samoa stated. “We remain committed to building a more resilient future for all Samoan families.”
About ADRA Samoa
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Samoa is part of a global humanitarian organisation affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ADRA works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities in Samoa through disaster response, development projects, and community resilience programmes. In partnership with the Government of Samoa, ADRA delivers housing, sanitation, climate adaptation, and social development initiatives that support families and strengthen village-level progress across the country.
