One year on from securing a $12 million investment from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Cook Islands is making strong progress in its efforts to build climate-resilient health services.
The Akamatutu’anga To Tatou Ora’anga Meitaki (ATOM) Project is a five-year initiative designed to strengthen the health sector’s institutional capacity to respond to climate-related health challenges. The project will enhance the resilience of 22 health facilities across 12 islands, including Rarotonga and the Pa Enua.
The ATOM Project is being delivered through a cross-sector collaboration involving Te Marae Ora (TMO), the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC), and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM), with support from Climate Change Cook Islands, the Cook Islands Red Cross Society, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Agriculture. Non-government partners include Punanga Turuturu Itivaine, Te Tiare Association, Te Puna Vai Marama, and the Cook Islands National Disability Council.
Building Climate-Resilient Health Systems
In response to increasing climate risks, the ATOM Project is focused on:
- Integrating climate resilience into the delivery of health services by Te Marae Ora
- Strengthening institutional capacity to address climate-related health issues
- Upgrading health infrastructure to better to better withstand the impacts of climate change
Progress to Date
As one of the project’s executing agencies, the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) is pleased to report a number of milestones already achieved:
🔹 Establishment of the Project Coordination Unit to oversee delivery
🔹 Engagement of specialist contractors to conduct scoping and technical assessments of the current health facilities across the country.
🔹 Completion of Stage 1 Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessments (CVRA) and Compliance Assessments at several key health facilities:
- Tupapa Outpatient and Administration Building
- Rarotonga Hospital
- Mauke Hospital
- Aitutaki Hospital
These assessments, undertaken by CIIC staff and contracted experts, reviewed each facility’s buildings, water supply, sanitation systems, and energy infrastructure to identify climate resilience needs.
What’s Next
The next phase of the project will see continued momentum throughout 2025, including:
- May 2025 – CVRA assessments in the Northern Group, Mangaia, Atiu, and Mitiaro (Palmerston will follow once transport is available)
- June 2025 – Completion of technical designs and engineering plans for Mauke Hospital upgrade
- September to November 2025 – Review of assessment reports to determine infrastructure priorities
- October 2025 – Commencement of infrastructure upgrades starting with Mauke Hospital
- December 2025 – Completion of the Mauke hospital facility upgrade
These activities lay the foundation for broader implementation in 2026–2028, ensuring health facilities across the Cook Islands are equipped to serve communities in the face of climate change.
The ATOM Project is not just an investment in infrastructure—it’s an investment in the health, safety, and future of our people. By strengthening the resilience of our health services, we are building a healthier Cook Islands, one facility at a time.
