The U.S. and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) have a close and unique relationship underpinned by the Compact of Free Association (COFA) agreement. USAID focuses on increasing resilience to natural disasters, climate change impacts, promoting good governance and economic growth, strengthening environmental management, improving health outcomes, and increasing digital connectivity. USAID works closely with Marshallese organizations, multilateral agencies, and the private sector. USAID also works in close coordination with fellow U.S. government agencies at Embassy Majuro, which offer a range of critical public services and assistance for the people of RMI.

Priorities

Environment and Climate Change

USAID supported the RMI government to draft and implement policies to update its National Adaptation Plan. USAID also promotes sustainable management of coastal fisheries to provide food security, and long-term economic, social and ecological benefits to current and future generations of Pacific Island countries. Through Climate Ready, USAID mobilized US$24.75m from the Green Climate Fund to address climate vulnerabilities of the water sector in RMI in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Over US$560,000 in climate finance was also mobilized from the RMI UNDP/Global Environment Fund Small Grants Programme for community-based adaptation projects.

Economic Growth

USAID -along with international partners -is supporting the RMI’s economic growth through technical assistance for the country's program to liberalize and modernize its telecommunications sector. Through this initiative, USAID is working toward increasing the RMI’s digital connectivity with faster, more reliable, and secure internet, bringing internet to some remote areas for the first time and providing the entire country with a stronger economic future.

Democracy and Governance

USAID reinforces good governance by encouraging all Marshallese citizens – including women, youth, and other marginalized groups – to take an active role in democracy and seek accountability from the government, private sector, and their own communities. For example, USAID supports an elections project that is helping the RMI to prepare for national elections through voter registration and education campaigns, automating electoral administration, updating elections laws, and ensuring that the election is free from malign influences.

USAID also provides technical assistance that has enabled the RMI to detect and deter trafficking in persons.

USAID collaborates with U.S. government interagency partners to support the RMI’s efforts to improve its legal framework to combat corruption, for example through strengthening procurement laws and tender regulations.

Disaster Preparedness and Response

USAID supports the RMI’s efforts to strengthen community resilience to climate change-associated threats including natural disasters and rising sea levels. USAID is improving evacuation shelters, training community leaders on shelter management, conducting response exercises, and pre-positioning emergency relief commodities. USAID focuses on youth through community response training, so that they are prepared to identify and address challenges facing their communities.

USAID and multiple U.S. federal agency partners work to improve food security on eight vulnerable “outer island” communities by assisting the Majuro Chamber of Commerce to implement an ambitious agriculture program. This initiative will enhance local food production through school and community gardens and will make available diverse and drought resistant food.

Health & Education

USAID supports the RMI’s efforts to improve outcomes in the health and education sectors. For example, USAID provided upgrades to the RMI’s health information systems, enabling the Ministry of Health and Human Services to deploy mobile COVID teams that were connected to the nations’ hospitals in real time. USAID funded “vaccine voyages” in which RMI medical teams traveled to widely scattered atolls to administer safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. USAID assistance enabled the Red Cross to meet the RMI’s expanding donor blood requirements. In the education area, USAID’s and its local partners are working to address the lack of Marshallese language and context books for early readers. Additionally, USAID and its U.S. government agency partners are assisting the RMI to develop a vocational training center on Ebeye that will meet the labor needs in the U.S. Army base on Kwajalein Atoll.

Cross-Cutting

USAID bolsters the capacity of local civil society organizations in the Pacific to address the second order impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. USAID supports communities to increase their resilience to disasters and climate risks, enhance their livelihoods, increase food security, and improve access to water. USAID assistance also enhances access to health and education services, improves governance, conserves critical biodiversity, and promotes sustainable management of natural resources.