Enhancing the quality of life of i-Kiribati and ni-Vanuatu people by improving reproductive health and sustainable environmental management practice is the goal of FPAID's new integrated population and environment project.

Also known as community-based population and environment (CBPE), integrated projects help improve project outcomes in both reproductive health and natural resource conservation.

The benefits of linking reproductive health and environmental sustainability projects include easing local population pressure on ecosystems, and meeting immediate human needs more effectively.

In both Kiribati and Vanuatu, increased population pressures are exacerbating the depletion and pollution of their natural resources.  Both countries also have significant reproductive health issues, including high rates of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned teenage pregnancies. 

FPAID is working with the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific (FSP) and its sister organisations in Kiribati and Vanuatu to implement the project, whereby community groups will be able to access grants of between NZ$3000 and NZ$5000. Funded by the Packard Foundation, the project follows on from research FPAID carried out in the Pacific in 2001.

More on FPAID's current projects>>