Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP) — Nanumaga Coastal Protection
Nanumaga, Tuvalu
UNDP / Green Climate Fund | 2020–2024
Works completed March 2024
The completed Berm Top Barrier extending along Nanumaga’s western coastline, strengthening protection for the outer-island community from coastal hazards.
Protecting Nanumaga’s Western Coastline
On the remote outer island of Nanumaga, the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project delivered 785 metres of protected coastline along the western storm berm fronting the village.
A Berm Top Barrier constructed from geotextile mega containers raises the natural berm by approximately two metres, helping shield homes, community buildings and key island assets from king tides, storm surge and wave overtopping while allowing natural sand movement along the coast.
Project Highlights
785 metres
Protected coastline
~2 metres
Additional height provided to the natural storm berm
March 2024
Construction completed
The completed Berm Top Barrier integrated into Nanumaga’s coastal landscape.
Coastal Protection Designed for an Atoll Environment
The hybrid coastal protection design raises the natural storm berm while retaining natural sand movement along the coast.
The works also extended and raised the landward end of the island’s boat channel access, providing the community with a solid, safe platform for vessels and machinery.
Construction of the Nanumaga coastal protection works by Hall Contracting.
Intercoastal’s Role
Intercoastal led the engineering as the UNDP Engineer through design, construction-phase management and the as-constructed verification survey of the completed barrier.
Coastal adaptation delivered with, not just for, an outer-island community.
Construction was completed by Hall Contracting in March 2024.
Project Details
Client: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Funding: Green Climate Fund / UNDP
Location: Nanumaga, Tuvalu
Project period: 2020–2024
Construction completed: March 2024
Contractor: Hall Contracting
Services: Coastal Engineering · Climate Adaptation & Resilience · Construction Supervision · Project Management & Delivery · Metocean Survey
