The European Union and the United Nations Children's Fund are to spend 3.4 million US dollars improving water supply and sanitation facilities in five Solomon Islands provinces.
The scheme, to take four years, aims to deliver sustainable access to water to more than 60,000 people in Choiseul, Isabel, Makira, Rennel and Bellona, and Temotu provinces.
The head of the EU delegation to Papua New Guinea, Solomons Islands and Vanuatu, Martin Dihm, says it's an ambitious project but it's tackling a critical issue.
He says a key part of the scheme is the provision of tanks to catch rainwater.
"And also by training people in how to apply hygiene. Washing hands for example is very simple but extremely effective to to that. There are also plans to install sanitation facilities in villages. It will also address public facilities such as schools and hospitals."
EU delegation head in Melanesia, Martin Dihm
