From 11 August to 2 September 2025, our team visited Kiritimati Island to support Nei Baneawa Cooperative Society in setting up their new business on the production and sale of value -added marine products. Nei Baneawa was selected after a full Island Council meeting and consultation with the MLPID OIC, as it is the only organization that unites women from different church groups on the island.

We provided training on post-harvest and value-adding of marine products including tuna jerky, smoked milkfish, seaweed ice cream, and jam. The mission was a great success. Nei Baneawa is now ready to run their business and has already started selling their products with customers coming in.

To mark this milestone, an MOU was signed between MFOR, the Ministry for the Line and Phoenix Islands Group, and Nei Baneawa Cooperative Society to formalise roles and responsibilities.

Special thanks to PROP through the World Bank for making this initiative possible. MFOR, through PROP, will provide Nei Baneawa with working materials expected to arrive before the end of the year 2025.