Samoa's government has begun work on a multi-million dollar project it hopes will protect 18 vulnerable communities from flooding.
The aim of the Vaisigano Catchment Project is to reduce exposure to climate risks in the area.
The project has a total budget of $US65 million and is a partnership with the Green Climate Fund and the United Nations Development Programme.
The project began with a two day workshop which is expected to scale up activities along the banks of the Vaisigano river.
The government has proposed building a flood wall along the riverside.
The Apia river is prone to flooding which has caused a number or evacuations over the years, most recently during February's Cyclone Gita.