In Chuuk State, the Tonoas Smart Island Digital Hub is transforming access to digital services in one of the Federated States of Micronesia’s most remote communities. Funded by the UN Joint SDG Fund, the hub was officially launched with support from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UNOPS, and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Multi-Country Office (UNRCO MCO). It provides state-of-the-art connectivity infrastructure to empower residents with tools for telemedicine, online learning, financial services, and local governance.
President Wesley W. Simina highlighted the initiative as a symbol of partnership and technological progress, calling it a cornerstone of a more connected and unified Micronesia. The hub is part of the broader FSM Smart Island Project, which aims to foster digital inclusion, economic opportunity, and community resilience across the country’s outer islands. UNOPS emphasized that investing in connectivity and capacity-building lays the foundation for long-term social and economic benefits for Tonoas residents.
Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava of the ITU noted that the digital hub will provide vital access to digital services and skills-building opportunities, ensuring that no one in the community is left behind. The Tonoas Digital Hub serves as a model for smart island development, demonstrating how technology can strengthen resilience, improve quality of life, and advance sustainable development in remote island communities.
This initiative aligns with the UN’s mission to create sustainable communities and contributes to the broader movement to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, supported by contributions from multiple international governments and partners.
