Vanuatu AHP - Australian Humanitarian Partnership

24/12/2025

Tank yu tumas lo ol gudfala patnasip blo yia ya 2025.

15/12/2025

Disasters don’t always have to take us by surprise.
Anticipatory Action (AA) is a global humanitarian approach that shifts the focus from responding after a disaster to acting before it hits. By linking scientific forecasts, early warning systems, and pre-agreed funding, AA allows early actions — such as moving people to safer locations, pre-positioning supplies, or sharing preparedness messages — to be triggered before impacts are felt.
Over the past decade, this approach has proven effective in countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines, saving lives, reducing damage, and costing less than late response.
This year, the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP), funded by the Australian Government through DFAT, is testing and localising Anticipatory Action in the Pacific through its Anticipatory Action Fund, building on lessons from the Disaster READY program. The trial is being implemented across Vanuatu, Fiji, and Timor-Leste with local governments, disaster authorities, and humanitarian partners.

In Vanuatu, the approach is led by AHP partners ActionAid Vanuatu, Save the Children Vanuatu, and ADRA Vanuatu (through the CAN DO network), under the coordination of the Disaster READY Country Committee (DRCC). The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department (VMGD) supported the design process to ensure alignment with national systems.

Early last month, the approach was tested through a large-scale simulation exercise (SimEx) across Santo and Efate, simulating a Category 4 cyclone. Communities and partners tested the full early action chain — from alerts and triggers to coordination, communication, logistics, and community awareness.
While NDMO and VMGD were not on the ground, they remained engaged through the design and coordination team.

The exercise generated valuable learning on refining triggers, strengthening information flow, and improving coordination between communities, NGOs, and authorities — contributing directly to DFAT’s goal of strengthening locally led, nationally guided early action systems across the Pacific.



Australian High Commission, Vanuatu Australian Humanitarian Partnership Disaster READY

15/12/2025

15/12/2025

Handover of an emergency kit to the Community Disaster & Climate Change Committee (CDCCC) of Blacksands Community, Zone 5, Efate.
Disaster READY
Vanuatu AHP - Australian Humanitarian Partnership
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15/12/2025

🚨 Historic Milestone: East Tanna Communities Launch First-Ever Disaster Preparedness Plan! 🌪️
On Thursday, 6 November 2025, the Disaster Ready 2.0 Project—funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and implemented by CARE Vanuatu in partnership with the Vanuatu Society for People with Disabilities (VSPD)—proudly launched the Community Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan (CDPRP) for six communities in East Tanna Area Council, Tafea Province. Hosted in Ipikangien community, the event united 55 members of Community Disaster and Climate Change Committees (CDCCCs), plus provincial and area council representatives.
East Tanna faces frequent threats from cyclones, earthquakes, and volcanic ashfall from Mt Yasur. In this high-risk area, a community-led plan is vital for building resilience. This is the first-ever CDPRP for East Tanna— a game-changer that provides structured guidance on hazards, evacuation routes, resources, roles, and emergency contacts.
Community leaders, women, youth, teachers, church reps, and people with disabilities came together for hands-on training, simulations, and interactive sessions. The result? Stronger coordination, confidence, and inclusive planning that aligns with local priorities and promotes localization.
This launch empowers communities to lead their own disaster response, protecting lives and livelihoods year-round. CARE is proud to support such transformative, locally led work—putting women and girls at the centre of resilience-building.
What resilience stories inspire you? Share in the comments! 👇 Learn more at care.org.au.
National Disaster Management Office
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Australian High Commission, Vanuatu
Vanuatu AHP - Australian Humanitarian Partnership
Disaster READY
Vanuatu Society for People with Disability
Provincial Government

07/11/2025

Wetem saeklon sisen wei Vanuatu e stap rere blong go thru lo hem, Navohalea komuniti long South Ambae oli complitim 2 wiks training long side blong Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR).
From risk mapping to simulation exercises, women, children, and vulnerable groups played key roles in shaping a safer, more resilient future for Navohalea community in South Ambae. The whole community actively participated in the discussions and exercises under the Community Action Plan (CAP) project with the presence of National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the PENAMA provincial representation by the Area Council.
The program began with a sensitization session and the formation of the Community Disaster Climate Change Committee (CDCCC), equipping members with vital roles before, during, and after disasters. Through inclusive workshops, the CDCCC developed key documents - Risk and Evacuation Map, Response Plan, Community Profile, and Community Action Plan.
Tugeta yumi giv han long komuniti mo empawarem olgeta blong rere long taem blong wan disasta.



Australian Humanitarian Partnership Disaster READY

22/10/2025

Vanuatu Society for People with Disability (VSPD) is leading the work with communities in Efate to develop a disability-inclusive Family Disaster Plan.

Today, we wrap up a two-day Disaster Risk Reduction and Family Disaster Plan training for the Community Disability Associations (CDA) of Pango and Teouma Fork Road. These community representatives will work closely with VSPD to develop the draft of an inclusive Family Disaster Plan based on the National Disaster Management Office standard version. The plan aims to help families, especially those with people living with disabilities, to better prepare for and respond to disasters, ensuring that everyone’s needs are met during preparedness and response.

Wan Smolbag
Disaster READY
Australian Humanitarian Partnership
Vanuatu Ministry of Justice and Community Services

22/10/2025

This week, our Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Project team in TORBA, in partnership with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), has been working alongside community members in Vetimboso, West Vanua Lava, to establish their Community Disaster and Climate Change Committee (CDCCC).

The training took place inside a newly built custom school classroom, proudly constructed using local materials — and designed to also serve as a safe house during cyclones. This was a perfect add on to help members understand the importance of building inclusive safe houses.

This important work is made possible through the generous support of the Australian Government through Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP). We are truly grateful for their continued partnership and commitment to strengthening community resilience across Vanuatu.



Australian High Commission, Vanuatu Vanuatu AHP - Australian Humanitarian Partnership Department of Climate Change Ministry of Climate Change Vanuatu World Vision Australia

21/10/2025

Faster help when disasters strike 🇻🇺

Vanuatu is strengthening national systems so families can receive emergency support quicker and safer after cyclones, floods, or volcanic eruptions.

When a cyclone hits, how fast can help reach your family?
That question fuels Vanuatu’s push to build faster, safer ways to get help to families — using trusted national and digital systems that can deliver support the moment disaster hits.

On 15 October 2025, the Government of Vanuatu, through the Department of Strategic Policy, Planning & Aid Coordination (DSPPAC), led a workshop titled “Towards Adaptive Social Protection in Vanuatu: Latest Evidence from the G2P Ecosystem Needs Assessment and SOPs for Emergency Cash Transfers for VNPF” with support from the World Bank.

The workshop brought together government agencies, financial service providers, development partners, humanitarian actors, and all AHP partners to explore how Government-to-Person (G2P) systems — such as VNPF payments and digital cash platforms — can be activated to deliver emergency cash assistance quickly and safely after cyclones, volcanic eruptions, or floods.

Discussions also reviewed new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that outline how emergency cash support can be triggered, coordinated, and monitored — ensuring assistance reaches both VNPF members and non-members when disaster strikes.

By strengthening these government-led systems now, Vanuatu is investing in a future where disaster response is faster, fairer, and more coordinated — advancing the goals of AHP’s Disaster READY program to build preparedness, local leadership, and community resilience.
Help i kam kwiktaem taem disasta i kam 🇻🇺

Vanuatu i stap wok blong mekem sistem blong gavman mo ol patna oli strong moa, blong ol famili oli save kasem help hariap taem disasta olsem saeklon, flood, o volkeno i kasem yumi.

Taem saeklon i kam, hao nao help i save kasem famili blong yu hariap?Naoia gavman blong Vanuatu i stap wok long wan wei blong kivim help i go long pipol kwiktaem — olsem usum ol sef digital mo national sistem blong mekem help i go stret long pipol taem disasta i kam.

Long 15 Oktoba 2025, Gavman blong Vanuatu tru long Department blong Strategic Policy, Planning mo Aid Coordination (DSPPAC), i bin lidim wan wokshop we i g*t topik ia “Towards Adaptive Social Protection in Vanuatu: Latest Evidence from the G2P Ecosystem Needs Assessment and SOPs for Emergency Cash Transfers for VNPF” wetem sapot blong World Bank.

Long wokshop, ol memba blo olgeta gavman ofis, ol finansol servis, ol development patna, ol humanitarian grup, mo evri AHP patna oli bin kam tugeta blong tokbaot hao ol Government-to-Person (G2P) sistem — olsem VNPF payment mo digital cash platform — oli save wok kwik blong givim direk cash assistance i ko long ol famili afta wan saeklon, volkeno, o flood.

Oli bin lukluk tu long ol Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) we i talem aot stret hao nao cash assistance i save stat, hao blong ko-odinet mo hao blong mekem sua se help i go stret long ol man we oli nidim, nomata sipos oli memba blong VNPF o nog*t.

Taem Vanuatu i stap mekem ol sistem blong gavman i strong olsem, hem i stap wok blong mekem se help i kam kwiktaem, i ko-odinet gud mo i rijim evri wan. Wok ia hem i sapotem stret ol gol blong AHP Disaster READY program blong mekem ol komuniti oli redi, oli strong mo oli save stanap baegen kwiktaem afta long wan disasta.

CARE in Vanuatu Oxfam in Vanuatu WV Vanuatu Save the Children Vanuatu CANDO Vanuatu Disaster Ready Project ActionAid Vanuatu Australian High Commission, Vanuatu

21/10/2025

📘 Niu ripot i kamaot finis!

Ripot ia hemi wan pat blong wok blong Australian Humanitarian Partnership(AHP) blong Anticipatory Action Fund (AAF) triol long Vanuatu, Timor-Leste, PNG mo Solomon Islands. Triol ia hemi stanap antap long strongfala foundation blong Disaster READY program.

Ripot ia i soemaot hao sistem oli bin setap long stat, wanem we i wok gud, wanem we yumi lanem, mo wanem samting i save mekem i moa gud – speseli long wei blong mekem ol komuniti oli redi bifo disasta i kam.

Long Pacific, yumi stap fesem plante disasta olsem cyclone mo earthquake. Ol toktok mo eksampol long ripot ia i givim yumi wan rod blong tingting mo plan bifo trabol i kam, blong yumi save protektem ol famili mo laef blong yumi kwiktaem mo lo wan sef wei.

🔗 Ridim ful ripot mo luk hao ol Pacific kantri oli stap mekem action bifo disasta I kam. Link e stap lo comment andanit.

Australian Humanitarian Partnership Disaster READY National Disaster Management Office Ministry of Climate Change Vanuatu

Our new publication is out!

This report is part of our real-time learning support to the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) for their Anticipatory Action Fund (AFF) trial in Vanuatu, Timor-Leste, PNG, and the Solomon Islands. The trial builds on the strong foundations of the Disaster READY program.

It also unpacks how systems were set up during the preparatory stage, what’s working, key lessons, and opportunities for improvement - particularly in the context of developing community level anticipatory action frameworks.

Click below to explore cross-country insights and practical examples shaping the future of anticipatory action in the Pacific.

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/ahp-anticipatory-action-fund-trial-post-preparatory-s…

20/10/2025

Komiuniti mo CDCCC blong Blacksand Zone 5 oli bin kam tugeta blong mekem saeklon dril blong olgeta hemi hapen tedei long eria blong Blacksand, emia hemi pat blong Community Action Plan blong olgeta we i stap insaed long Disaster Response Plan blong CDCCC blong Blacksand Zone 5.

The mini event provided an opportunity for families, including children, women, men, young people, elders, and people with disabilities to re-familiarize themselves with the roles and responsibilities of the community and the CDCCC before, during, and after a disaster.

Massive thanks to our local implementing partners, Wan Smolbag, Vanuatu Society for People with Disability, and the CDCCC of Blacksand, for taking the lead and providing technical support to ensure today’s drill was a success.

This initiative is part of the ongoing work by Oxfam and partners under the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) Disaster READY Program, supporting the Government of Vanuatu to strengthen community knowledge and preparedness for disasters affecting the country.

National Disaster Management Office
SHEFA Provincial Government Council

*tion

20/10/2025

On Wednesday, AHP partners joined national and regional organisations to review how far Vanuatu has come in localising humanitarian action — shifting more power, resources, and decision-making to local organisations and communities.

The discussion built on the 2019 Localisation Baseline Report by Humanitarian Advisory Group, Vanuatu Association of NGOs and PIANGO Pacific, which found that while local leadership was growing, many Ni-Vanuatu organisations still lacked direct funding and visibility in decision-making. It also noted that limited data didn’t mean local action wasn’t happening — just that it wasn’t always recorded or recognised.

Six years later, partners reflected on what’s changed. Despite global funding cuts, collaboration between local and international actors has grown stronger, and local systems are playing a bigger role in preparedness and response.

Localisation is central to AHP’s Disaster READY program, contributing to its three key outcomes:
1️⃣ Communities leading their own disaster preparedness and climate adaptation activities.
2️⃣ Local organisations building stronger capacity to coordinate and respond.
3️⃣ Government partners leading inclusive and well-coordinated disaster management efforts.

As cyclone season approaches, this review is a reminder that when local systems are strong, communities can prepare, respond, and recover faster.

AHP partners present: WV Vanuatu (World Vision Vanuatu), Save the Children Vanuatu, and ActionAid Vanuatu.

Australian Humanitarian Partnership