In less than 10 years, Vanuatu has faced two category five cyclones - Harold in 2020 and Pam in 2015. With a population just over 300,000 people, Vanuatu is an agricultural based economy, has scattered islands making logistical challenges a reality, limited to no telecommunications connectivity particularly for outer islands and is also experiencing the effects of climate change. It is also one of the world’s most vulnerable and prone to natural disasters according to the World Risk Index 2019

“After the cyclone [Harold] we went outside, and I saw that my house was destroyed. I began to cry. My house was destroyed along with my son's house and my kitchen. It broke my heart. I've never seen a cyclone that powerful, it has caused us to suffer,” said Lerin John of Nakere village in Santo.

Forty-five-year-old, Neri from Linduri Village said, “There was a big shortage of food after Cyclone Harold. Our staple crops are yam and cassava which were destroyed. Our yam crops were damaged three years ago during the El Nino drought. So, we depended on cassava. The cyclone destroyed all of our cassava. Now we only have rice to eat, which was sent as disaster relief.”

Apart from the cyclones, residents on South Epi, Shefa Province are experiencing and witnessing the impact of climate change through a reduction in crop yield, loss of marine and plant life, and contamination of water sources.

Tom Mark of Nunesa Village in Shefa Province said, “The change occurring with climate change includes the cyclones, damaging the fruit trees, and the population is rising so the marine and land resources are heavily reduced.”

Fifty-year-old Leipakoa Alan in the neighbouring village of Filakara said, “In the past we used to go down to the coast to collect lots of shellfish. We collected plenty when our population was lower. Now with our growing population, it’s hard to collect shellfish. Only small sizes remain, it’s not like before.”

“I believe we should have conservation areas so that our children are able to observe different species otherwise they would not be able to.  But now, myself for example, I no longer observe different species of birds that I remember seeing here as a child. Now my children have no knowledge of these species. I think we need a conservation area,” she added.

Ross Sam from Lopalis Village is facing water shortages. She said, “We’ve faced much difficulty due to challenges in accessing water which is needed for our family. Many times, we don’t have enough water to drink, wash or bathe so we must walk a long distance for water.

"Many times, we walk in search of water sources such as coastal springs or we must go bathe in the ocean. We take our children to bath them and when we return, we take water from a well to use for cooking. Sometimes in the early morning parents take buckets to get water for cooking.”

Across the sea in Tafea Province, Rehap Sapa of Kwamera village said, “Before our lives were pretty good. The food that we planted in the gardens were of better quality. And there was a good yield. But today, we are observing many changes that we believe may be linked to climate change.

“When we harvest our taro, we are surprised to see it has spoiled. So, we haven't been able to eat taro for a year. We find that there are wounds inside the taro and other crops are affected too, such as cassava and kava. When we have this island cabbage, if we see white scale on the cabbage, we know that it will die soon,” she added.

In Sanma Province, Nicole Wetiro said, “The biggest challenge in Wusiroro Village is having access to clean and safe drinking water. Our drinking water is dirty. It is not safe when it rains, sedimentation and erosion affects our water supply system.”

In agreement is Rata Remy, who said, “The main challenge affecting the community and school in Mataloi, is water insecurity. When we need water, we must walk down to the source. After we collect our water, we must walk uphill about 200 metres to the school and community.”

“We really need more accessible water to help our community and the students. When there is a drought, the students must go back and forth collecting water. So, this is our main problem,” he added.

In response to the ongoing challenges and to adapt to the impacts of climate change, the government of Vanuatu put together a National Adaptation Programme of Action and in 2014, launched the project - Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project (VCAP).

After a successful first phase of VCAP in 2019, the project was extended from 2021-2026. VCAP2 is funded by the Least Developed Countries Fund of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by UNDP. The project is being implemented across six provinces of Vanuatu to improve their resilience to climate change, to sustain their livelihoods, improve food production and improve the quality of life.

VCAP2 uses an integrated approach across different sectors to improve the resilience of the Vanuatu communities to promote sustainable environmental resource management practices, encourage bio-diversity, address land degradation and to assist in adapting to the impacts of climate change in order to sustain livelihoods, food production and improve the quality of life in targeted vulnerable areas.

“This project will build of the progress attained through VCAP 1, which the Ministry of Climate Change facilitated with stakeholders from 2015 – 2019. VCAP 1 supported community climate adaptation measures such as improving accessibility of roadways and crossings, strengthening food and water security, protecting marine and upland resources, and improving resilience of Area Council offices to function as Emergency Operations Centers in times of disaster,” according to a press statement from the Department of Climate Change in April 2020.

Area Council offices were strengthened in South Santo, Pentecost and on Epi Island allowing them to serve as evacuation centers and emergency operation centers during cyclones and floods.

Marcel George, Project officer in Sanma said, “The Area council office serves as an Emergency Operation Centre in times of disaster and relief items are stored here. VCAP support in strengthening the area council building to be resilient to cyclones has helped with disaster relief efforts. After the cyclone, Government offices were able to work in his office in this office building that VCAP strengthened.”

With the involvement of the community and partnership between the Government of Vanuatu, Global Environment Facility and UNDP, VCAP2 is turning out to be a best-case example of positive partnership.