Port Vila, Vanuatu,12 June 2026 – Vanuatu has marked another climate adaptation milestone through the Provincial Adaptation Plans (PAPs) Validation and Prioritization Workshops, held in Luganville and Port Vila to advance climate adaptation planning across all six provinces. 

As a small island developing state, Vanuatu faces multiple climate change impacts, including severe tropical cyclones, prolonged droughts, and sea-level rise, which threaten communities, infrastructure, ecosystems, and livelihoods. To strengthen resilience and provide a clear pathway for long-term adaptation planning and investment, Vanuatu is developing six Provincial Adaptation Plans (PAPs) and a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to strengthen climate resilience and guide long-term adaptation planning and investment. 

The workshops brought together more than 70 provincial technical representatives from Torba, Sanma, Penama , Malampa, Shefa, and Tafea provinces, representing nine priority sectors: agriculture, forestry, fisheries, infrastructure, tourism, ecosystems, education, health and nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). 

Consultations for Torba, Sanma, and Penama provinces were held in Luganville, Santo, from 25–27 May, while consultations for Malampa, Shefa, and Tafea provinces were held in Port Vila, Efate, from 1–3 June  

Secretary General of Sanma Provincial Government, Jonathan Iavere said “Government frameworks must speak the same language, recognize the importance of customs and indigenous knowledge, and ensure they collectively serve the people of Vanuatu effectively.”

In addition, the validation and prioritization workshops build on important evidence and consultation processes already completed under the project. These include the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA), which provides scientific and analytical evidence on climate hazards, exposure, vulnerability and risk across Vanuatu’s priority sectors and provinces. National and sector consultations have also captured institutional knowledge, existing adaptation efforts, implementation gaps and national priorities from government, development partners, civil society and the private sector. Provincial consultations further gathered perspectives on climate risks, adaptation needs, governance arrangements, existing initiatives and priority actions across the six provinces. 

Caption: Southern provincial consultations with Malampa, Shefa and Tafea sector representatives. 

“The Provincial Adaptation Plans are linked with the national ambitions of the Vanuatu Government to fight against climate change. At a decentralization level it is important that all our plans are aligned to help us access potential funding for climate change,” said Flaviana Rory, Malampa Province Assistant Secretary General.

This work contributes to the development of Vanuatu’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP), the country’s overarching strategic framework for building long-term resilience to climate change, which is expected to be finalized by the end of 2026. Provincial teams worked to identify priority risks across key sectors, ensuring coordinated, evidence-based actions are prepared to protect lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, ecosystems, and cultural heritage. 

Lionel Nasome Kaluat, Shefa Province Secretary General added “It is important that the plans are clear, practical and can be effectively implemented. An evidence approach must be applied to accurately reflect provincial realities and priorities on the ground.” 

Developed through broad stakeholder engagement, these plans help Vanuatu better prepare for and respond to escalating climate impacts such as coastal erosion, intensifying extreme weather events, food insecurity, and water challenges. By integrating provincial input with national priorities, this process ensures adaptation efforts are practical, community-owned, and effective in safeguarding Vanuatu’s future. These plans will also pave the way for more successful application for funding for implementation of identified priorities in the provinces. 

Dheeraj Arrabothu, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Deputy Country Representative, Vanuatu said “Climate adaptation means taking practical steps to prepare for and cope with the impacts of climate change that are already happening or are expected in the future. This includes actions like protecting coastlines from erosion, improving food and water security, strengthening buildings against extreme weather, and preserving ecosystems and livelihoods that support communities.”

“Global Green Growth Institute is pleased to support the Government of Vanuatu through the Ministry of Climate and Department of Climate Change and other stakeholders with the development of the Provincial Adaptation Plans and the National Adaptation Plans,” he concluded.

This project is funded through the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness and Preparatory Support project, Enhancing Adaptation Actions through the National Adaptation Plan, in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) as the delivery partner. 

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For more information, visit:  https://gggi.org 

Precious Akampumuza – Vanuatu Senior Climate Adaptation Officer 

precious.akampumuza@gggi.org 

GGGI Pacific

Kelly Vacala, Regional Communications & Knowledge Sharing Lead| Kelly.Vacala@gggi.org