The little handbook of disaster and climate change
networked governance structure in Vanuatu
Astrid Vachette1
A. Vachette, 2015
1
PhD Candidate at the Centre for Disaster Studies, James Cook University, Australia.
This handbook gives a brief overview of a part of Vachette’s PhD research. It includes a description of the
Vanuatu DRR and CCA governance system existing in 2015, and reflects the point of view of 90 participants
in a survey conducted in 2014.
This research was funded by the Centre for Disaster Studies of James Cook University and Vanuatu
SPC/GIZ Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region program, with the endorsement of the
National Advisory Board on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Map on cover: Social Networking between 85 organisations working on Disaster and Climate Change related
projects in Vanuatu
How to cite this document: Vachette, A. 2015. The Little Handbook of Disaster and Climate Change
Networked Governance in Vanuatu. Centre for Disaster Studies of James Cook University, Secretariat of the
Pacific Community (SPC) & Deutsche Gesellshaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).
Acknowledgements: The author would like to particularly thank the Vanuatu NAB/PMU, Oxfam Vanuatu,
and Vanuatu SPC/GIZ CCCPIR for their great input in this study.
Foreword
Disaster and climate change governance of Vanuatu is a complex system, which has recently been structured
to better promote cooperation. The legal and institutional system is described and mapped in several
documents, some of them being referenced at the end of this handbook.
This handbook’s purpose is not to give a comprehensive description of the disaster and climate change
governance structure; it aims to start building understanding of the role and position of key networks
supporting institutional cooperation.
The data provided in this handbook are to be utilized as sources of information on forums where stakeholders
may be able to meet various stakeholders currently involved in disaster and climate change resilience
building in Vanuatu. These forums are critical resources:
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to get information on what is happening in the country in specific sectors,
to build collaborative relations with other experts already involved in the country,
to share information, knowledge and resources,
to avoid duplications and identify niches, and
to participate in discussions and decision-making.
All these networks cover a wide range of sectors, and all have specific social capital, cooperation
mechanisms and an understanding of the governance system from their own perspective; these inputs are
critical to build effective and efficient projects.
Background snapshot: an intense inclusive and integrated networked system
Figures 1 and 2 map the social networking process between 260 stakeholders working in Vanuatu on disaster
risk and/or climate change projects (For more detailed information CF A. Vachette, 2014).
Figure 1. Interaction
between different
types of organizations
Figure 1 shows the cooperation pathways that exist among the different types of organization (Government
agencies, NGOs and Red Cross Societies, Civil Society, Regional and United Nations Organizations, Private
sector, International donors and Tertiary Education and Research Institutes – TERI). Each node (map dot) is
a stakeholder and each tie (map line) is showing a relationship between two stakeholders. Vanuatu DRR and
CCA Governance is characterized by discussions and decision-making for CCA, DRR and DRM that are
supported by a strong bilateral influence of government and non-government stakeholders’ collaboration.
The inclusiveness of non-government actors in the policy process (from discussions to implementation) is
widely recognized on the legal and institutional levels. The involvement of the private sector is slowly
increasing, more specifically for the telecommunications and tourism. Connections are also very strong in
terms of on-ground, project level, collaboration. Connections among governmental agencies and NGO with
Regional and UN organizations, donors and TERI are also well defined. This means that discussions and
decision-making are well supported by international and regional input (with the Regional and UN
organizations), research advancements (with the TERI), and funding opportunities (with the donors).
Figure 2.
Interaction between
different sectors
Figure 2 shows a very strong cross-sectoral networking in Vanuatu in discussions, policy-making and project
implementation in the domains of DRR and CCA. The networks system is particularly characterized by very
strong connections between ‘Community Development’, ‘Climate Change Adaptation’, ‘Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management’ and ‘Policy and Public Administration’ with each other and with the rest of the
network. Results have shown that policy stakeholders are leading an all-inclusive and all-integrated
approach. Several critical domains remain slightly disconnected from the rest of the network, despite their
critical role in CCA and DRR in Vanuatu: Traditional Culture and Knowledge, Energy and Health.
Capacities in Protection of People with Disabilities are inexistent in the perceived network for CCA and
DRR.
Networked Governance System
Key cooperative bodies
Following are short descriptions of key cooperative bodies supporting the disaster and climate change
networked governance structure in Vanuatu:

NAB: The National Advisory Board on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (NAB) is the
focal point for all matters related to DRR and CCA in the country. This committee, established in
2012, is co-chaired by the NDMO (National Disaster Management Office) and the VMGD (Vanuatu
Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department), and is composed of the Directors-General the line
Ministries linked to CCA and DRR matters and representatives of key non-government actors. The
NAB develops and endorses all national policies, strategies and positions on DRR and CCA.
Programs, projects and initiatives related to DRR and CCA are to be endorsed by the NAB to be
conducted in the country. Given its position, the NAB is a critical focal point to get and disseminate
disaster and climate change information, and to support coordination.
CCDRR/PMU: The Project Management Unit (CCDRR PMU) supports the NAB agenda by giving
technical advice on the development and implementation of national regulations, positions and
endorsed programs. The NAB/PMU is in charge of supervising that all CCA and DRR projects are
well developed and implemented, through:
o Monitoring and Evaluation of all organizations, which projects have been endorsed by the
NAB.
o Endorsement process of projects, to avoid duplication and stimulate cooperation between
organizations involved in similar projects
o Endorsement process of Information, Education and Communication (EIC) materials, to
ensure harmonization, context adaptation and dissemination of resources on DRR and CCA

VHT: The Vanuatu Humanitarian Team (VHT) is a non-government network, loosely based on the
UN Humanitarian Cluster approach, composed of humanitarian organizations involved in disaster
risk management. The difficult management of both cyclones Vania and Atu in 2011 highlighted the
great need for more coordination and cooperation between all agencies, and triggered the discussion
around the need for a flexible cooperative body. The VHT was therefore established late 2011 to
support the NDMO in his mandated authority to coordinate humanitarian aid and overlook services
delivery during response and recovery. The VHT is in constant progress, from 10 members in 2011
to around 50 in 2014; bringing together national government (ex. the NAB), national nongovernment (ex. Vanuatu Family Health), INGOs (ex. Care International), Red Cross societies (ex.
Vanuatu Red Cross), and donors (ex. UNICEF). The main goal of the VHT is to limit time and
resources waste during disaster management operations, as well as to ensure appropriate assistance
for the affected communities. To achieve these objectives, the VHT and the NDMO work together in
implementing preparedness activities in Port Vila and the provinces, and in promoting cross-sectoral
knowledge sharing. The VHT has proved its potential for cooperation support during cyclones
Jasmine (2012), Lusi (2014) and Pam (2015).

VCAN: The Vanuatu Climate Action Network (VCAN), established in 2012, (named Vanuatu
Climate Adaptation Network until 2014) aims to bring together all international, regional, national
and local NGOs involved in climate change resilience building projects in Vanuatu. The main goal
of VCAN is to ensure coordination, information and knowledge sharing, as well as cooperation
towards resilience building of communities to climate change in Vanuatu. The VCAN objectives are
to increase resilience through better adaptability to climate change, more efficient decision-making
and more adapted policy development. In order to achieve this, VCAN facilitates lessons sharing and
good practice between more than 20 non-government and government stakeholders that participate
to meetings, which happen monthly or as needed. The involvement of government stakeholders in
VCAN has been very a significant support in the inclusiveness process. As VCAN motivates NGOs
to communicate more with the NAB, PMU and donors inviting them at meetings, there is an
increasingly awareness of roles between government agencies and NGOs and a better understanding
of each other functioning.
In order to promote even better cooperation and coordination, the VHT and VCAN decided to have common
meetings with each other and with the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group
(CCDRR WG).
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VANGO: The Vanuatu Association of NGOs (VANGO) is an umbrella organization established in
1991, and currently counts around 45 NGO members, and covers more than 90 affiliated civil
societies. In 2004, VANGO and the Vanuatu government signed a Memorandum of Understanding,
under which, VANGO members have an easier access to donors funding, such as the European
Union Non State Actors program. Bringing together a large number of the national and local NGOs,
and linking the national with the provincial and local levels, VANGO is considered as a great asset
for government/non-government cooperation, as well as for raising the voice of local networks.
VANGO is part of the Vatu Mauri Consortium, which is a crucial focal point to link with small local
associations and NGOs in the provinces.
Networked governance the key cooperative bodies within the whole disaster and
climate change governance system
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are simplified diagrams illustrating the ties linking the key cooperative bodies presented
above within the whole disaster governance system of Vanuatu. This aims to give a snapshot of pathways
enabled by the central positions of these government and non-government cooperative bodies.
Figure 3. Disaster and Climate Change Governance structure
Figures 3 presents the general structure of disaster and climate change governance in Vanuatu, at the local,
provincial and national levels, bringing together key government and non-government bodies.
Figure 4. NAB focused network
Figure 4 presents the networking process within the NAB. All line ministries of Vanuatu are members of the
NAB, and participate in the NAB meetings as a committee to proceed with endorsements. A change of cochair of the NAB is being discussed, which might position the DGs of the Ministry of Climate Change and
Prime Minister Office as replacement of the DGs of the NDMO and VMGD. The CCDRR NAB/PMU is
acting as current secretariat of the NAB, in addition to its project management tasks. A separated unit is in
process to be established as NAB secretariat. The needed composition of the future secretariat was discussed
by a task force made of government and non-government members.
Figure 5. Vanuatu Humanitarian Team focused network
Sectoral Networks involved in the Vanuatu Disaster and Climate Change
Governance System
Vanuatu benefits from the existence of many sectoral smaller networks, more or less formal and active.
These satellite sectoral networks are real assets to allow people from the same sectors or domains of
expertise to share information and open opportunities for collaboration. Although some of these sectoral
networks are not well positioned in the whole disaster and climate change governance system to directly
influence decision-making, they are all linked through their members to the NAB, VHT, VCAN and/or
VANGO, which means that they all have established pathways to disseminate their information, discussion
conclusions and positions.
Following is a non-exhaustive list of the networks acting in Vanuatu. Most of these networks are nationally
based; others are regional and/or virtual. The contacts provided are leaders or members of the networks, who
will be able to give detailed information on the meeting schedule and current discussions.
NETWORK
CONTACT
CCDRR focused government committees
National Advisory Board on Climate Change and Disaster Risk NAB Secretariat
Reduction (NAB)
CCDRR PMU
National Disaster Committee (NDC)
NDMO
National Climate Change Committee (NCCC)
NDMO
National Disaster Recovery Committee (NDRC)
NDMO
Provincial Disaster and Climate Change Committee (PDC)
Provincial councils
Area Council Disaster Climate Change Committee (ACDCCC)
Provincial councils
Municipal Disaster Climate Change Committee (MDCCC)
Provincial councils
Community Disaster Climate Change Committee (CDC)
Provincial councils
Disaster Management focused networks
Vanuatu Humanitarian Team (VHT)
Oxfam
Logistic cluster
NDMO
Food security Cluster
Ministry of Agriculture
Shelter Cluster
Public Works Department
WASH Cluster
Department of Rural Water Supply
Gender and Protection Cluster
Ministry of Justice
Health Cluster
Ministry of Health
Education Cluster
Ministry of Education
Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT)
UN OCHA
FRANZ agreement
DFAT
NZFAT
French Embassy
Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network
SPC
Meteo- and Geo-hazards focused
Vanuatu Rainfall Network
VMGD
National Seismic and Volcanic Monitoring Network
VMGD
Cooperative Tsunami Warning Systems for Vanuatu and New VMGD
Caledonia
Melanesian Volcano Network (MVN)
VMGD
Climate Change focused
Vanuatu Climate Action Network (VCAN)
Oxfam
Vanuatu NGO Climate Change Adaptation Consortium
Oxfam
350 Vanuatu
SPC/GIZ
National Youth Symposium on Climate Change
SPC/GIZ
Vanuatu Environment Advocacy Network (VEAN)
VEAN
National REDD + Technical Committee
Department of Forestry
Development Partners for Climate Change
UN Habitat
Climate Action Network Pacific Islands (PICAN)
Oxfam Vanuatu
Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN)
APAN
Cities and Climate Change Initiatives for Asia Pacific
UN Habitat
Pacific Climate Change Roundtable
SPREP
General cooperative resilience building focused
Vanuatu Association of NGO (VANGO)
VANGO
Education Partner Group
Save the Children
Vatu Mauri Consortium
VANGO/VCC/VPAC
Pacific Local Government Association
NZFAT
Pacific Solution Exchange (PSE)
SPC
Small Aid Donor Committee
UNDP
Thursday NGO Kava
National NGOs and INGOs
Program Quality Network
Oxfam
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
SPREP
Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC)
VCC
Australian Volunteers Network
Australian Red Cross
Vulnerable groups focused networks
Vanuatu Civil Society Disability Network
Oxfam
Vanuatu Youth Livelihoods Network
Oxfam
Gender Partner Group
CARE International
Permanent Disaster and Climate Change Working Groups
Climate Change Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (CCDRR NDMO
WG) / IEC WG
PMU
Red Cross
Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction Standardization NDMO
Working Group (CBDRR WG)
COP Working Group
NAB/PMU
Foreign Affairs
Traditional Knowledge Working Group
VMGD (Climate division)
Samples of Acronyms used in Vanuatu Disaster Plans and Policies
Acronym
Signification
ADCCC
Area Council Disaster Climate Change Committee
CBDRR WG
Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction Standardization Working Group
CAAV
Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu
CBO
Community Based Organizations
CCA
Climate Change Adaptation
CCDRR WG
Climate Change Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group
CDC or CDCCC
Community Disaster Climate Change Committee
COM
Council of Ministers
DARD
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
DLA
Department of Local Authorities
DRR
Disaster Risk Reduction
DSPPAC
Department of Strategic Planning, Programming and Aid Coordination
EM
Emergency Management
FRANZ
Agreement between France, Australia and New Zealand
GLA
Governance, Leadership and Advocacy Program
M&E
Monitoring and Evaluation
MCC
Ministry of Climate Change, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy
and Disaster Management
MDCCC
Municipal Disaster Climate Change Committee
MVN
Melanesian Volcano Network
NAB
National Advisory Board on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction
NAP
National Action Plan
NAPA
National Adaptation Plan of Action
NCCC
National Climate Change Committee
NDC
National Disaster Committee
NDMO
National Disaster Management Office
NDRC
National Disaster Recovery Committee
NGO
Non-governmental Organisation
PAA
Priorities and Action Agenda
PDC or PDCCC
Provincial Disaster and Climate Change Committee
or PDMCC
PHT
Pacific Humanitarian Team
PICAN
Climate Action Network Pacific Islands
PMD
Ports and Marine Department
PMO
Prime Minister Office
PMU
Project Management Unit
PQN
Program Quality Network
PWD
Public Works Department
REDD
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing
countries
TAC
Technical Advisory Commission
TK WG
Traditional Knowledge Working Group
VANGO
Vanuatu Association of Non-Governmental Organisations
VCAN
Vanuatu Climate Action Network
VCC
Vanuatu Council of Churches
VEAN
Vanuatu Environment Advocacy Network
VHT
Vanuatu Humanitarian Team
VMGD
Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department
VRN
Vanuatu Rainfall Network
WASH
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Further readings