PACC Vanuatu

PACC Vanuatu

PACC Vanuatu: Demonstrating the integration of climate change risk reduction in road design in Epi, Shefa Province

In Vanuatu the adverse effects of increased precipitation and flooding, intense wave action, and coastal erosion have degraded national roads in many coastal communities. Despite regular maintenance and rehabilitation by the government, a number of sections of the roads in Epi urgently require attention.

In response, the PACC Vanuatu project assisted the Government of Vanuatu and key stakeholders in Epi to develop capacity to design and implement improved roading infrastructure in order to increase resilience to climate change-related risks.

For more information on the 13 additional participating countries and the overall PACC Programme, click here.

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Project details

Levels of intervention

  • Community

Source of funds

  • Bilateral Finance

Key implementers

  • Local Governments
  • National Governments

Funding amounts

National Budget Allocation: GEF-SCCF: $750,000
Government of Vanuatu: $2,900,000

Project partners

  • PACC
  • Government of Vanuatu
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • Global Environment Facility (GEF)
  • SPREP
  • Australian Government

Introduction

PACC Vanuatu: Demonstrating the integration of climate change risk reduction in road design in Epi, Shefa Province

In Vanuatu the adverse effects of increased precipitation and flooding, intense wave action, and coastal erosion have degraded national roads in many coastal communities. Despite regular maintenance and rehabilitation by the government, a number of sections of the roads in Epi urgently require attention.

In response, the PACC Vanuatu project assisted the Government of Vanuatu and key stakeholders in Epi to develop capacity to design and implement improved roading infrastructure in order to increase resilience to climate change-related risks.

For more information on the 13 additional participating countries and the overall PACC Programme, click here.

GEF

Project details

Epi Island, 100 kilometres north of Vanuatu's capital Port Vila, is home to over 7000 Ni-Vanuatu: farmers and fishermen, tourist operators, airfield staff, and 100 high school students from the island’s hinterland. Epi Island is currently connected by approximately 66km of roading that runs mostly along the island’s coastline. The roads are rutted and potholed, and cover difficult terrain, and the landing strip at the airport has been seriously eroded.

The convergence of inaccessibility on the airports, roads, villages and hospital of Epi Island is putting the local population at risk in the case of medical emergency. Furthermore, Epi's two airports are an important resource for medical evacuations, not just for the residents of Epi, but also for nearby islands in the wider province of Shefa - dependent on the referral hospital.

Poor roading conditions also negatively impact agricultural production on the island. Operations such as peanut farming and the production of copra to supply a newly built bio-diesel mill are dependent on serviceable roads - something that the community cannot depend on in the rainy season. Moreover, precipitation has increased and the rainy season has extended into the dry season over the last twenty years. In response to this climate-related transport pressure, the PACC Vanuatu project has selected Epi as an opportunity to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to climate change.

 

Thematic Area
Area
Coastal Zone Development
Climate-related hazards addressed:
Flood
Level of intervention
  • Community
Key collaborators
  • Local Governments
  • National Governments
Primary beneficiaries:

Local communities on Epi Island, Shefa Province.

Implementing agencies and partnering organizations
  • PACC
  • Government of Vanuatu
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • Global Environment Facility (GEF)
  • SPREP
  • Australian Government
Project status
Completed
Funding Source
Bilateral Finance
Financing amount
National Budget Allocation: GEF-SCCF: $750,000
Co-financing total
Government of Vanuatu: $2,900,000

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Key results and output

The first of the PACC outcomes is devoted to mainstreaming. The PACC approach to mainstreaming has a dual purpose: 1) to strengthen the ability of institutional frameworks, policies and plans to take climate change risks into consideration and 2) to improve the capacity of key national government and community decision-makers to integrate adaptation measures in key decisions.

The second PACC outcome is to design and demonstrate innovative decision systems, approaches, technologies and practical measures to improve climate-resilience.

The third outcome, Technical Support and Communication, is to ensure that results and lessons from the PACC project are shared regionally and globally. The goal is also to bring together new knowledge generated through the project as the basis for a strategic regional approach to climate change adaptation among Pacific Island Countries and Territories.

Key Results

  1. National adaptive capacity developed
  2. Community vulnerability to climate change reduced
  3. Technical assistance & Regional Cooperation

Outputs

  • 1.1 Technical capacity of key decision makers developed
  • 1.2 Institutional coordination mechanisms established
  • 1.3 Tools to assess economic costs of adaptation developed and utilized
  • 1.4 Legislative and policy directives prepared and adopted

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PACC Vanuatu: Vital Roads

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