Outcome VUT_D_2.1

By 2027, more people, particularly those at risk of being left behind, benefit from more equitable access to resilient, and gender-responsive, quality basic services, food security/nutrition and social protection systems.

Technical assistance through Phase II of the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (PPEVAWG) in Vanuatu has strengthened institutional frameworks and service delivery systems, marking significant progress in 2024 with the formal adoption of a groundbreaking policy addressing gender-based discrimination. The initiative operates through three key implementing partners, strategically combining government and faith-based institutions to enhance equitable access to basic services and social protection systems across the nation. A transformative shift in institutional performance is evidenced by the Department of Women's leadership within the Ministry of Justice and Community Services. Through the Gender and Protection Cluster, they have validated the Emergency Response Code of Conduct, establishing standardized protocols that incorporate specific protection measures for women, girls, and persons with disabilities. This systematic coordination framework strengthens cross-sector responses during disasters through carefully selected assessment protocols that balance comprehensive data gathering with rapid response needs. The Department continues to demonstrate enhanced capacity in policy implementation, particularly in monitoring the National Gender Policy's Strategic Area 1 on eliminating discrimination and violence against women and girls. The GBViE Minimum Standards training has created formal linkages between emergency and non-emergency response systems, uniting health, police, social services, and humanitarian actors. This integration, soon to be formalized through the Multisectoral National Service Delivery Protocol in early 2025, ensures seamless service delivery coordination. A standardized safety audit tool further strengthens systematic coordination of assessment approaches, particularly benefiting those at risk of being left behind in remote and underserved areas. The Vanuatu Christian Council has emerged as a pioneering force in engaging faith institutions to challenge harmful gender norms that restrict women's participation. Their locally-owned, culturally-responsive approaches demonstrate how faith institutions can effectively advance gender equality while maintaining Pacific values. The introduction of the Gender Score Card methodology through the Pacific Council of Churches represents a systematic approach to measuring institutional commitment to gender equality, enabling evidence-based interventions that address structural barriers to access. The initiative's human rights-based approach is reflected in its emphasis on meaningful inclusion of both rights holders and duty bearers in program design and implementation. The Emergency Response Code of Conduct specifically addresses the needs of marginalized groups, while the integration of faith-based approaches with cultural influences demonstrates respect for local contexts while maintaining rights-based principles. The Department of Women's leadership ensures women's meaningful participation in decision-making processes at both national and sub-national levels. This comprehensive approach directly contributes to the Pacific UNSDCF People Pillar by strengthening institutional frameworks that support equal access to basic services while addressing gender-based violence as a fundamental barrier. The program's emphasis on locally-owned solutions and cultural responsiveness ensures sustainable transformation while maintaining Pacific values and practices. The initiative is implemented through strategic partnerships between the Ministry of Justice (leading multi-sectoral coordination), Department of Women (providing technical guidance on gender-responsive programming), and Vanuatu Christian Council (engaging faith institutions in transformative change). UN Women provides technical support across all components, ensuring alignment with national frameworks and international standards.

By 2027, more people, particularly those at risk of being left behind, benefit from more equitable access to resilient, and gender-responsive, quality basic services, food security/nutrition and social protection systems.

This outcome is on track. In Vanuatu, the year saw transformative progress towards ensuring that victims and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV)access gender-responsive support services. The Department of Women's Affairs (DWA) and the Vanuatu Women’s Centre (VWC) developed the Multisector Service Delivery Protocol (MSDP) and are expected to launch and operationalize the protocol in early 2024. The Protocol outlines how formal and non-formal actors responding to GBV can work together to best support survivors. It also commits these responders to a common set of principles and guidance. DWA, VWC, and UN Women made the collaborative efforts in drafting, refining, and preparing the MSDP for validation and eventual launch in early 2024. This signifies a substantial shift towards a more systematic and unified response to GBV. The protocol not only outlines the collaborative framework for formal and informal actors but also commits responders to a common set of principles and guidelines, ensuring a survivor-centred approach in GBV response services. Male leaders on the rural island of Gaua have mobilized to contribute towards the prevention of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) through their participation in a male leaders training organized by the Vatsur Council and the establishment of an island-wide VAWC Taskforce of Chiefs, supported by the Vanuatu Women's Centre (VWC) and Torba Counselling Centre (TOCC). Male village chiefs attended a 5-day male advocacy training program, facilitated by VWC in the local language and cultural context which covered a range of topics including gender, VAW and domestic violence, sexual violence, child sexual abuse, human rights, and the Family Protection Act (FPA). The training challenges men to identify their own unacceptable behaviours; change those behaviours and then influence other men in the community to change their behaviours. Pre- and post-training questionnaires at the Gaua training showed significant changes in participants' understanding of gender equality, human rights, and violence against women and children. Notably, 97% of participants reported an improved ability to explain the Family Protection Law, and there was a universal increase in the belief in equal rights for women and men, and boys and girls. These men are now more prepared to take action to promote gender equality and human rights in their families and communities. The active engagement of the chiefs led to the formation of a Taskforce to prevent and respond to cases of VAWC. The Taskforce's effectiveness is evident in the increased referrals and proactive actions taken by VWC’s Gauan Community Educator and local police. Additionally, a workshop for women in North East Gaua led to the establishment of a Committee Against Violence Against Women (CAVAW), which has been effective in client support and advocacy. Established by the Vanuatu Women’s Centre (VWC), CAVAWS are a network of island-based committees against VAW. CAVAWs are composed of members of women’s groups, traditional leaders, police officers and church leaders based in villages. CAVAWs undertake local community awareness activities and assist women and children living with violence in remote communities. VWC carries out this work with the support and funding of UN Women. In their humanitarian response in the wake of Tropical Cyclones the Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC) in North Pentecost, Malekula and Ambrym and Vanuatu Women’s Centre (VWC) in Penama, Malampa, Shefa, and Tafea provinces contributed to ensuring the safety and recovery of vulnerable populations, especially women, girls, and individuals with special needs. The gender-responsive humanitarian response has significantly improved the lives of women and girls in the affected communities by providing essential aid including over 1,086 water tanks, 115 solar lights, seeds for Bak choi and tomatoes, and 130 sets of gardening tools were distributed to communities in North Pentecost, Malekula, Ambrym, and parts of Efate in Vanuatu, supporting disaster recovery and enhancing resilience. Furthermore, the response included conducting mobile counselling sessions in all affected communities across Penama, Malampa, Shefa, and Tafea provinces, reaching a total of 1,464 individuals, including 1,330 women, 43 girls, 66 men, and 25 boys, with 10 women and 2 men having disabilities. Care packages, were distributed to clients on Pentecost and selected areas of Malakula, along with solar lights. Capacity-building training on gender-based violence prevention during disasters was provided for 37 church leaders in North Efate, and volunteer training was conducted for 4 volunteers after Tropical Cyclones Kevin and Judy, with a further 22 volunteers trained in awareness on EVAWG and disaster preparedness and response. The Mobile Counselling Centre saw 94 new clients, including 57 for domestic violence and 19 for child maintenance, with 2 clients assisted with the safe house. The gender-responsive humanitarian response has made a significant difference for women and girls in several ways. Firstly, it has led to improved access to essential services, with women, girls, and individuals with disabilities having better access to vital services such as counselling, care packages, and water supply, contributing to their overall well-being and safety. Secondly, the response has reduced vulnerability to GBV by raising awareness and providing support to survivors of GBV, thereby mitigating the risk of violence against women and girls during and after disasters. Additionally, enhanced community preparedness has been achieved through training and capacity-building activities, enabling communities to better respond to disasters and address the specific needs of vulnerable populations, including women, girls, and individuals with disabilities. While UN Women funded VCC and VWC immediate relief activities in the aftermath of the three tropical cyclones in Vanuatu in 2023, UN Women support also extended beyond immediate relief to encompass a comprehensive approach to gender-based violence in emergencies (GBVIE). UN Women contributed significantly to the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report, providing valuable insights and recommendations regarding GBVIE. Rapid assessments conducted in the cyclone-affected areas enabled the collection of crucial data and identification of key messages related to GBVIE. The Information, Communication, and Education (ICE) materials were then reviewed and updated to ensure they effectively disseminated information on GBVIE, empowering individuals with knowledge and resources for protection. UN Women also offered strategic advice on the dissemination of these materials, striving to reach the widest possible audience. Through active collaboration with the national disaster office, UN Women facilitated the dissemination of vital information in the ICE materials to the communities in need. The collaborative project between the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UN Women, 'Famili I Redi Reintegration,' exemplifies an innovative approach to supporting returned women migrant workers and their families in enhancing their relationship skills and financial stability post-mobility. The development of Reintegration Training Materials, informed by gender vulnerabilities and the needs of migrant worker returnees, promises to enhance the well-being of returning workers and their families. The ToC and strategy remains unchanged for 2024. Collectively, these initiatives and achievements reflect Vanuatu’s concerted effort to foster a more inclusive, supportive, and responsive environment for addressing GBV and promoting gender equality. The year’s outcomes not only demonstrate institutional and behavioural changes but also pave the way for sustained progress in the years to come.