Outcome VUT_O_1

Advancing business transformation

In 2024, UN-Women Vanuatu demonstrated transformative business model innovation through two flagship programs that delivered substantial impact at scale: the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) and Markets for Change (M4C) initiatives. The EVAWG program reached multiple national institutions and community systems, while M4C engaged over 600 individuals, predominantly women (76-97% participation rate), including rural and remote vendors. EVAWG’s strategic planning approach manifested through comprehensive integration across multiple governance levels. The program aligned implementation frameworks spanning national institutions, local governance structures, and community systems. This integration harmonized multiple national frameworks - the Family Protection Act, National Gender Policy, Sexual Gender Based Violence Standard Operating Procedures, and the Survivor-Victims Charter. Business model innovation emerged through the successful integration of local cultural contexts with established institutional frameworks. Under the Department of Women's leadership, the Gender and Protection Cluster validated an Emergency Response Code of Conduct and enhanced the national disaster needs assessment framework. The GBViE Minimum Standards training established formal linkages between emergency and non-emergency service delivery systems, demonstrating UN-Women's capacity to balance comprehensive coverage with operational efficiency. The program demonstrated agile leadership through responsive adaptation to emerging needs. A culture of continuous improvement is introduced through the Gender Score Card methodology and is expected to provide quantifiable data on institutional commitment to gender equality and EVAWG prevention. The program exceeded its 2024 targets for institutional capacity building, strengthening three key partners - the Ministry of Justice, Department of Women, and Vanuatu Christian Council. These partnerships demonstrate UN-Women's successful approach to building sustainable institutional capacity while maintaining program quality. The M4C project exemplified business transformation through systematic approaches to delivering impact at scale. The project's business model innovation manifested through integrated service delivery, partnering with ANZ Bank's Save Plus Initiative to connect informal sector vendors to formal banking services. Culturally adapted training delivered in Bislama language ensured accessibility and effectiveness. Agile leadership was demonstrated through responsive adaptation to implementation realities. When mass outreach activities proved less effective than targeted interventions, the project adjusted its approach while maintaining momentum through strategic reprioritization. The culture of continuous improvement was embedded through regular Project Working Committee meetings and structured feedback loops between vendors, management, and local authorities. The transformation was grounded in ethical leadership principles, evidenced by consistent prioritization of inclusion and integration of protection and safety considerations throughout design and implementation. The project specifically engaged rural and remote vendors, ensuring no one was left behind. Both programs demonstrate UN-Women's successful transformation toward delivering impact at scale through strategic planning, business model innovation, agile leadership, and continuous improvement. The EVAWG program's formal launch and partnership agreements in 2025 will mark significant milestones, while M4C's systematic changes in program design and delivery establish a model for achieving sustainable impact at scale. Together, these initiatives showcase UN-Women Vanuatu's ability to balance organizational aspirations with operational agility while advancing gender equality and women's empowerment across the Pacific region.

Advancing business transformation

This output is on track. A significant change underway involves the restructuring of management arrangements within UN Women programs in Vanuatu. Previously, program leads were based in Suva, Fiji, overseeing programs at the country level. However, there has been a transition towards granting more responsibilities to Country Program Coordinators within Vanuatu non-resident agency (NRA). This shift ensures that leadership and management of the Ending Violence against Women and the Women’s Resilience to Disasters programmes are now entrusted to individuals at the country level in Vanuatu, fostering greater ownership and leadership within the local context. Early results of this restructuring are already becoming apparent. With the introduction of Matrix Management (MM) arrangements, NRA-based Country Program Coordinators are not only leading and managing programs but also providing inputs, comments, and feedback to Fiji MCO Program Managers. This feedback loop plays a crucial role in assessing the performance of staff and consultants working in-country. By prioritizing country perspectives and guidance, this approach ensures that programs are more responsive to the unique challenges and opportunities present in Vanuatu. This marks a departure from the previous structure, where program leads based outside the country had a more centralized role in program leadership and management. Overall, the early results suggest that this shift towards local ownership and leadership is facilitating more effective program implementation and enhancing the relevance and impact of UN Women's initiatives in Vanuatu.