Provincial Assessments for Vanuatu's Data-Driven Disaster Response

A successful stakeholder assessment workshop held in Shefa Province on April 5th, 2024, marks a significant step forward for Vanuatu's "Vanuatu Data Science Driving Innovation in Climate Change and Natural Disasters" project. Funded by the World Bank's Data Innovation Fund, this initiative aims to revolutionize the nation's approach to climate change and natural disasters by harnessing the power of data science. The same assessment was carried out on Malampa, Sanma and Tafea.

A diverse range of stakeholders participated in the workshop, fostering collaboration across critical areas for disaster response. This included representatives from various National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) clusters like inter-cluster coordination, education, emergency telecommunications, food security & agriculture, gender & protection, health & nutrition, logistics, shelter, and water sanitation & hygiene (WASH). Local participation was ensured through area administrators and secretaries from Eratap, Pango, Ifira, Emau, Mele, and other areas. The Community Disaster & Climate Change Committee (CDCC) represented the vital role of communities in preparedness. The telecommunication sector, including Vodafone Vanuatu, played a key role in keeping communication channels open during disasters. Expertise from crucial government departments like Women's Affairs, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), Ministry of Health (MOH), and Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MoLNR) was brought to the table. Valuable insights were also shared by UN agencies like UNICEF, Save the Children, CARE, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), alongside other NGOs. The SHEFA Provincial Government Council ensured provincial-level coordination and planning, while the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) promoted regional collaboration and expertise sharing..

By facilitating discussions on existing communication channels, challenges faced by each cluster, and potential solutions for enhanced response effectiveness, the workshop laid the groundwork for a more coordinated and data-driven disaster response strategy.
Building a Data-Driven Future for a More Resilient Vanuatu
The insights gained from the Shefa and other provinces workshop will be instrumental in designing a robust management information system (MIS). This innovative system will empower Vanuatu with:

• Faster and more accurate damage assessments following disasters, enabling quicker emergency responses.
  Enhanced monitoring of slow-moving climate impacts like land degradation and coastal erosion through machine learning and satellite imagery.
• Improved data collection and accessibility through a user-friendly digital mobile data collection tool, ensuring timely and high-quality data for informed decision-making.

The Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics expresses its sincere gratitude to all Shefa Province stakeholders who participated in the workshop.