Vanuatu ranks first in the World Risk index (2021) as the most vulnerable to disaster and climate risks. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role women play in Vanuatu, as key first responders, and in supporting and leading communities to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and threats such as climate change. Despite this recognition, there is still scant evidence about the extent to which, and in what ways, women and women’s organisations have leadership and decision-making roles in disaster and climate resilience. This research sought to fill this gap through a piloting process in Vanuatu of the ‘Assessing Women’s Leadership in Disaster and Climate Resilience: Framework and Tools.’
Overall, the findings demonstrate that women’s leadership and participation in disaster and climate resilience is improving in certain spaces in Vanuatu. However, there is considerable opportunity to bolster support to women and women’s organisations – including through increased funding, improved capacity support, and higher quality partnerships – to increase their contribution to leadership and decision-making in broader forums and spaces.
