ActionAid Vanuatu

After the devastated Earthquake that shook Port Vila on the 17 dec 2024. ActionAid as the Women-led humanitarian organization, has responded to local women, single mothers, women with disability from the communities in port vila today. On the 28th of dec 2024 we responded to Melemat community with Food rations, Dignity kit, Cyclone tracking map and a protection card which includes emergency contacts. We distribute varieties of food including root crops, veggies and Tin fish, 5kg of rice, water and Peanut butter and etc that was shown below, to are particular person which the assessments identifies. This has put a big smile on their faces when they receive, despite what they have been through. #actionaidaustralia

Following the 7.3 magnitude earthquake in #Vanuatu last week, the urgent needs are huge. ActionAid's Carol Angir spoke to Sky News today about the kinds of support that people need in and around Port Vila. ❗ You can support women in Vanuatu by donating to the emergency appeal: https://lnkd.in/eXiPPnQT

❗ #COP29 ❗ Flora Vano from ActionAid Vanuatu has delivered a crucial message to world leaders who are gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan to decide on how much climate finance money to give to low income countries on the frontlines of the climate crisis. “The recognition by the UN of the existential threats that our islands face due to the climate crisis is welcome. Sadly, at this COP, the rich polluting countries continue to evade their moral and historical obligation to pay up the finance we urgently need to cope with the climate crisis.  I implore world leaders to remember that the fate of millions of people living in small Island states such as Vanuatu, who are paying the price for years of climate inaction, depends on the outcome of COP29. In the last year alone, our country has experienced twin cyclones over 48 hours and an out of season cyclone which devastated our livelihoods.  We have not fully recovered from last year’s extreme weather events and are faced with more cyclones before we have had a chance to rebuild and recover. Climate disasters are pushing us to the brink, and any further delays in unlocking adequate climate finance could spell a point of no return for us. We need the new climate finance goal to have a sub-goal for loss and damage and be made accessible for local communities, including women-led organisations who are on the frontlines of this crisis and leading on climate solutions.”

Off grid renewable energy is critical for communities in rural areas and it’s exciting to be launching this Ni-Vanuatu women-led initiative at #COP29 with Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade #AIFFP

✅ This morning, Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's Special Envoy on Climate Change, delivered a powerful call for #ClimateJustice. As a dynamic leader and strong supporter of WITTT, his message resonated deeply. Following this, leaders from the Women I Tok Tok Tugeta movement shared their powerful messages for #COP29 in #Baku. ActionAid Australia was also on the ground, unfurling a banner for the #FundOurFuture campaign and gathering voices in solidarity for COP29. Today was a strong reminder of how deeply ActionAid is rooted in our shared mission and community. Michelle Higelin Carol Angir ActionAid Vanuatu Belinda Morrissey

Vanuatu Special Envoy on Climate Change Ralph Regenvanu talking about #climatejustice with the Women I Tok Tok Tugeta federation and the efforts by countries like Vanuatu on the frontlines of the #climatecrisis to push for urgent climate action and compensation for those who done the least to cause the crisis but are experiencing the worst impacts. ActionAid Australia

❗#COP29 ❗Our Executive Director Michelle Higelin is at COP29 in Azerbaijan right now, and she has a message for Australia: "Wealthy countries must step up on climate finance!" This is the crucial moment for Australia to take action and support #Pacific women and their communities on the frontlines of the #ClimateCrisis. Low income countries are bearing the brunt of climate impacts despite doing the least to cause the climate crisis and urgently need finance to adapt and mitigate against climate impacts. Pacific communities need climate finance money to build resilience, and address the growing loss and damage they are already experiencing as a result of the lack of climate action by polluting countries like our own. ❗ Boost our call for a strong #ClimateFinance goal by sending an email to Minister Bowen: https://lnkd.in/g9tznn9j

Ni-Vanuatu women need access to electricity – for cooking, for their children to do their homework, and for lighting to improve safety in the community. But up to 90% of the population in rural areas of Vanuatu have no access to the electricity grid. So ActionAid Australia has partnered with PowerWells and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to bring off-grid renewable energy to the Lawital community in north #Tanna. This project will improve the livelihoods of women and their communities, by enhancing access to clean energy, improving women’s health and safety, promoting digital inclusion, and establishing a sustainable and scalable model. Thank you Bradley Clair from PowerWells, Tim Gill from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu H.E. Max Willis, Vanuatu Special Envoy on Climate Change the Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, ActionAid Vanuatu, Andrea Loli and the incredible Women I Tok Tok Tugeta leaders Dalila Yaws Bob and Esther Ruben for celebrating the launch of this project in Port Vila with us. We look forward to seeing the project up and running in Tanna very soon!

Ni-Vanuatu women have a message for world leaders ahead of #COP29 next week: FUND OUR FUTURE! CLIMATE FINANCE NOW! The climate crisis is already pushing #Pacific island countries into excruciating debt, and deepening gender inequality. Low income countries are bearing the brunt of climate impacts despite doing the least to cause the climate crisis and urgently need #ClimateFinance to adapt and mitigate against climate impacts. It’s time for Australia to step up and support our Pacific neighbours on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The Government must go to #COP29 advocating for an ambitious climate finance goal and commit to contributing our fair share. This leadership will encourage other rich countries to do the same. Pacific women and their communities need this money to build resilience to climate disasters, and address the growing loss and damage they are already experiencing as a result of the lack of climate action by polluting countries like Australia. Thank you to everyone who has signed our banner which will be travelling all the way to #COP29 in Baku next week to bring our message to the world stage - ActionAid International Secretary-General Arthur Larok, Vanuatu Special Envoy on Climate Change Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Hon. Gloria Julia King, Michelle Higelin, Belinda Morrissey, Nicole D'Souza. And to the team at ActionAid Vanuatu and the incredible ni-Vanuatu women of Women I Tok Tok Tugeta, who are raising their voices like never before - we hear you, and you have our solidarity every step of the way!

The streets of #Vanuatu's capital Port Vila were shut down as hundreds of women paraded through town to the launch of the Women I Tok Tok Tugeta federation, as the group takes the extraordinary step of evolving into a formal self-governing national network dedicated to supporting women’s leadership in preparing their communities for climate disasters in the face of deeply entrenched gender inequalities. Women I Tok Tok Tugeta - which translates to “Women Talking Together” - is a locally led women’s collective that was established by ActionAid Australia following category-5 Cyclone Pam in 2015. The network brings women together from rural and coastal communities from five islands - #Tanna, #Erromango, #Efate, #Malo and #Malekula, to meet regularly to learn about their rights, and develop practical strategies to respond to climate disasters in their communities. The network also has a focus on supporting women with disabilities to lead with the abilities they have. Congratulations to ActionAid Vanuatu and the 9,000 ni-Vanuatu women in Women I Tok Tok Tugeta for your incredible work. Thank you to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for all your support of our work in Vanuatu.