Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong Redy, Adapt mo Protekt (Van-KIRAP) is the new name given to the Climate Information Services for Resilient Development Project in Vanuatu. The Bislama name was selected through consultation with local stakeholders to ensure there is community understanding and ownership of the project and its activities. The new name translates to: “Vanuatu Climate Information to prepare, adapt and protect”.
The project is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with a total investment of USD$20.4 million over 4 years; using science to better prepare Vanuatu’s policy makers and public for a changing climate. The project will be managed by the Vanuatu Government, under the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) in the Ministry of Climate Change, in collaboration with Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
"Van-KIRAP project is the first of its kind that will address the missing link between climate information services and sector activities and plans to improve resilience in Vanuatu,” said Ms Esline Garaebiti, Acting Director, Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department.
The project will expand the use of Climate Information Services (CIS) in five targeted sectors: tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, water management and fisheries. Specific project goals include building technical capacity to harness and manage climate data, developing practical CIS tools, fostering the use of CIS tools, and disseminating tailored climate information.
Launched in March, 2018, the project is now well underway with recruitment of a Project Manager, Administration Officer and Finance Officer at VMGD, and technical positions and sector-based coordinators advertised. Once recruited, the full project implementation unit will help facilitate delivery of project activities. The SPREP officers Johanna Johnson, Sunny Seuseu and Jamila Sese are already on the ground and providing capacity building and technical support to the Vanuatu government and sectors.
“We are pleased to be able to work in partnership with Vanuatu to carry out this project that will translate the climate science and information into advice and guidance for key sectors to help enhance their resilience,” said Ms Tagaloa Cooper Halo, Director of Climate Change Resilience of SPREP.
“Although only starting six months ago, we are seeing action happen with more to come over the coming years.”
A review of Vanuatu’s sectoral arrangements and policy and institutional reforms needed to support climate information services will start soon. This activity is aimed at ensuring there is an enabling environment and to strengthen the policy landscape to support tailored delivery and uptake of climate information in the five target sectors.
The next project Steering Committee meeting will be held in October 2018, where a project Technical Working Group (TWG) will be established. The TWG will serve as an advisory body, and will be selected by the Van-KIRAP team based on a set of criteria. It will support the project as an independent panel that represents the full range of expertise, sector knowledge, end users and stakeholders for the project. Its primary role will be to provide technical guidance and direction for the project, including the activities being delivered by the Government of Vanuatu through VMGD, the target sectors and Delivery Partners.
This project will help address the need to standardise the use of science-based climate information for decision-making. This is seen as a necessary foundation to underpin awareness raising and long-term policy planning around climate change.
GCF funding will contribute to a greater understanding of climate patterns over decadal timeframes to ensure adaptation planning and policy implementation is informed by accurate climate data.
The five targeted sectors have been supportive of the project and each has agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to officially seal the partnership with VMGD. The MOUs provides a broad framework for collaboration and data sharing in support of the Van-KIRAP objectives.
For more information about the project please contact Johanna Johnson, Van-KIRAP Manager [email protected] or Website: https://www.pacificmet.net/project/climate-information-services-resilient-development-vanuatu