5 March 2025 – Port Vila, Vanuatu - Three engineers from Vanuatu’s Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department (VMGD) are returning home equipped with cutting-edge technical skills and will become key players in the nation’s climate resilience efforts, namely the installation of the nation’s Weather Radar.
Ms Esther Saul, Mr Loic Jimmy, and Mr Jino Moli have completed an intensive 30-day factory training programme in Finland, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong redy, adapt mo protekt (VanKIRAP) FP035 Project.
The trio mastered the operation, maintenance, and calibration of the Vaisala WRM200 dual-polarisation weather radar, a transformative tool set to revolutionise Vanuatu’s disaster preparedness and weather forecasting capabilities.
Vanuatu, ranked among the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate disasters, has historically relied on regional weather models. The new C-band radar—funded by a USD 3.19 million investment supported by GCF, SPREP, and the Vanuatu Government—will provide localised, real-time data on rainfall cyclones, floods, and storms.
“This radar is a game-changer,” said VMGD Director, Mr Levu Antfalo. “It empowers us to issue accurate early warnings, safeguard livelihoods, and integrate climate adaptation into every sector—from agriculture to aviation.”
The engineers’ training coincided with the radar’s final manufacturing stages in Helsinki. During their stay, the VMGD team oversaw critical Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), ensuring all components meet rigorous standards before shipment to Port Vila. Once installed at Klems Hill in West Efate, the radar will feed data into the VanKIRAP Project’s climate information systems, enhancing regional resilience strategies.
“Mastering this radar technology as a woman isn’t just about maintaining systems – it’s about inspiring young girls to see themselves in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and proving that gender equality is vital to Vanuatu’s resilience,” said Ms Saul. “This training ensures we can independently troubleshoot challenges and secure our nation’s future.”
Held at Vaisala’s Training Center in Vantaa, Finland, the training programme blended rigorous hands-on hardware exercises with advanced software training. The trio delved into the radar’s architecture, safety protocols, calibration techniques, and troubleshooting procedures. They practiced replacing components, conducting system diagnostics, and utilizing IRIS software to interpret meteorological data—a critical skill for real-time storm tracking and rainfall analysis.
The first 20 days of the training focused on hardware: engineers disassembled and reassembled radar modules, tested waveguide systems, and simulated emergency scenarios.
The final 10 days honed their software expertise, including configuring IRIS tools for generating weather products and managing data distribution. Notably, the training included guidance from Rohde & Schwarz experts on specialised test equipment like the FSC6 and SMB100A, ensuring the team can maintain the radar’s precision long-term.
The radar’s deployment aligns with Vanuatu’s National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) – the People’s Plan 20230. By providing precise forecasts, it will aid farmers, fishers, and disaster responders in mitigating losses.
Ms Moirah Matou, VanKIRAP Project Manager, emphasised its broader impact: “This isn’t just a tool—it’s a lifeline that bridges meteorology with sustainable development.”
With certificates now in hand and the radar en-route, Saul, Jimmy, and Moli are poised to usher in a new era of self-reliance for Vanuatu—proving that investing in local expertise is as vital as the technology itself.
As the Pacific cyclone season continues, their newfound skills couldn’t be timelier.
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The Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong Redy, Adapt mo Protekt (Van-KIRAP) project is a five-year, USD 22 million project which aims to support climate resilient development in Vanuatu through the development, communication, and application of climate information services to benefit agriculture, fisheries, tourism, infrastructure, water sectors and communities.
It is funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme in partnership with the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and APEC Climate Center.
For more information, please contact Mr Sunny Kamuta Seuseu, at sunnys@sprep.org