Strengthening women’s control and access to clean and affordable energy in Vanuatu

Photo credit: Clare Douglas/ActionAid

A partnership to strengthen women’s control and access to clean and affordable energy in Vanuatu

Context

Vanuatu is one of the most vulnerable nations to the effects of climate change. Its geographical remoteness, together with the high costs associated with securing safe and dependable energy, means that electricity is inaccessible to the majority of households. Only 33% of the population has access to grid power and energy access is even lower for rural communities, home to 75% of Vanuatu’s population.

Low access to reliable, affordable electricity has negatively impacted the livelihoods of households, particularly for rural households, and has resulted in low living standards and income generation options. Also, most of the electricity they do have comes from diesel and other dirty fuels, which are not good for the environment.

For women, the lack of access to electricity impacts their lives disproportionately, affecting their health, safety in poorly lit areas, ability to use technology, and ability to gain financial independence. Women are also often excluded from policy discussions yet are often the ones who collect and use biomass for energy.

About the initiative

Through this partnership, local women from the remote Lawital community of North Tanna will gain training, networks and technology to enable their community to access safe and reliable energy, replacing kerosene, diesel and candles.

The partnership will provide lighting and device charging systems to 115 households and five community centres in the Lawital community, as well as setting up streetlights in 10 public spaces. A monthly PayGo payment system will be implemented for the users to gain ownership of the systems over approximately three years to ensure project sustainability, with payments being reinvested into maintaining the systems, purchasing future renewable systems and improving livelihoods in the community.

Hear from our partners

“We are very excited about this partnership as it will show the leadership and agency of women taking the lead in this project ,which we hope to achieve a more meaningful seat at the decision making table and gain more respect for our woman ,girls and disability in our communities.” Flora Vano | Country Manager, ActionAid Vanuatu

Key contributions from partners

• ActionAid Australia is responsible for organising the partnership’s start-up and training activities, including engaging with community leaders. They also oversee the project’s implementation, prepare financial and narrative reports, and ensure smooth coordination between all partners. ActionAid Australia will collaborate closely with ActionAid Vanuatu (AAV) and the WITTT network.
• Women I TokTok Tugeta (WITTT) Network is the local women-led network which will implement the initiative within the community.
• PowerWells brings significant expertise in repurposing lithium-ion batteries to the partnership. It will provide the lighting systems and deliver training.
• The Australian Government will contribute catalytic funding. It will also connect partners to networks, provide support through the BPP in gender and disability inclusion, business models, safeguards and impact measurement, as well as support with communications to enable national and global recognition.

Photo credit: Clare Douglas/ActionAid

This partnership was selected through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) Call for Partnerships to Support Off-Grid Renewable Energy in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.