Developing Healthy, Energy Wise Communities

Country: Vanuatu

Partner: Live and Learn Environmental Education Vanuatu

Funding source: IWDA supporters and AusAID (ANCP)

Issue: Women have major responsibilities for food production, knowledge regarding forest product use, growing patterns for domestic subsistence use and cash based livelihoods. Despite this, across Melanesia, women play only a limited role in natural resources management and are marginalised in all areas of decision-making at community level.

Outline: The project is working towards increased recognition and value being placed on women’s knowledge and roles in natural resource management alongside men within community governance frameworks. The project will promote the active participation local communities in the development of sustainable forest use plans, and the development of transparent and inclusive processes to manage forests in Santo, Vanuatu.

Impact: Environmental training delivered by Live and Learn Environmental Education in Santo has resulted in the development of an action plan for local forest management and increased awareness of environmental issues associated with logging. Women, alongside men, were engaged in this inclusive participatory process, which raised their confidence to speak out on natural resource issues in their community.

Posted in | Comments Off