In December 2024, the island of Vanuatu was struck by a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake, which caused significant damage and disruption.

Four of Home Planet Fund’s partners working in the Vanuatu Young Women for Change were trapped in their office, which was completely destroyed. Fortunately, they were rescued safely, but one of their young members lost her life when a building in town collapsed.

The challenges from the disaster underscored the ability and effectiveness of the team to respond accordingly to their community needs, including those of women and people with disabilities.

Over the last year, our partners have made great strides towards protecting ecosystems, increasing food security, and upgrading disaster response plans.

In Bougainville, community by-laws for protection of mangroves and coral reefs have been instituted, influencing local leadership through the integration of climate strategies into local governance.

In the Solomon Islands, advocacy for sea wall construction, increased food security via a raised garden bed project, and enhanced community engagement in climate change awareness, have combined to result in influencing the National Disaster Management Office’s approach to community engagement.

In Fiji, disaster response plans were broadened and more responsive actions towards responding to global environmental degradation were implemented, as well as the finalization of a budget submission ahead of the release of the 2024-2025 National Budget for these actions to continue into the future.

These are just a few examples of how our partners in the South Pacific are ensuring that traditional knowledge, coupled with contemporary practices, combines to strengthen their ability to serve their communities and the planet.