The overall goal of the National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management(2006-2016) is to promote and ensure a safe, secure and resilient Vanuatu through the reduction of social, economic and environmental impacts of disasters on the people of Vanuatu and its economy, thereby facilitating the achievement of national development goals. Specific objectives of the National Action Plan on DRR & DM are to: recognize disaster risk management as a sustainable development issue; mainstream all-hazards risk management into all sectors and decision-making processes at all levels of government, including national planning and budgetary processes; establish a strong governance framework for DRR & DM, with clear policies and legislation, accountable institutional and organizational arrangements and connections across and within levels of government, sectors and communities; empower communities through targeted capacity enhancement to reduce their risks to hazards and prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters; promote knowledge-based decision-making, including traditional knowledge and know-how on disaster risk reduction and coping mechanisms in times of disasters; and provide for a sustained, coordinated and harmonized support form regional, international organizations and development partners.
The Government has recognised that Vanuatu has limited financial and technical capacity to adequately deal with disaster risk management and, as a member of Pacific Islands Forum, has acknowledged the importance and relevance of continued assistance by regional organisations as well as by regional and international development partners. Vanuatu is also a party to several international and regional instruments on sustainable development, including commitments on DRR&DM. Issues identified during national consultations and various needs assessment mentioned above, together with key guiding principles in relation to sustainable development, good governance and best practices of DRR&DM defined the development of the NAP. Key guiding principles committed to by the Vanuatu Government are listed below. Disaster risk management is a sustainable development issue, which requires a balanced approach addressing social, economic and environmental goals.
However, the capacity of Vanuatu to effectively deal with the impacts of major disasters remains fragile, particularly as parts of the country become urbanised and where traditional knowledge has been lost. The challenge of achieving sustainable development goals, including the reduction of poverty, increasing economic growth and protection of the environment, will be undermined unless the potential impact of hazards on vulnerable communities and economies is addressed.
Regarding Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management the strategy is to Strengthen organisational arrangements, planning and decision-making processes at national, provincial and community levels and NGOs at all levels for mainstreaming DRR (including prevention, mitigation and adaptation), recognizing its cross-sectoral dimensions. The actions to takes are to: recognize disaster risk management as a development issue and mainstream all-hazards risk management into all sectors and decision-making processes at all levels of government, including national planning and budgetary processes;recognize disaster risk management as a whole-of-country responsibility and actively engage communities, NGOs and the private sector in disaster risk reduction and disaster management efforts; ensure adequate resources and appropriate coordination mechanisms are devoted to disaster risk reduction and disaster management integrate disaster risk reduction concerns into policies, plans and programmes of all ministries and departments and all levels of government in order to assist communities reduce their risks and vulnerability to disasters;recognize that disaster risk management is about supporting communities to reduce and manage risks, and empower communities by providing appropriate and timely information; building their capacity to use this information to make informed decisions; and promoting community-based disaster risk management through participatory planning and public-private sector partnerships; promote knowledge-based decision-making, including traditional knowledge and know-how about disaster risk reduction and coping mechanisms in times of disasters.