A group of Australian parliamentarians has landed in Vanuatu to visit development programs, aiming to deepen their understanding of the impact of Australian aid and strengthen their connection with our Pacific neighbour.
Vanuatu is one of the world's most vulnerable countries when it comes to the impacts of climate change, with communities across the Pacific Island nation facing threats to their livelihoods as the country experiences more intense and frequent climate disasters.
Hon Michael McCormack MP, Kate Thwaites MP, Sharon Claydon MP, Angie Bell MP, Hon Dan Tehan MP and Senator Steph Hodgins-May will spend five days travelling across Vanuatu to visit programs in the capital city and remote islands. The program will include a visit to Save the Children's Vanuatu community-based climate resilience project, funded by the Green Climate Fund and delivered in partnership with the Vanuatu Government, which supports rural and coastal communities with climate adaptation.
The group will gain valuable insight into the complex issues facing communities in Vanuatu, including the impacts of the climate crisis, disaster management and resilience, building livelihoods, and access to health and education. The delegation will also meet with children and their families who are recovering from the multiple climate disasters – notably Cyclones Kevin and Judy - that have hit the island nation in recent years.
Save the Children Australia CEO Mat Tinkler said the visit will provide parliamentarians with a greater understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing children and their communities in Vanuatu, especially when it comes to addressing the climate emergency.
"Vanuatu stands at the forefront of the climate crisis and its relationship with Australia and the region is deeply important," Mr Tinkler said.
"To be a good Pacific neighbour, it is important that Australian policymakers understand first-hand the challenges facing communities in Vanuatu, including the ever-present threat posed by the climate crisis to the lives and livelihoods of children and their families.
"The purpose of this trip is to provide our leaders with the opportunity to see for themselves the value of Australian aid, and the ways in which it supports communities adapt and address some of the challenges they face, including building resilience to the ongoing impacts of climate change, through locally led projects that bring about real change."
The Australian Regional Leadership Initiative is a Save the Children Australia project, made possible by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Since 2015, Save the Children has delivered 16 learning tours to countries including Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Cambodia, Fiji, Kenya, Solomon Islands and Indonesia.
