The Country Officer of Vanuatu ActionAid, Flora Vano, shed light on the origins and objectives of the project.

“The grant comes from a philanthropic foundation, not the Australian government. It is designed to support communities, particularly in remote areas, by targeting food security,” she said.

“We are happy that the Foundation funds the project in Malo Island, which focuses on ensuring that after a disaster, we don’t show signs of hunger.”

The project is particularly significant for women, who often lack land rights in Vanuatu’s customary land tenure system, Vano highlighted the challenges women face. “Women I Tok Tok Tugeta (WITTT) is a network of women who don’t own land. In our society, men usually own the land, and women can only use it with their brothers’ permission, which rarely happens,” she said.

The recent grant was awarded to the “mamas” of Malo Island in recognition of their critical role during the 2023 twin cyclones.

“The mamas responded by supplying local food to Port Vila and Vila Central Hospital (VCH), feeding over a hundred patients who needed proper nutrition during that difficult time,” Vano said.

“They helped save many lives by providing local food when the market was devoid of fresh produce.”

To address these issues, the project will establish three types of gardens: one for disaster preparedness, one for home use, and one for market sales. “We saw the challenges we were facing and decided to use the funding to help the mamas prepare in advance,” Vano noted.

“The disaster garden will be harvested and stored, ready for supply during disasters. The other gardens will provide food for families and produce for the market, generating income for the mamas.”

The project also includes negotiating with local chiefs to secure land for cultivation. “We needed a hectare of land for large-scale gardening, the mamas at Malo Island negotiated with the chief, who allowed them to cultivate the land,” Vano shared.

“The land will be divided into sections for crops that are cyclone-resistant and can be stored long-term, and for market and family use.”

With the funding already received, the mamas are preparing the land for cultivation. “The mamas are now working to clear the land and build fences to protect the gardens from pigs, which are a major threat to root crops,” Vano explained.

“The fund has been spent on transport, wire for fencing, and chainsaws to clear the bush with the help of the youths.”