VANGO launches Vanuatu’s first Civil Society Organisation Directory

Jun 16, 2025 | Initiatives and Projects, News | 0

A key development for civil society in Vanuatu took place this week with the official launch of the country’s first Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Directory by the Vanuatu Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (VANGO).

The launch occurred during VANGO’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Ramada Resort in Port Vila on Thursday, attended by government representatives, diplomats, and non-governmental sector leaders.

VANGO acknowledged ongoing support from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The directory was officially launched by Acting Director General and Commissioner of Labour, Mrs. Muriel Metsan Meltenoven.

In her remarks, Mrs. Meltenoven noted that CSOs are important partners in delivering government services, especially in rural and remote areas. She praised VANGO for this achievement and said the directory would improve the efficiency of CSO and NGO operations nationwide.

She added that the government expects transparency and accountability in the management and use of funding by CSOs. The tools introduced will support government efforts by improving visibility and coordination of CSO programmes and funding throughout Vanuatu.

VANGO Chairman Dr Willie Tokon described the directory as a breakthrough tool that will boost visibility, coordination, and support for CSOs across the country.

“The new CSO Directory builds on our existing VANGO Map and serves as an essential tool to improve connections between stakeholders at provincial and national levels. It promotes timely partnerships and strengthens localisation,” Dr Tokon said.

The directory contains up-to-date information on over 230 member organisations registered with VANGO, including Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), National NGOs (NNGOs), and International NGOs (INGOs). It aims to make it easier for development partners, donors, and government agencies to identify and engage with local organisations working in key development and humanitarian sectors.

VANGO said the directory is particularly useful for helping grassroots organisations prepare to receive direct funding and take an active role in national development efforts. It also supports the Government of Vanuatu’s decentralisation policy by showing where organisations operate and the services they provide.

Dr Tokon said the directory will be regularly updated and used alongside other tools to improve CSO effectiveness and accountability.

“This is more than a listing — it’s a step towards smarter coordination, stronger partnerships, and greater local impact,” he said.

The CSO Directory was developed with support from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and donor partners, including the European Union.

With the launch, VANGO hopes to usher in a new era of collaboration and recognition for civil society’s role in national development.

“Together, we can improve the well-being of all Ni-Vanuatu and build a more inclusive and sustainable future,” Dr Tokon concluded.

VANGO also acknowledged funding support from the Department of Strategic Planning, Policy and Aid Coordination (DSPPAC).

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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‘The scars children carry can last a lifetime’ August 13, 2026
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Man remanded over alleged sexual assault of four-year-old girl August 13, 2026
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Dr Damutalau said most HPV infections clear naturally, but some remain and can increase the risk of cervical cancer. He said about 90 per cent of cervical cancers are linked to HPV, which is why vaccination and early screening are important. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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More boys than girls are dropping out of secondary schools in Vanuatu, with TORBA Province recording the highest dropout rate. Boys are repeating grades more than girls at both primary and secondary levels across all provinces, and TORBA Province again has the highest repetition rate. These findings were conveyed by the Director of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), John Gideon, in his presentation to set the tone for discussions at the National Education Forum in Port Vila. He said more boys are leaving school for reasons beyond the classroom, such as the cost of education, distance to school and boarding challenges. In 2016, Vanuatu came up with a policy requiring children to start formal primary school at age 6. Director Gideon revealed that the net enrolment rate has been declining since 2023, with girls recording a higher rate while boys’ participation remains lower. Girls also recorded higher gross enrolment rates than boys at every level. Director Gideon also mentioned that the education system is not retaining students, especially at the secondary level. He said about 41 out of every 100 children who start Year 1 remain in school by Year 6, and only about 5 out of every 100 continue through to Year 13. Director Gideon highlighted that the number of early childhood centres has decreased since 2022, primary schools have remained stable, while secondary schools have grown the most, with 67 new schools established since 2015. “There are over 5,400 teachers, but they are not where the students are,” he said. SHEFA, TAFEA and SANMA have the most senior secondary schools, while TORBA faces a severe shortage of junior secondary teachers. Director Gideon encouraged participants at the forum to examine what the data reveals about boys’ engagement in the education system, how to increase enrolment in early childhood and the relationship between enrolment and student progress. Currently, 104,510 students are enrolled across more than 1,000 registered schools in Vanuatu. However, Director General Cherol Ala pointed out that not all children are in school, highlighting the need to improve access, enrolment and participation. While literacy and numeracy outcomes continue to decline, she said monitoring of the nationwide Curriculum Improvement Program (CIP), launched last year, is showing improved outcomes in student learning. Other challenges she mentioned include student and teacher attendance, high dropout rates, limited access to formal training and qualifications, school infrastructure, access to schools and rolling out internet connectivity. She reminded everyone about the ministry’s mission to provide young people with lifelong skills, values and confidence to become self-reliant and contribute to development. Throughout the four-day National Education Forum, government leaders, educators and partners have discussed what has not worked and what needs to be done to improve education outcomes. The forum ends today. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Vanuatu’s education crisis a ‘national disaster’ – Pikinini Playtime CEO August 12, 2026
Pikinini Playtime founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Batten has described Vanuatu’s education situation as a “national disaster”, warning that poor literacy outcomes among children could affect the country’s future development. Speaking during an interview on Kava Mo Kajap, Mr. Batten said reports that around 70 per cent of children are unable to read and write at the expected level should be treated as a serious national concern. “I think it is a national disaster, like a hurricane or an earthquake,” Mr. Batten said. He said Vanuatu’s greatest resource is not its land or natural resources, but its people, and education is the foundation needed to develop that human resource. “Human resources are the number one resource for Vanuatu,” he said. Mr. Batten said countries that have successfully moved from being less developed to more advanced economies have done so by investing heavily in education and building a skilled population. However, he said Vanuatu’s current education results remain a major concern despite the country spending a significant amount of its national budget on education. “Vanuatu gives a lot of money per capita into education, but the results are still among the lowest in the Pacific,” he said. The Pikinini Playtime founder said the challenge is not only about funding but about how the education system delivers results. He questioned why many students continue to leave school without basic reading and writing skills despite years spent in classrooms. Mr. Batten said the impact of poor education outcomes can also be seen in the country’s workforce, where businesses often recruit skilled workers from overseas to fill positions. “We bring people from the Philippines and other countries to do accounting, bookkeeping, management, building and supervisory work, but many ni-Vanuatu are not able to take those opportunities because they do not have the basic education,” he said. He said the literacy issue must be addressed early because children who fail to develop strong reading skills in their early years often struggle throughout their education journey. Mr. Batten also raised concerns about the value placed on education within the system. He said teacher absenteeism, weak accountability and a lack of support for educators contribute to children losing confidence in learning. “When children see that school is not important, they begin to believe they don’t need school,” he said. Mr. Batten acknowledged that many teachers are working under difficult conditions but said the system needs stronger support, training and leadership to improve outcomes. He believes improving education requires everyone involved — government, schools, teachers, principals and parents — to work together. “Children are smart. They have the ability. But they need the right support and the right opportunities,” he said. Mr. Batten said addressing literacy must become a national priority because the future of Vanuatu depends on the quality of education provided to today’s children. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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