The project will be managed by the Vanuatu Red Cross Society and the IFRC, in close collaboration with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO). It will be conducted over the period of 4 months by a locally based researcher, involving both desk research and extensive consultations with various governmental departments and locally based organisations involved in disaster response, as well as key international actors.
Job Esau, Director of the Vanuatu NDMO, welcomed the project. “As disasters become more complex, the Government needs to strengthen its systems to ensure that all are prepared. One of these areas that need to be strengthened is legal frameworks in disaster risk management,” he said. “International assistance will be requested but the question is whether all agencies involved have some sort of a framework or regulations in place to facilitate and regulate it.”
The study will focus on mapping legal instruments relevant to response and to identify gaps and areas of good practice in addressing legal issues and implementing the key regional and international instruments relevant to disasters in Vanuatu. The focus will be on a coordinated approach, in particular linking with other national level disaster risk management processes and developments, with special focus on the implementation of Vanuatu´s Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management National Action Plan.
The major outputs will be a study report containing findings and recommendations, as well as a collection of key national and regional materials. Also, a follow up national IDRL workshop is planned to take place in December with key stakeholders to review the findings and encourage the development of a multi-stakeholder plan for action for implementing the recommendations.