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Priorities of the People: Hardship in Vanuatu

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Introduction

Although absolute poverty in terms of starvation and destitution is not a problem in Vanuatu, many people have incomes below the international poverty line of US$1 per day. Recent estimates suggest that 40% of all Ni-Vanuatu and 51% of those living in the rural areas have incomes below this level.

Disadvantaged Ni-Vanuatu suffer from “poverty of opportunity,” in terms of a lack of access to basic services, jobs, and education. To address this, the government is striving to understand the nature of hardship in Vanuatu and develop ways to combat it.

In 2002, the government initiated a “Participatory Hardship Assessment.” Ni-Vanuatu from all walks of life, especially the poor, were asked to describe poverty and hardship from their point of view and suggest the most important priority actions to improve their lives. Interviews were held at the household level, and focus group discussions and workshops were held with the communities.

The Department of Economic and Social Development led the effort to consult with traditional and elected officials and women and youth leaders in 12 village and settlement communities in Torba, Penama, Shefa, and Tafea Provinces. The sites were selected to represent both rural and urban areas, various levels of access to services, and geographic regions. The assessment was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The results of the assessment were consistent with the national priorities contained in the Vanuatu Government’s Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF), which are to

• improve governance and public service delivery,
• improve the lives of people in the rural areas,
• increase private sector investment,
• enable greater participation, and
• increase income equality.

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