Vanuatu : COVID-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups Project

Project Name

COVID-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups Project

Project Number

54196-002

Country / Economy

• Vanuatu

Project Status

Active

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Grant

Source of Funding / Amount

Grant 0825-VAN: COVID-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups Project

Source	Amount
Asian Development Fund	US$ 3.50 million

Grant 0826-VAN: COVID-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups Project

Source	Amount
Ireland Trust Fund for Building Climate Change and Disaster Resilience in Small Island Developing States	US$ 250,000.00

Grant 9227-VAN: COVID-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups Project

Source	Amount
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific	US$ 1.50 million

Operational Priorities

• OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality

Sector / Subsector

• Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Agricultural production

• Public sector management / Social protection initiatives

Gender

Gender equity theme

Description

The project aims to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable groups affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, while building their resilience to withstand further pandemic impacts and other external shocks in the future. The project has two components: (i) food security and income-generating support delivered to poor and vulnerable women, and (ii) multidisciplinary responses to gender-based violence (GBV) implemented.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Impact

Adverse impacts of COVID-19 on poor and vulnerable groups are mitigated, and the groups' social and economic resilience is strengthened.

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Capabilities of poor and vulnerable groups, especially women and girls, to withstand further impacts of COVID-19 improved

Progress Toward Outcome

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

Food security and income-generating support delivered to poor and vulnerable women

Multidisciplinary responses to GBV implemented

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Consultants under DARD have been engaged in December 2022 and January 2023. Anti-Gender-Based Violence Program Consultant (Save the Children Australia) has been engaged in March 2023. Evaluation of proposal received for the Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant position is ongoing. PMU consultants are currently being engaged.

Geographical Location

Luganville, Port Vila

Safeguard Categories

Environment

C

Involuntary Resettlement

C

Indigenous Peoples

C

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

The project will have minimal or no adverse environmental impacts. It will not involve civil works, and no structures will be erected. The installation of backyard garden beds poses no environmental risks.

Involuntary Resettlement

No involuntary resettlement or land acquisition is envisaged since the backyard gardening activities will be on lands owned or rented by beneficiary households. Where households rent land, permissions willbe secured from the landlord as an aspect of the selection criteria.

Indigenous Peoples

No communities of distinct indigenous peoples as defined in ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement are part of the project.

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

Stakeholder consultation was done during project design.

During Project Implementation

The Project Support Team will develop a stakeholder communication strategy that will include:1.A project website regularly updated to document project progress across all outputs; 2.Cross links to government Facebook pages including DARD and DOI Facebook pages if available; 3.A project Facebook page also regularly updated to document project progress across all outputs; 4.Regular use of traditional local media including newspaper, radio, and television, and in particular, DARD radio station broadcasts for backyard garden and nutrition funded by JFPR; and 5.Regular use of face-to-face communications by taking advantage of a wide range of opportunities to present project communications to specific audiences.

Business Opportunities

Consulting Services

The following consulting services will be advertised soon:

1. Social Protection Specialist/Team Leader (National)

2. Food Processing/Program Coordinator (National)

3. Business Entrepreneurship Consultant (National)

4. Gender Specialist (National)

Procurement

The following nonconsulting services will be procured through Request for Quotation (RFQ) through DARD and DOI soon:

1.Backyard Garden Installation Works

2.Training

3.Project Auditor

4.Training on Food Processing in Port Vila and Luganville (Two External Trainers)

The following goods and works will be procured through Request for Quotation (RFQ) through DARD soon:

1.Supply and Delivery of Garden Supplies and Materials and Gardening Tools

2.Good and Services for Vanuatu Made Events in Port Vila and Luganville

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Carandang, Ninebeth S.

Responsible ADB Department

Sectors Group

Responsible ADB Division

Human and Social Development Sector Office (SG-HSD)

Executing Agencies

Department of Finance and Treasury (formerly Department of Finance)

Ministry of Finance & Economic Management

Timetable

Concept Clearance

24 Sep 2020

Fact Finding

13 Apr 2021 to 13 Apr 2021

MRM

14 Sep 2021

Approval

08 Feb 2022

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

21 Apr 2023

Funding

Grant 0825-VAN

Grant 0826-VAN

Grant 9227-VAN