Highlights Of The Formal Launching And Orientation/Ownership Building Activities Of The Vanuatu Human Development Programme

 

 

 

 

A.     The following activities were undertaken during the period 29 July to 10 August 1994:

 

 

 

1.0    Signing of the ESHDP/Vanuatu Development Programme and Reaffirmation of the Suva Declaration on Sustainable Human Development.

 

Held on 29 July, at the eve of the country’s celebration of its 14th Independence Anniversary, the activity featured the joint signing of the product by the Prime Minister and the UNDP ResRep.  The Government of Vanuatu also issued a formal reaffirmation of the Suva Declaration.  A total of 25 guests attended: members of the Cabinet, representatives of the diplomatic corps and donor agencies, NGOs, the National councils of Chiefs and of Women, media and the pilot watershed community, Lolihor.

 

 

2.0    Orientation of First Secretaries and Heads of Government Departments.

 

Held on 02 August at the Government training Center, the activity was attended by 24 First Secretaries and Directors.

 

 

3.0    Orientation of NGOs.

 

A total of 26 representatives from NGOs attended the orientation seminar on 03 August.

 

 

4.0    Programme Implementation Workshop.

 

Planners from the National Planning Office and sectoral agencies reviewed and revised the VHDP work programme and budget during the one-day programme implementation workshop.

 

B.      The following were the major suggestions from the two orientation/consultation activities and the workshop with the planners:

 

1.0    Need to support policy development for SHD

 

The participants noted that the promotion of SHD would require support to policy development.  They cited, for instance, that although land-related issues are recognized as important as they impinge on practically all major sectoral concerns (agriculture and forestry, delivery of services, e.g. rural water supply. Siting of schools, functionality of local government, sustainability of projects, etc.), there has been no systematic effort undertaken to review existing policies nor to identify possible policy gaps.

 

It was suggested, on this regard, that:

 

a.       The Programme initially support (and conduct) intra-departmental for a on all aspects of the land question in Vanuatu until such time that a mechanism has been established within government to thresh out land-related issues;

 

The same mechanism could be used in threshing out policy issues with bearing on SHD advocacy and programmes.

 

b.       The various indigenous ways of settling land conflicts be systematically studies for possible integration into the legal system.

 

 

2.0    Need for the National Core Team for SHD to develop strong policy linkages

 

The participants noted the vital role played by the NCT to bring about intersectoral coordination in carrying out Programme activities.  It has the potential of providing a formal structure in which NGOs can link-up to relevant agencies for joint formulation and implementation of programmes, particularly those targeting remote rural communities.  The NCT is also viewed as vital in providing the National Development Commission with up-to-date information on SHD-related programmes and indicate possible policy requirements.

 

It was suggested that:

 

a.      Membership of the core team be limited to the following to maintain functionality:

 

·         National Planning Office;

 

·         National Statistic s Office;

 

·         Department of Local Government;

 

·         Vanuatu Association of NGOs (VANGO);

 

·         National Council of Women;

 

·         ESHDP, represented by the UNV.

 

 

Sectoral planners and trainers will comprise the expanded NCT.  They will be mobilized based on the requirements of specific tasks.  Each member of the core team will have specific agencies to liaise with.

 

b.      The NCT be given a broader mandate rather than merely serving as the structure for implementing the Vanuatu Human Development Programme, specifically:

 

·         To be formally and legally a part of the Secretariat, currently composed of NPO, which provides technical backstopping to the National Development Commission;

 

It was the consensus that NCT maintains its current low profile, consolidate further the membership through joint performance of Programme tasks and progressively move towards a broader mandate as appropriate.

 

The first major undertaking of the NCT and their local counterparts would be the conduct of the Lolihor Development congress scheduled on 17 Aug.  As designed, ESHDP would participate only in the planning and leave execution of implementation details to the NCT, local trainers and the Lolihor Development Council.  ESHDP will not be present during the Congress, but will send staff in Sept. to Lolihor to gather feedbacks from participants and guide the assessment of the event by the community and the various development partners.

 

The Lolihor Development congress brings together all the key players: the villages, clans, community groups, including political parties and religious organizations, of the watershed area as represented by the Lolihor Council; the local government units and technical agencies based in the area; the national government agencies, NGOs and bilateral donors.  The expected outputs will be the formal affirmation of the vision for lasting peace and unity in the area, as well as acceptance of complementary roles by all key players in Lolihor development.

 

 

3.0     Need to involve political leaders in discussing SHD issues

 

The participants noted that the political leadership (composed of MPs and first Secretaries) are often not involved in discussing development issues.  It was observed that in most cases, the heads or directors of departments do not consult political leaders in the preparation of development programmes.  On the other hand, political leaders are perceived as the main decision-maker in determining the location of projects.

 

It was suggested that:

 

a.      The Programme include activities which will involve both the political and technical leadership of the government to discuss together key development issues;

 

b.      Reference materials or handouts for such discussion be made available in Bislama, French and English.

 

 

4.0    Need to integrate the preparation of the Sustainable Human Development Situation Analysis (SHDSA) into the existing national plan formulation process

 

The participants noted that the SHDSA could provide a broader framework to the formulation of the national development plan.  It will enable the plan to include more detailed discussion of topics categorized as cross-cutting issues: situation of women and youth, ecological issues, community participation.  Moreover it will draw attention to specific population groups and communities targeted by the plan and ascertain the impact of development on such groups.

 

It was suggested that:

 

a.        The NCT take the lead role in preparing the Situation Analysis utilizing the existing inter-sectoral procedures of the national plan formulation process for data collection and analysis;

 

b.        Country-based consultants or resource persons be considered first when recruiting additional expertise for the SHDSA preparation.

 

The following were additional suggestions on the draft SHDSA format:

 

·         Include a comprehensive analysis of existing macro and micro economic policies;

 

·         Elaborate on land issues and how they impinge on other development concerns;

 

·         Include current activities in North Ambrym and highlight their national significance;

 

·         Discuss the rural and subsistence sector;

 

·         Include focus on young people in practically all the sectors;

 

·         Discuss adult education as part of the section on training (p.6).

 

Thus the participants indicated early ownership of the SHDSA as shown by their enthusiasm in getting themselves organized for the myriad tasks required, and their comprehensive deliberations on the suggested format.

 

 

5.0    Need to make the SHDSA as basic reference of various sectors and groups, including political parties, in determining development priorities.

 

The participants noted that the SHDSA can provide a common frame of reference for all sectors, groups and parties to thresh out development issues.

 

It was suggested that:

 

a.       The SHDSA be published in Bislama, French and English and distributed as widely as possible with a popular version to be titled Vanuatu Human Development Report.

 

b.       The first VHDR be launched on the eve of the 15th Independence Anniversary celebration to generate massive interest amongst the people, the officialdom and the development community.

 

 

6.0    Need to support indigenous educational systems (or to enrich existing adult education programmes) with useful information and skills traditionally taught by kastom and local culture

 

The participants noted the findings from the Lolihor profile about the vanishing Wuhuran school and the need to engage out-of-school youth in activities which will enable tem to play meaningful roles in their own village communities.  The Director-General of Education supported the move by the Lolihor community to involve primary and secondary schools, their manpower and resources (classroom facilities, etc.), in further enhancing existing adult education programmes by integrating other useful skills and information, e.g. how to build canoes; how to plant wild yam; the names of trees and fishes, etc.

 

It was suggested that:

 

a.        The curriculum of the enhanced adult programmes in the rural areas further include the teaching of local language; life skills or education for survival; bookkeeping and basic accounting; community values taught by local culture which reinforce development objectives, e.g. care of the elderly, children and the disabled;

 

b.        Support to the curriculum include assistance to projects which the students will identify and readily implement after completion of the adult education programme.

 

 

7.0    Need to assess and document community participation methodologies applied in their development work for possible replication outside their current areas of coverage

 

The participants noted the variety of methodologies implemented by NGOs in their efforts to generate community involvement.  They identified the need for government programmes to take advantage of such wealth of expertise and experience available in the country.

 

It was suggested that:

 

c.        The Programme support VANGO to enable it to hold workshops amongst its members to assess and document experiences in participatory development;

 

d.        An NGO-government forum be conducted on a regular basis to exchange lessons from experiences in working with marginal communities;

 

e.        The Programme take into account both differences and similarities in cultural beliefs and practices of various island in the country.

 

 

8.0      Need to consider the population dimension in the promotion of SHD

 

The participants noted recent efforts to shift the direction of family planning programmes, from clinic-oriented to community-based strategies.

 

They identified the need to build expertise amongst fieldworkers and motivators to enhance their effectiveness at community level.

 

It was suggested that:

 

a.      The Programme highlight the importance of the population dimension in the promotion of SHD issues;

 

b.      The Programme support the integration of population-related concerns in the various projects to be identified by local communities.

 

In the light of all the foregoing suggestions, the participants assessed the activities and costs of the initial Work Programme and recommended to the National Core Team the immediate inclusion of some key activities.

 

 

C.     The following were the results of individual consultative meetings with development partners undertaken from 8 – 10 august:

 

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

 

Reiterated the commitment made at the start of programme formulation that it would support some of the community-identified projects.

 

 

AIDAB

 

Expressed again its interest to support small-scale projects with costs not exceeding 4.4 million vatu possibly in the area of rural water supply (with maximum degree of community participation).  Its assistance policy is for parallel financing, rather than co-sharing.

 

 

British High Commission

 

Interested to receive proposals on rural business and on projects identified by disadvantaged groups, e.g. women and youth, in Lolihor.

 

 

New Zealand High Commission

 

Would consider linkages of projects currently assisted to community initiatives in Lolihor, e.g. rural skills training, water supply, education.

 

 

European Union

 

Basically guided by decisions of government through the Lome agreement.  Interested in co-funding activities with bearing on rural development.  Expressed interest on how population issues are perceived at community level.  Agreed on the strategic importance of addressing the land question in Vanuatu.

 

 

EPOC

 

Noted the all-encompassing nature of human development.  Articulated the need to do advocacy work amongst political leaders, citing it as a major responsibility of central planners.  Would assist in identifying suitable in-Vanuatu resource persons for the SHDSA.

 

 

ADB

 

Cautioned about creating undue expectations on the part of local governments.  Meeting costs would be a problem in the promotion of SHD.  Lamented excessive costs of global and regional workshops (women, population, environment, strategic planning).  Bank involved in highly visible projects (urban infrastructure, transport infrastructure improvement, assistance to forestry sector, policy formulation to women’s affairs office, technical assistance to the statistics office, strengthening the Ministry of Finance, survey of the informal sector).

 

 

Government Training Center

 

Noted that the center has a 5-member core training staff working with a total of 49 trainers from various ministries (police, military, customs, public works, finance, agriculture and health).  Interested in the training of trainers and developing SHD training modules for inclusion in all courses conducted by the Center in Port Vila and in the outer islands.

 

 

Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific

 

Reaffirmed ESHDP’s lead role in social preparation and local institutional building in Lolihor, the same coverage area for its Profitable Environmental Protection Programme.  Stressed that its activities are now directed to prepare for the termination of PEP sometime in 1995.  Will jointly assess with ESHDP/VHDP the various participatory methodologies applied in the area prior to possible replication to other marginal communities.

 

 

National Planning Office

 

Will provide office space and housing fort the UNV.  Both the human resource planner and the social planner have been assigned to the programme.  Has appointed the former as National Coordinator of the Vanuatu National Human Development Programme.  The newly appointed NPO Director will be on attachment to the ESHDP Office in Suva this December.

 

 

Department of Local Government

 

Has launched recently the government’s decentralization programme.  Will use Lolihor to gain insights on how to strengthen community-local government partnership and ensure the success of decentralization.

 

 

Wan Smol Bag Theater Group

 

Reaffirmed partnership with ESHDP/VHDP in the training of youth groups for community theater and the production of scripts which incorporate SHD messages.

 

 

VANGO

 

Has accepted the nomination by VANGO to be part of the NCT.  Will link-up existing women’s programmes with the overall thrust of ESHDP/VHDP.

 

 

Chief Tofor, the Rengrengmal (Big Chief) of the Lolihor Watershed

 

Reaffirmed his support to the Lolihor Development Council.  Accepted his role in the swearing-in of the Council officers before the people during the Lolihor Congress.  All kastom villages will fully cooperate with local trainers and volunteers in Lolihor.

 

 

ESHDP

17 August 1994