Vanuatu is responding to climate change by providing a framework for decision-makers to rapidly assess climate risks across different sectors and invest in community resilience.

Vanuatu is subject to multiple climate hazards that have historically caused devastating damage. These hazards will be exacerbated by climate change. 

Beca collaborated with Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment (SPREP) to contribute to the Climate Information Services for Resilient Development Planning in Vanuatu (Van-KIRAP). We developed a Rapid Climate Risk Assessment Framework and associated tool designed to be user-friendly for sector experts, offering a consistent method for conducting climate risk analysis.  

Van-KIRAP empowers decision makers, development partners, communities, and individuals across sectors: tourism, agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, and water. The key objective is to enhance their capacity to plan for and respond to climate variability and change.

The tool identifies the top three climate hazards and key elements at risk that could impact any sector or industry.  This supports prioritisation for climate risks and pinpoints where adaptation activities may be necessary. 

Extensive virtual and in-person workshops were held, engaging 20 cross-government sector stakeholders and designed to establish a solid foundation of climate risk understanding. These sessions involved trialling the risk assessment tool through a tourism sector case study, ensuring practical application and comprehension.

The tool's ease of use and consistency enhance sector collaboration, ultimately strengthening community resilience towards climate change.

5

Key Vanuatu government sectors

2

Full days of tailored training

20

Cross-government stakeholders

Participants and facilitators of the training course draw on the surroundings in Port Vila to discuss what may influence exposure or vulnerability to climate hazards
Participants and facilitators of the training course draw on the surroundings in Port Vila to discuss what may influence exposure or vulnerability to climate hazards

Our team says…

In-person stakeholder engagement in Vanuatu was pivotal to truly understanding the needs and aspirations for the climate risk assessment training and to produce a tool that better met the end user requirements.

Kristin Renoux

Senior Associate Sustainability & Climate (Project Manager)

Our client says…

This partnership has been positive and SPREP is really grateful to the Beca team for their support. The tool is a game changer for Vanuatu, and is receiving really positive feedback from SPREP for potential use of it in other projects.

Sunny Seuseu

Project Manager, VanKIRAP SPREP

Our People

Carlos Carvajal

Senior Sustainability Advisor

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Cushla Loomb

Beca Technical Fellow and Business Director – Climate Risk and Adaptation

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Kristin Renoux

Senior Associate - Sustainability

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