VCAP Newsletter

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VCAP Newsletter 15 DECEMBER, 2015 REPORTING PERIOD (JULY - DECEMBER) Community Planning ADDRESSING CLIMATE KNOWLEDGE NEW STAFF FIELD MISSIONS VULNERABILITIES MANAGEMENT NEW VCAP STAFF ON ENGAGING VCAP CREATIVE MEDIA & VCAP BOARD WITH PIU COMMUNITIES VCAP PROGRESS REPORT VCAP (VANUATU COASTAL ADAPTATION PROJECT) (National Project Manager Jackson Tambe addressing a community on Epi Island during a community vulnerability assessment) Project Updates The “Adaptation to Climate Change in the Coastal Zone in Vanuatu” or the Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project (VCAP) has recently recruited several key staff members within its Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and has made steady progress in delivering its Annual Work Plan for 2015 by engaging targeted coastal communities in a series of vulnerability assessments and climate change adaptation planning sessions. VCAP is implemented by the Vanuatu government in partnership with UNDP with financial support from GEF - LDCF !1 15 DECEMBER, 2015 REPORTING PERIOD (JULY - DECEMBER) As VCAP will support integrated community based approaches for building climate VCAP resilience, the PIU has worked closely with the Department of Local Authorities Community (DLA) and other various partners to develop a standard approach to performing vulnerability assessments and facilitating community-based climate adaptation Planning Begins! plans. This “bottom-up” planning process will be complimented by various technical specialists and national level VCAP stakeholders who will further refine and implement components from these community plans in coming months. Finally, this reporting period culminated in the VCAP Project Board Meeting, where senior authorities from the Vanuatu government and UNDP made important decisions affecting future project delivery and approved the Annual Work Plan and Budget for 2016. This progress report details the various activities conducted from July through December of 2015. This is the third VCAP progress report produced to date. Progress Report Contents: Key Dates for VCAP - Page 3 Listing key activities and developments within VCAP with corresponding dates for this reporting period. New Project Staff - Pages 4 - 5 New staff working within the VCAP Project Implementation Unit Development of Planning Processes - Pages 6 - 7 Assisting government partners in creating a standardized approach to community adaptation and vulnerability assessments Community Planning Field Missions - Pages 8 - 15 VCAP has conducted field Summary results from field missions conducted at VCAP sites to facilitate missions to support the DLA and vulnerability assessments and CCA planning. provincial stakeholders in facilitating community climate Knowledge Management and VCAP - Page 16 adaptation plans and conducting Creative use of multi-media to promote information regarding VCAP and vulnerability assessments climate resilience to the public Pictured from top to bottom: Project Board Meeting - Page 17 1. Fishermen holding their catch Summary and outcome from Project Board Meeting from November 6, 2015 at Epi Island site 2. Coastal view of Erromango Island in Tafea Outer Islands site 3. Steep footpath on Futuna Island, Tafea Outer Islands site Content, layout and design of report by Matthew Hardwick Contributions of content by Corey Huber !2 15 DECEMBER, 2015 REPORTING PERIOD (JULY - DECEMBER) Key Dates for VCAP Dates Description 07 July VCAP Procurement Officer, Mr. David Malakay, is hired UN Resident Coordinator Osnat Lubrani and UN Deputy Representative Akiko 20 - 21 July Fuji facilitate UNDP Retreat and visit VCAP PIU in Port Vila, Vanuatu 13 - 20 Coordination meetings held between VCAP PIU, PRRP, and DLA for developing Aug community based vulnerability assessments and adaptation plans 24 - 29 VCAP PIU participates in review of draft sub-national planning guidelines with Aug DLA, Tafea Provincial Government Council & PRRP 16 - 19 Field mission to Ambae Island by Interim Project Manager to facilitate start of Sept capacity building initiative with Torgil Rural Training Centre (activity 1.2.3.5) 28 Sept - Field Mission by VCAP PIU to Epi Island to trial community vulnerability 02 Oct assessments and climate adaptation planning (100% completion of activity 1.1.1.2) 05 Oct VCAP National Project Manager, Mr. Jackson Tambe begins work at VCAP PIU 06 - 13 Field mission to North Erromango Area Council to facilitate community Oct vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans and organize VDC’s (activity 1.1.1.3) Field mission with Acting Director of DLA to Futuna Area Council to facilitate 08 - 13 community vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans and organize VDC’s Oct (activity 1.1.1.3) 22 - 26 Field mission to Aniwa Area Council to facilitate community vulnerability Oct assessments, adaptation plans and organize VDC’s (activity 1.1.1.3) 01 Nov Chief Technical Advisor, Mr. Manfred Staab, begins work with VCAP 06 Nov VCAP Project Board Meeting held in Port Vila 12 - 19 Field mission to South Erromango Area Council to facilitate community Nov vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans and organize VDC’s (activity 1.1.1.3) 18 Nov Admin & Finance Officer, Ms. Netty Joseph, starts work at VCAP PIU 19 - 26 Field mission to Aneityum Area Council to facilitate community vulnerability Nov assessments, adaptation plans and organize VDC’s (activity 1.1.1.3) 30 Nov - Field mission to Central Pentecost 2 Area Council to facilitate community 14 Dec vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans and organize VDC’s (activity 1.1.1.3) !3 15 DECEMBER, 2015 REPORTING PERIOD (JULY - DECEMBER) Staff Acquisition for VCAP PIU Having effective staff working within VCAP’s Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is essential to efficiently delivering project outputs and strengthening the resilience of coastal communities to adverse impacts of climate change in Vanuatu. The following staff have recently joined the PIU team: NATIONAL PROJECT MANAGER - Jackson Tambe Mr. Jackson Tambe has joined VCAP to serve as the National Project Manager. He has extensive experience in project management within the Vanuatu National Government, previously overseeing large infrastructure projects within the Ministry of Education. As Project Manager, Mr. Tambe will be responsible for project staffing, planning and budgeting as well as coordination between the various stakeholders involved in implementation. (Director General of the Ministry of Climate Change, Jotham Napat with VCAP National Project Manager, Jackson Tambe) PROCUREMENT OFFICER - David Malakay Procurement Officer, Mr. David Malakay has previously worked with UN Agencies and Vanuatu government partners on a community-based climate change adaptation project called Vanuatu Community Resilience (VCR). Having worked with UNDP, UNICEF, FAO and many Vanuatu government stakeholders, his background and contextual knowledge will be very helpful to the VCAP team. !4 15 DECEMBER, 2015 REPORTING PERIOD (JULY - DECEMBER) ADMIN & FINANCE OFFICER - Netty Joseph Ms. Netty Joseph will play an important role in the PIU as the Admin and Finance Officer. She will assume direct responsibility for financial and administrative management related to VCAP, under the supervision of the Project Manager whilst also working closely with other VCAP project team members as part of the PIU. Ms. Joseph recently graduated this year from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in the People’s Republic of China with a degree in accounting. CHIEF TECHNICAL ADVISOR - Manfred Staab Although new to Vanuatu, Mr. Manfred Staab has a wealth of experience in supporting international climate change adaptation projects. Manfred Staab has demonstrated strategic leadership skills in a diverse range of complex environments, including collaboration and cooperation with senior government officials in countries such as Afghanistan, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. Having just successfully completed his role as a Senior Technical Advisor for another UNDP climate resilience project in the Southeast Asian nation of Laos, Mr. Staab will be a valuable asset for VCAP to rely upon. Additional Staff to join VCAP team soon! In December of 2015 or in early 2016 • Department of Local Authorities (DLA) VCAP Coordinator- for assisting in the development and implementation of Community Action Plans and strengthening Area Council and provincial level VCAP stakeholders • Public Works Department (PWD) VCAP Coordinator- to coordinate infrastructure related project activities including the improvement of public conveyance infrastructure to allow for increased climate resilience, linking VCAP PIU with PWD • Fisheries & Coastal Resource Management VCAP Coordinator- to assist with implementing activities for sustainable fisheries & coastal resource management to improve climate resilience of coastal zone, linking VCAP PIU to Fisheries / DEPC • Upland Resource Management VCAP Coordinator- to assist w implementing activities for sustainable upland resource management to improve climate resilience of coastal zone, linking VCAP PIU to MoAFFLB, Water Resource Dept & DEPC • Monitoring & Evaluation, Planning & Social Inclusion Officer - to provide monitoring, evaluation and planning assistance for all works being conducted through VCAP and ensure participatory approaches inclusive of vulnerable people • Vanuatu Meteorological & Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) VCAP Coordinator - to provide overall coordination within VMGD for implementation of VCAP component related to early warning systems & automated weather stations !5 15 DECEMBER, 2015 REPORTING PERIOD (JULY - DECEMBER) Development of
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