Photo by Arlene Bax/CARE Building Back Better in Vanuatu Vanuatu is one of the world’s most hazard- prone countries, highly susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic activity, tropical cyclones, and climate change impacts such as rising sea levels. In April 2020, Tropical Cyclone Harold made landfall over northern Vanuatu, affecting more than 130,000 people, representing more than 40 who conducted trainings on how to use percent of the country’s population. locally available coconut palm leaves as an Affected populations on Pentecost Island alternate roofing material. faced myriad challenges in Harold’s aftermath; among the most difficult was With support from USAID/BHA and other rebuilding shelters. As in the wake of many donors, CARE provided construction sudden-onset disasters, availability of materials and tools to more than 1,000 building materials and labor were limited. households and trained 40 community Additionally, restrictions to slow the spread members as chainsaw operators to process of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), such as fallen trees into timber, further expanding border closures, hindered relief actors’ local shelter material options. CARE also capacity to provide materials and staff to trained nearly 120 community members as augment local response efforts. shelter focal points, supporting efforts to rebuild using international guidelines for With support from USAID’s Bureau for resilient, safe shelter construction. These Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA), shelter focal points—of whom more than CARE Vanuatu assisted residents of 40 percent are women—are now supporting Pentecost to rebuild shelters by employing communities to rebuild after the cyclone. local knowledge and construction materials. “Before, we thought only men could do this Immediately after the cyclone, community work and make decisions, but today, things members gathered natangura palm leaves to have changed,” explains Peter Watas, a local reconstruct damaged roofs. However, chief and Area Council chairman. “In the coastal communities did not have enough future, if a disaster strikes, now people have materials available to complete repairs. received training—they can help out their CARE connected the residents with people community.” from Tanna Island in southern Vanuatu, USAID Success Story I July 2021 I Follow USAID/BHA on Twitter: @USAIDSavesLives For more success stories visit: usaid.gov/humanitarian-assistance/stories-reports/success-stories .