Vanuatu women lead community early warning systems for disasters

A network of women in Vanuatu is improving disaster preparedness by translating technical weather forecasts into practical advice for local families.

The initiative, called Women Wetem Weta, uses a mobile phone network to bridge the gap between government agencies and rural communities that lack consistent access to technology. ActionAid Vanuatu coordinates the network, which involves approximately 5,000 women across five islands.

The group works with the Meteorology Office and the National Disaster Management Office to simplify scientific language into instructions that help residents protect their crops, homes, and children. The system functions as a two-way communication channel, allowing women to report local hazards and agricultural pests back to the government. To reach residents without mobile phones, the network relies on community focal points and local leaders who relay messages to households.

The program also includes a dedicated group for women and girls with disabilities, known as Women I Toktok Tugeta Sunshine. This group helped guide response efforts during a recent earthquake in Port Vila. The initiative has also served to distribute public health information during the COVID-19 pandemic.