Enhancing Agricultural Resilience in Vanuatu through Climate Information Services: Insights from the Van-KIRAP Project

The Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong Redy, Adapt mo Protekt (Van-KIRAP) project demonstrated the transformative role of tailored climate information services in building resilience to climate variability and change. Focused on key sectors such as agriculture, water, fisheries, tourism, and infrastructure, the project integrated advanced tools and methods to empower decision-makers, communities, and individuals. Under Van-KIRAP I, the project aimed to enhance decision-making capacities by developing the OSCAR system, an agro-meteorological information platform, alongside tools like the Crop-Climate Diary (CCD) application. These tools leveraged experimental trials, model calibration for crops like taro and cassava, and APCC’s seasonal climate forecasts to deliver actionable insights. The results enhanced farmers’ ability to optimize crop yields and adapt to climate-related challenges. Based on the success of OSCAR, efforts are underway in collaboration with the Vanuatu government and SPREP to develop OSCAR-II, with a focus on strengthening community engagement and expanding to include cash crops, under Van-KIRAP II through the One Pacific Programme funded by the Green Climate Fund. This planned initiative aims to further improve localized decision-support systems, farmer engagement, and the integration of crop-climate insights into broader resilience strategies. The success of Van-KIRAP emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, sustained capacity building, and scaling of proven methods to other vulnerable regions in the Pacific. Recommendations include strengthening regional partnerships, investing in localized climate infrastructure, and refining user-centric tools to address community-specific needs. These efforts highlighted how climate information services can drive sustainable development and enhance resilience in the face of a changing climate.