ACIAR | UOW | Coalitions for change in sustainable national CBFM programs in the Pacific (FIS-2020-172). Annual technical report: May 2022 to March 2023

Abstract

The 2022-23 reporting period started with all three implementing countries of Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu grappling with domestic COVID-19 outbreaks; something that had not occurred throughout the pandemic period. This halted implementation for the first time in three years with domestic travel restrictions and other public health measures preventing work in communities. The recovery saw country teams reengaging and condensing their annual implementation into the second half of the year. Priority was put on activities and measures that contributed to strengthening the enabling environment (outcome-2), in part following national agency priorities and in part due to those being more easily achievable given the post COVID-19 conditions in country. Work focus under outcome-1 reflected the different contexts wherein national CBFM programs are operating, with the Melanesian countries of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu prioritizing information and dissemination activities and with Kiribati engaging with direct CBFM activities. This is largely explained by the differences posed by highly populated large-island contexts versus dispersed, sparsely populated atoll contexts. Further insight evolved in the space of social inclusion work by the project, with the scope expanding to include more explicitly people with disabilities, thus advancing from a ‘GESI’ to a ‘GEDSI’ focus.