Solar power brings resilience for earthquake-affected communities in Vanuatu
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When a devastating 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Port Vila, Vanuatu, in December 2024, it left many communities in darkness – without power, water or basic services. But in Melemaat Village, just outside of Port Vila, one household became a beacon of hope for its neighbours.
“When the earthquake happened, there was a power and water cut everywhere. I think it must have been the whole village,” says Leslie David, a participant in UN Women’s VANWODs Solar Project. “When I saw that everything was intact after the earthquake – my solar system, my freezer – I thanked God for protecting it. I knew this was a blessing for me and my community.”
Leslie’s solar installation not only powered her home but also boosted her ability to support her family and neighbours.
“Children, young people, and elders came to our home to charge their phones and store small amounts of meat in the freezer. I only charged them a small amount – 100 vatu [82 cents USD] per phone or meat storage – because it was an emergency,” she shared. “It was a very big blessing. It made life easier for my family and the whole village. We helped each other, and I even made a little money to help pay off my solar loan.”
Leslie is one of 60 women who have benefited to date from the VANWODs Solar Project. This initiative, a partnership between VANWODs Microfinance, the Vanuatu Green Energy Fund (NGEF) and the UN Women “Women’s Resilience to Disasters Programme”, is providing concessional loans for solar energy systems to 100 women in Vanuatu. These systems power essential appliances, such as freezers, lights, sewing machines and phone chargers, which are critical for small businesses and community support.
Leslie’s solar system became a vital resource, showing the importance of renewable energy in building resilience. “I saw that my solar system was doing something very big for people in the community,” she adds.
Funded by the Australian Government, the programme is supporting gender-responsive and disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction in Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. By working with civil society organizations to create services for women and girls at the community level, the programme promotes women’s leadership in disaster risk reducation. It is also integrating traditional knowledge into resilience practices, prioritising the inclusion of persons with disabilities, and building livelihood skills for women in communities.
The initiative targets women affected by Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin in 2023, focusing on those living off-the-grid in Efate and Tanna. The solar systems are subsidized at 50 per cent by UN Women, making the technology accessible to women entrepreneurs.
“The project is a testament to the potential of community-centred, gender-responsive renewable energy solutions,” says UN Women Representative Fiji MCO Delphine Serumaga. “Leslie’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience is not just about recovering from disasters but also building the capacity to thrive in their aftermath. By combining renewable energy with financial empowerment, projects like these are lighting the way for a sustainable and inclusive future.”