“I am no longer scared and do not feel left out”: evaluation finds water, hygiene and literacy work empowering thousands across Vanuatu
When you’re running a water, sanitation and adult literacy program across ten islands in Vanuatu, you need to pause occasionally to get some independent feedback.
That’s what ABM AID and our implementing partner, Anglican Church of Melanesia in Vanuatu (ACOM-V) did in June 2025. From July 2021 to June 2025, 4,387 people—half of them women—had participated in the program.
Were the program design and implementation yielding results?
ACOM-V’s adult literacy outreach was small scale. It trained just 22 volunteer teachers and reached 258 learners. But the evaluation found that the classes had given confidence to people who had left school early. In one community (Wasaka), 14 early school leavers had, after attending adult literacy classes, gained sufficient confidence to return to formal schooling. In another community (Merelaen), a woman living with a disability said “I have been able to take part in … Bible readings in church and community discussions. I am no longer scared and do not feel left out.”
Hilda Garae is proud to teach literacy at Port Olry, Santo Island, Vanuatu © ACOM Vanuatu. Used with permission.
ACOM-V’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities had an even wider impact.
From July 2021 to June 2025, ACOM had installed 24 water supply facilities – mainly water tanks and piping from springs – and 37 model latrines with ventilation pipes. The independent evaluator found that the facilities and even the hygiene messaging had been well-tailored to local culture and needs.
Aknis, Malory and Evithy are delighted to be able to collect clean water more easily from this new standpipe. Fanafo Village, Santo Island, Vanuatu © ACOM Vanuatu. Used with permission.
The evaluation also praised ACOM-V for adopting a participatory approach that showcased accountability and equality. People with less power and influence were seen to be prioritised in the programs, such as women, youth, single women headed households and persons with disability. In fact, many of the model latrines had been installed at the homes of persons with disability.
The evaluators were asked to offer recommendations for future programming. They recommended integrating ‘life skills’ like carpentry and sewing into literacy classes. They also noted that, while disaster preparedness awareness had been integrated into the program, there was scope to involve women and people with disabilities more actively in disaster preparedness. There was also scope to link more intentionally into a government program to build a disaster management committee in each community.
Across three provinces of Vanuatu – Torba, Penama and Sanma – communities gained improved water infrastructure, improved literacy and new understandings of hygiene, disability inclusion and disaster preparedness.
ABM AID acknowledges the work of ACOM-V and local communities and the generous contributions to this program from our ABM AID supporters and Australian Aid.
ACOM Vanuatu’s WASH and Literacy program receives support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
In Vanuatu, Charles stands outside a new toilet facility, which is improving health and hygiene in this community © ACOM Vanuatu. Used with permission.
