ActionAid empowers women on Tanna
March 16, 2025 10:02 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Nicholas Mwai.
ActionAid Vanuatu continues to empower women on Tanna through a series of livelihood projects, strengthening leadership skills and promoting economic independence.
The organization has been implementing various projects on the island for several years. Among the programs funded by the Pacific Community (SPC) is the Economic Harp initiative, which provides sustainable income-generating activities for women and persons with disabilities. These projects aim to promote economic growth and self-sufficiency within the community.
Last month, ActionAid Vanuatu and Women I TokTok Tugeta (WITTT) conducted a monitoring visit to assess the progress of ongoing initiatives and introduce new opportunities.
A key component of the visit was a dialogue session which gathered more than 50 WITTT task force members, sisters from WITTT Sunshine, and executive members from across seven Area Councils in Tanna. Discussions focused on the progress of various businesses, including poultry farming and virgin coconut oil production. Participants also revisited their business plans and later visited a poultry farm managed by one of the WITTT executive member in Lenakel.
ActionAid Vanuatu’s Livelihood Coordinator, Lizzie Moli, said the visit was not just about monitoring the projects but also about strengthening sisterhood among the women.
“Women have been growing their leadership skills, and one of the highlights was visiting the poultry farm, where one of our leaders is managing the operations,” she said.
The poultry project, initiated in October 2023, has been a long-time dream for the women of Tanna. ActionAid Vanuatu provided 108 chicks, which have since grown into a thriving egg production business.
“The demand for eggs is high, and more customers are coming to buy them daily,” Moli noted. “We are now looking at ways to further develop and expand the poultry farm for WITTT.”
Despite these successes, challenges remain. The women currently hold their meetings under trees due to the lack of a dedicated space. However, local chiefs have played a crucial role in supporting the initiative by providing land for the projects.
“Even though ActionAid Vanuatu is a locally led women’s organization, we appreciate the support of the papas and chiefs, as they assist with labor-intensive work and land allocation,” Moli acknowledged.
ActionAid Vanuatu assured it remains committed to empowering local women by listening to their needs, supporting their leadership, and coordinating resources to help bring their ideas to life.
