ADB backing opens value-added pathways for vulnerable women

December 15, 2025 10:04 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Bruce Tamata.

Over 100 vulnerable women from communities across Luganville have benefited from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) COVID-19 Response to Vulnerable Women Project, which targets a total of 250 beneficiaries in Port Vila and Luganville.

The ADB initiative targets 150 vulnerable women in Port Vila and 100 in Luganville and is implemented through three agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and the Department of Trades and Industry.

The first phase of the project was implemented by DARD and focused on training and practical skills for using limited spaces for backyard gardening. The second phase was implemented by the Department of Industry (DoI) and focused on business training and food processing.

The project coordinating officer from DoI, Ms Betsy Charlie, said the business training component was deliberately kept simple to equip participants with basic bookkeeping skills needed to operate small businesses and market their products.

The impact of the joint project was visible at the Vanuatu Made Tropical Christmas show, where a range of new producers, including groups of vulnerable women involved in value addition, displayed a variety of Vanuatu Made products.

Moving beyond conventional products such as jam and oil, the new producers introduced a wider range of value-added food items, including seasoning, mayonnaise, lemon pie made from manioc flour, tomato paste, chilli paste, and breadfruit flour.

These products attracted strong consumer interest and sold out during the Tropical Christmas trade show.

The women also demonstrated that value-added products can be produced entirely from backyard gardens in Port Vila and Luganville, inspiring others to explore similar approaches.

The project coordinating officer said participation exceeded expectations, with strong interest from women keen to join the programme.

Although the ADB-funded project set a target of 100 beneficiaries in Luganville, participation exceeded that number.

This has drawn attention to both the scale of vulnerability among women in urban communities and the untapped potential for value addition in local markets.

The participating women in Luganville were organised into six groups to trial food processing activities, with their end products showcased at the Vanuatu Made Tropical Christmas trade show.

In an interview with the Casea Mamas group, made up of members from Second Canal, Solomons Hill, Chapuis, and Lavusvatu, the women spoke positively about the ADB initiative and the government departments involved.

They said the training provided practical skills that would help improve livelihoods for vulnerable mothers living in urban areas affected by limited resources and economic pressure.

“I am grateful for the training provided through the project in backyard gardening and food processing,” said Emily Mahe, a member of the Casea Mamas group.

“It was during the second phase, when we began value-addition training, that we understood the structure of the project. We were being equipped to grow our own produce at home and move into food processing.”

She said that whether or not participants choose to sell their products, the skills gained will strengthen food security and household resilience.

Mrs. Mahe is a government school teacher at Sarakata Primary School who has been affected by the unlawful suspension of teachers by the Teaching Service Commission and has remained at home for some time.

She said the project provided her with new skills and opportunities to support both her family and her wider community.

Another group of women from Fanafo produced herbal tea believed to have health benefits using herbs grown in their gardens.

An elderly participant from Fanafo said that, with guidance from a consultant working with the Department of Industry, the group learned how to cultivate different herbs specifically for herbal tea production.

Speaking about measures to support sustainability, the project coordinator said women were encouraged to involve younger family members in training activities and group projects so skills and responsibilities can be passed on over time.

Overall, the project has identified a number of potential value-added producers, and the DOI will assist them in working towards obtaining Industrial Permits.

To support continuity beyond the project period, the coordinator said that before completion, DoI will register beneficiary groups with the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) as associations or cooperatives to enable them to obtain business licences and permits. This will formally recognise them as department clients and allow activities initiated under the ADB project to continue.