Available in: Bislama 'Jastis Blong Evriwan' (JBE): Justice for the Poor in Vanuatu Background Over the last decade, Vanuatu has managed to sustain notable economic growth in comparison to its Melanesian neighbors, however the domestic distribution of the benefits of this growth has been limited. The globalization of the Vanuatu economy, the financial opportunities associated with the exploitation of land and natural resources, the demand for infrastructure services, and rapid urbanization present particular challenges as such changes can quickly overwhelm the capacity of customary systems to mediate competing claims and interests. Managing these stresses is likely to remain a central development challenge for the country. Areas of Engagement The first phase of J4P Vanuatu (known in the local language as Jastis Blong Evriwan) supported the Government of Vanuatu’s Priorities and Action Agenda (2006-2015) to promote equitable development and access to justice through constructive engagement and interaction between formal and customary systems of governance. Activities involved in-depth research into land leasing issues, the facilitation of policy dialogue and understanding community decision-making and dispute resolution processes to contribute to the better understanding and improvement of justice and service delivery in Vanuatu. Building on initial work, current activities focus on three main areas of work:
Land Leasing
J4P research on land leasing in Vanuatu provided systematic evidence of problems in the lease formation and lease administration processes, including inequities emerging from the absence of recognition and enforcement of group landholding rights and poorly informed deal making processes. Current initiatives are working to (1) support the development of an operational model for the provision of advisory services to landholders, (2) foster innovation in relation to land and natural resource governance by land owning groups, and (3) support policy action on land leasing recommendations.
Land, Justice, and Infrastructure
J4P research on land leasing in Vanuatu indicates upfront payment of large premiums for leasing or acquiring land for public infrastructure has been a factor in increasing the number of land disputes and the number of custom landholder claimants involved in any one dispute. Protracted and/or failed negotiations with landholders around access to land for public infrastructure has also constrained and increased the cost of infrastructure development. The program is working with World Bank teams active in infrastructure to develop equitable and sustainable strategies for community engagement, consultation, group representation, resettlement, compensation, and dispute management.
Urban Land Governance
A dramatic increase in urban growth over the last decade has led to overcrowding, poor housing conditions, high rents, poor sanitation and rapid development of informal settlements on both Government land in urban centers and on customary land in peri-urban areas. Informal settlements are estimated to accommodate over 30% of the urban population. With Vanuatu's urban population projected to double in the next 20 years, pressures on urban and peri-urban land are likely to further increase. The program is exploring the availability of and need for data to inform policies and programming in relation to urban and peri-urban land governance issues. Building an effective national coordinating agency for urban public land management is likely to be crucial to address constraints on the provision of services and access to affordable housing.
Partnership and Dialogue JBE believes that a country’s ability to undertake evidence-based policy reform is directly affected by the local understandings of the policy process and the local capacity to conduct rigorous policy-oriented research. Building on this belief, JBE is working to enhance research, programming, and policy advocacy skills in Vanuatu by working with local institutions, offering targeted training exercises for local research partners and facilitating knowledge-sharing activities. In implementing the program, JBE established a stakeholder reference group consisting of government and non-government representatives. This takes into account the importance of engaging with both government and civil society organizations, and finding ways to provide them with the information and support they need to advocate for policy advances in the areas of legal empowerment. The aim of the group is to provide advice on research design and implementation, provide feedback on research findings and policy considerations, and ensure that ongoing activities are relevant to the needs of local communities. 
Recent Activities
Community Dissemination: The results of the land leasing research have been disseminated at the community, provincial and national level. JBE teamed up with Natantong theater to disseminate findings to affected communities on Epi and Tanna. The use of drama presented an opportunity to bring villagers together in an informal setting where they could debate sensitive land issues. The dissemination was combined with a legal awareness program, conducted in collaboration with a Ni-Vanuatu lawyer and a representative of the Department of Lands, Department of Justice and Island Council of Chiefs, aimed at enhancing understanding of custom landholders’ rights with regard to land leasing. The dissemination also provided an opportunity to stimulate community dialogues on how current leasing problems could be addressed at both the local and national level. These included targeted discussions with customary authorities, youth groups and women. JBE conducted an assessment of these community dissemination activities and found that drama and legal awareness were effective tools to engage communities in Vanuatu.
Recent Publications
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