From registration to legal authority: Provincial Disaster & Climate Change Committee (PDCCC) – Penama Province, Vanuatu

This case study documents the establishment of the first Provincial Disaster & Climate Change Committee (PDCCC) in Penama Province, Vanuatu. Penama faces severe multi-hazard risks, including volcanic activity, cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding and landslides, compounded by limited access to financing, delayed disaster response and weak coordination structures. A coordinated six-day process brought together the National Disaster Management Office, Penama Provincial Government and partner organizations to nominate, induct, register and officially launch the committee. The process included induction workshops, presentations on disaster coordination structures, volcano assessments, community awareness activities and development of Penama’s first volcano response plan.

This case study reports that registration transformed the PDCCC into Penama’s authoritative disaster coordination mechanism. Members gained a clearer understanding of their roles, cluster coordination within the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre was strengthened and communities were informed of the committee’s authority. On its launch day, the PDCCC endorsed Penama’s first-ever volcano response plan, which was subsequently approved by the Council of Ministers, unlocking disaster response financing. The publication notes that the model has since been replicated across Vanuatu’s five remaining provinces, strengthening national disaster coordination and anticipatory action capacities.