JICA sends more volunteers to Vanuatu

Four Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteers completed their Bislama language training on Tuesday, marking another step forward in Japan's ongoing commitment to technical cooperation with Vanuatu. The completion of this training provides them with a solid foundation for carrying out their work in Vanuatu.

Since the resumption of international travel following the COVID-19 pandemic, JICA has dispatched nine groups of volunteers to Vanuatu, bringing the total number of active volunteers in the country to 19. These volunteers have been assigned to Efate and Espiritu Santo islands. Plans are in place to deploy a volunteer to Malekula Island in June 2025, further expanding the reach of JICA's volunteer services.

According to JICA, two of the volunteers in this group will serve in the health sector, focusing on oral hygiene and hospital administration, with an emphasis on promoting the 5S improvement methodology in the infection prevention and control department. Their expertise will contribute to improving local healthcare service standards.

Another volunteer will be engaged in waste management, contributing to environmental sustainability efforts. The fourth volunteer will support a local school, focusing on mathematics and Japanese cultural education. These diverse areas of service reflect JICA's support for the comprehensive development of Vanuatu.

JICA has been actively supporting Vanuatu through its volunteer program, which dispatches Japanese professionals and experts to assist Vanuatu's development in various fields such as education, health, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and infrastructure development. The volunteers strengthen the ties between Japan and Vanuatu while promoting capacity building and knowledge sharing.

Currently, JICA volunteers primarily work on Efate and Espiritu Santo islands, but the planned expansion to Malekula Island demonstrates the agency's continued expansion of its service scope. Over the years, JICA's contributions have played a significant role in strengthening local expertise, community resilience, and sustainable development initiatives.

JICA expressed its gratitude to the Government of Vanuatu and the various requesting organizations for their trust in the program and looks forward to continuing fruitful cooperation in the future. JICA remains committed to contributing to the development of Vanuatu.