Executive Summary Every Ni-Vanuatu citizen should have access to safe water sufficient to meet basic needs, including drinking, cooking and sanitation. The relatively abundant supply of fresh water in Vanuatu should further increase livelihoods’ opportunities and be fully harnessed to improve the overall economic standing of the country, both now and in the future. As Vanuatu’s population grows so demands on existing water sources will increase. These demands when combined with the increasing risk of pollution and climate related changes could be expected to limit the future availability of potable water, constrain its productive use and impact negatively on Vanuatu’s most precious resource, its pristine natural environment. This National Water Strategy aims to address these issues by overcoming constraints that limit sustainable development of the water sector including factors related to finances, human resources, institutions and operations. In doing so, it gives effect to the NWRA, PPA and MTDF directive of the Government of Vanuatu requiring detailed strategies and plans for all the Government Departments. At the institutional level, the strategy proposes a major change in the role of the Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources from that of service provider to main proponent and facilitator of a new integrated water resource management approach. This will require taking a holistic, integrated, coordinated and decentralised approach, involving collaboration with communities, private sector and local government stakeholders. Key operational elements of this Strategy are the progressive devolution of responsibility, authority and resources for water resources management down to provincial government level and community involvement in the planning, management and monitoring of water catchment use. Vision Sustainable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation for the people of Vanuatu to support improved public health and promote social and economic development. Strategy Objectives Objective 1: A clear regulatory framework and roles between Departments established to provide for transparent and accountable regulation and management of water resources. Objective 2: DGMWR adequately structured and has sufficient capacity to deliver on the Strategy. Objective 3: Infrastructure operated and maintained by the communities with technical and management support from the Provincial Office, private sector partners and the Department. Objective 4: Available water resources and catchments known, managed and protected. Objective 5: All water quality monitored and maintained to meet agreed standards. Objective 6: Appropriate and sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure installed to meet domestic, customary use targets and needs for sustainable economic development. Objective 7: Information and response mechanism in place that allows for mutual information sharing and accountability between government and stakeholders. 4 1.0 Background 1.1. Why Integrated Water Resource Management? It is necessary for Vanuatu to apply an IWRM approach for managing its water to ensure the sustainable development of resources, while meeting aims for water supply coverage, equity and affordability. Water supply in Vanuatu is publicly financed, managed with no cost recovery and therefore beyond the financial capacity of the government. The highly sectoral approach imposes unsustainably high economic, social and ecological costs on the social and natural environments in Vanuatu. An IWRM approach is a more holistic and participatory approach to resource management. There is a need to recognise the interdependencies within natural eco-systems and the economical and social systems that affect demand for water. Stakeholder involvement in decisions assists in understanding these dynamics and ensures appropriate systems are in place. With Vanuatu’s growing population base, ruralurban migration and shift from a predominantly subsistence economy to a cash-economy the quality and quantity of available water resources is increasingly threatened by competing uses for water. An IWRM approach uses participatory planning to ensure continued access to safe water supplies. 1.2. Who is this strategy for? The National Water Resource Strategy and the IWRM approach will indirectly benefit all citizens of Vanuatu. It is considered the rural communities will benefit the most from greater access to safe drinking water supplies for domestic and customary use. The private sector will benefit from greater access to water purposes of economic development and environmental protection. The strategy will provide the Government of Vanuatu with a rational basis for sector-wide planning which involves direct engagement with local government and communities, civil society groups, private sector organisations and donors for effective national water resource management. It will further provide MLNR and DGMWR with a clear regulatory framework under which to implement the strategy. What is IWRM? Integrated water resources planning and management aims to take appropriate account of important physical, social, economic and cultural linkages within a water resources system, such as: • physical linkages between land use, surface and groundwater quantity and quality, • economic linkages between various, and sometimes competing, water uses, • social linkages between water development schemes and potential beneficiaries or those adversely affected, ensuring benefits of projects accrue equitably and • institutional linkages, both horizontally and vertically, among various formal and non-formal stakeholder institutions. Planning for IWRM involves making provision for water demand for six main purposes - 1) domestic supplies; 2) irrigation; 3) hydro-electric power; 4) industrial production,5) cultural importance and 6) the protection of ecosystems. Further, this approach must also accommodate six key technical functions. These are: 1. The measurement of current water resource availability; 2. Land-use planning 3. Projection of future water resource availability; 4. Watershed based water use planning, including prioritised allocations; 5. Implementation of water projects; 6. Regulation including environmental protection; 7.Monitoring and evaluation. From the institutional standpoint, the adoption of an IWRM approach normally requires fundamental shifts in the roles, structures and outlooks of respective Government Departments including moving from a service delivery focus or project approach to sector facilitation and regulation under a sector wide approach (SWAp). The operationalisation of IWRM is commonly based on several key principles as follows: 1. Considering all water in the hydrological cycle using the watershed as the management and planning unit. 2. De-centralised planning and management. 3. Taking an holistic (frequently traditional) approach to planning and implementation. 4. Using local scale mapping, planning, implementation, monitoring and governance 5. Agreeing priorities for water allocations with domestic needs always satisfied first. 6. Mandatory provision for sanitation, waste water and EIA in all projects. 7. A pluralistic approach to implementation - public, private and community functions. 8. Accommodating equity issues, understanding gender roles in water management. 9. Coordination between stakeholders and water managers to provide input and commit to sustainable watershed management. 5 Implementation of the strategy will benefit the people of Vanuatu through: • Improved national coverage of safe water and sanitation in line with national and internationally agreed targets; • Community empowerment to protect and sustainably manage local water resources, particularly for women; • Information and accountability mechanisms which provide “voice” to communities and civil society during the planning, implementation, management and monitoring of water projects; • A regulatory and planning framework to ensure equitable, affordable and sustainable access to water supplies for all; • Greater NGO and private sector involvement (out-sourcing of contracts) in the design and implementation of water projects; • Improved clarity within the Government on water regulation in urban areas; • More reliable and affordable water supplies for business and economic development; and • The protection of eco-systems through sustainable water resource management. 1.3. How was the Strategy Developed? This strategy, and its objectives to improve policy and working practices, is evidence of the Governments recognition of water as a critical resource for sustainable economic and social development. Strategy formulation has accordingly taken into account current national, regional and international policy commitments and the capabilities of both the DGMWR and other sector stakeholders including other Government Departments, elected and customary local government, NGOs, CBOs, the private sector, communities, women’s only groups and external development partners. Operating procedures of the DGMWR including those related to feasibility, design, implementation and cost recovery have also been reviewed. In developing this strategy the DGMWR has applied a participatory approach. A series of central, provincial and community level consultations with key stakeholders was held. As a result a strong consensus on both a vision for the sector and key Departmental objectives for the coming ten year period has been reached. However, in order for these objectives to be met, continuing high levels of commitment for the strategy from both sector stakeholders and political parties will be required.