The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Vanuatu have launched an $11 million partnership to boost food security and nutrition for more than 15,000 people in what the United Nations ranks as the world’s most climate-vulnerable country.
The Agricultural Investment for Markets and Nutrition–Vanuatu (AIM-N) project will build on indigenous farming systems to help families grow, buy and eat more nutritious food, while creating sustainable economic opportunities in rural areas.
Although nearly 90 per cent of Vanuatu households grow vegetables, low productivity has left the population vulnerable to malnutrition. Nearly one third of children under five are stunted, while one in five adults is overweight — a situation worsened by growing dependence on cheap imported foods.
“This partnership is a critical investment in the health and prosperity of Vanuatu’s rural people,” said Candra Samekto, IFAD Country Director for the Pacific Islands. “AIM-N empowers small-scale farmers, especially women and youth, by linking nutrition directly to agriculture and markets. It’s about more than earning a living; it’s about building a healthier future, proving our shared commitment to transforming food systems from the ground up.”
Under the initiative, IFAD and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biodiversity (MALFFB) will work with communities to establish kitchen gardens, strengthen local food procurement for six secondary boarding schools, and develop farmer–buyer partnerships. Farmers will also be supported to improve crop quality, gain business skills, and access better prices.
Competitive grants will be made available to women’s groups to back nutrition-focused and labour-saving initiatives, while secondary schools will source food from nearby farms to improve student diets.
The total project cost is $11.3 million, with $6.1 million from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) channelled through IFAD. The private sector will provide $2.1 million, the Vanuatu government and communities $1.7 million, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will manage another $1.4 million from GAFSP.
The programme will be rolled out in the provinces of Malampa, Penama and Tafea, benefitting 15,350 people in 65 rural communities where subsistence farming remains the main livelihood.
The initiative forms part of IFAD’s Strategy for Engagement in Small Island Developing States 2022–2027, and its broader approach to resilience-building in fragile contexts.
Since its founding in 1978, IFAD has channelled more than $25 billion in grants and concessional loans to rural development projects worldwide.
