Representatives from all 11 Area Councils of Sanma Province had the opportunity for direct discussions with area administrators, senior planner, and project officer from the Sanma Provincial Government during a recent meeting organised by ADRA Vanuatu.

The gathering brought together Village Development Committee (VDC) members who raised concerns about the challenges their communities are facing, as well as questions about the structure and function of the provincial government.

“I came to better understand the structure,” said one participant. “Some communities have different VDC setups, and others have structures that I really appreciate because they directly involve the VDC”.

A key issue raised by many community representatives was the lack of clear connection between VDCs and the provincial government.

“Here in the provinces, even when we stay active and have our community development plans, they don’t seem to reach the provincial level,” another participant said. “We think maybe our goals are not aligned or being followed through, so we’re asking the province to clarify how we can work together on development.”

The event was held as part of ADRA Vanuatu’s Bi-Annual Meeting, with promoting open dialogue between grassroots community leaders and provincial decision-makers as a goal.

The meeting highlighted the ongoing need to strengthen coordination between local development committees and government structures to ensure community needs are reflected in broader provincial planning.