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According to the Bank’s website, the project was prepared in response to the government's request to support its recovery efforts by restoring climate- and disaster-resilient access to critical wharves in Port Vila disrupted by the 17 December 2024 earthquake. The project will rehabilitate the wharf road with climate- and disaster-resilient structures and measures and enhance the government's capacity on (i) integrating climate- and disaster-resilient measures in future road design and construction; and (ii) conducting procurement and contract management.
According to government estimates, the earthquake caused an estimated $197 million in direct damage, equivalent to 17.6% of the GDP. Approximately, 80,000 people were directly affected. The government prepared the recovery and resilience plan, which outlined the immediate recovery priorities, medium-term recovery needs, and long-term resilience goals. The estimated recovery needs are $244.71 million, including $20.39 million for the environment pillar, $99.34 million for the economic pillar, and $124.98 million for the society pillar. Infrastructure is part of the economic pillar with estimated needs of $42.02 million. This includes critical needs such as repair and upgrade of critical transport routes, power supply restoration, and rebuilding of public buildings. However, recurrent disaster shocks may continue to constrain fiscal space, crowd out social spending, and increase reliance on external aid. Strengthening resilient infrastructure, particularly wharves, roads, and other transport linkages, can help mitigate these pressures while reinforcing agriculture and tourism as key drivers of sustainable and inclusive growth. Thus, the plan incorporates build-back-better (BBB) principles with climate- and disaster-resilient designs, which aims to reduce government's burden in future spending when facing recurrent disaster shocks in the future.
The proposed project focuses on the medium- and long-term landslide protection to ensure safe and sustainable access to the wharf road and rehabilitation of the partially damaged road once the debris is removed. The wharf road is essential for the country's economy as it supports major economic drivers, such as tourism arrivals via wharves, the efficient trade of agricultural produce, and stable logistics through the provision of critical and sustainable access to (i) the South Paray domestic wharf supported by ADB and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs; (ii) the Lapetasi wharf (Port Vila); and (iii) the Main Wharf (Port of Port Vila). It will also provide implementation support for the executing and the implementing agencies.
The anticipated environmental effects are site-specific, primarily occurring during construction, and are confined to the project's physical footprint. Most of these impacts are expected to be manageable through appropriate mitigation measures.
The rehabilitation of the wharf road will be carried out on land already leased by the government. However, the planned countermeasure works may affect customary lands that have previously been leased to private developers. The extent of the potential impacts on these private lands will be determined following geotechnical assessments and the detailed design.
The project will not impact any groups recognized as Indigenous Peoples under the SPS.
The project is estimated to cost $24.40 million, including physical and price contingency but excluding taxes and duties exempted by the government. The government has requested a grant from ADB’s Special Funds resources (Asian Development Fund) to help finance the project.
For the Recipient:
Ministry of Finance and Economic Management
Private Mail Bag 9058
Port Vila
Vanuatu
Facsimile Number: (678) 27937
For ADB:
Asian Development Bank
6 ADB Avenue
Mandaluyong City
1550 Metro Manila
Philippines
Facsimile Numbers: (632) 8636-2444
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form
ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB
The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.
