Vanuatu is a Pacific island nation that faces one of the highest levels of natural disaster risk in the world, according to the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. Cyclone Pam struck the country in March 2015.
After Cyclone Pam, the World Bank invested US$50 million in recovery and resilience work. The effort repaired or built 50 kilometers of roads and reconstructed 42 schools and 26 public buildings across 20 islands.
The work went beyond rebuilding. Vanuatu has paired infrastructure projects with early warning systems and community preparedness, aiming to cut losses from the next storm.
Students of disaster resilience can learn from Vanuatu’s experience, but they should rely on reports from agencies such as the World Bank and GFDRR rather than on invented statistics about disaster frequency or recovery outcomes.
Compare island resilience efforts through our articles on climate change adaptation in Tuvalu, Pacific island climate resilience in Samoa and Fiji, and our piece on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

