The Tropical Cyclone Harold Recovery Program (HRP, 2021-2026) is aimed a t helping the Government of Vanuatu (GoV) to recover from the compounding effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the severe category 5 Tropical Cyclone Harold. HRP’s goal was to restore growth and social development in cyclone-affected areas while strengthening the Government of Vanuatu’s systems for recovery. The program was delivered through a mixed modality - a Direct funding Arrangement (DFA) with the Prime Minister’s Office, using GoV systems for reconstruction of education, health and WASH infrastructure; and through the Vanuatu Skills Partnership (VSP) and the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) NGOs focusing on livelihoods, gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) and community resilience.
DFAT commissioned an independent evaluation conducted by Palladium in late 2025 to inform decisions around extending the HRP, and how DFAT’s broader engagement with the GoV in disaster recovery can be further strengthened. The evaluation has determined that four years on, progress is well underway in all sectors but has been slower than anticipated. The evaluation considered whether limited progress was a result of the delivery modality or the program’s implementation challenges. The report highlights the program’s MEL limitations, and the impact this had on confirming the adequacy of progress to date. The evaluation made seven valid recommendations. DFAT has chosen to disagree with one recommendation and agree (including in principle or partially) with the rest, outlining potential options for strengthening its future recovery programming.
Publication
- Tropical Cyclone Harold Recovery Program (HRP) - Review report [PDF 2 MB]
- Tropical Cyclone Harold Recovery Program (HRP) - Review report [DOCX 848 KB]