PORT VILA, February 24, 2025–  A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in Port Vila between Care International in Vanuatu and the Disability Desk under the Ministry of Justice and Community Services.

The MOU establishes the terms of collaboration between Care International in Vanuatu and the Disability Desk, committing both parties to support disability inclusion efforts across Vanuatu. The partnership aims to strengthen disability inclusion, with a particular focus on collaborative working methods and approaches to disability data collection.

Jamie Terzi, Interim Country Director of Care International, expressed her satisfaction in signing the MOU, emphasizing its potential to enhance the longstanding partnership between the two organizations. She praised the Disability Desk Provincial Officers for their exceptional efforts in conducting training programs on Gender Equity, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), as well as Good Governance Training for Care Offices in Tafea, Penama, and Malampa provinces.

Arthur Faerua, Director General of the Ministry of Justice and Community Services, welcomed the partnership, acknowledging that while the government can design policies, the implementation of these policies often requires the support of non-governmental organizations. He noted that the Disability Desk has already engaged in similar partnerships with other NGOs in the country. Faerua also expressed his appreciation for the commitment of civil society organizations in improving the lives of people with disabilities, which supports Vanuatu's efforts to fulfill its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Vanuatu was the first Pacific Island country to sign the convention in 2007.

The MOU outlines the guidelines, roles, and responsibilities for both parties to ensure the success of the collaboration. It is effective immediately upon signing and will remain in force for three years.

Care International in Vanuatu is an international development and humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting global poverty, with a special focus on empowering women and girls to create lasting change in their communities.

The Disability Desk, established in 2009 within the Ministry of Justice and Community Services, serves as the government’s coordinating focal point for disability efforts across Vanuatu.