The Vanuatu Green Transformation Project (VGET) is a flagship national initiative supporting Vanuatu’s transition to 100 percent renewable, reliable and inclusive energy access by 2030, in line with the National Energy Road Map (NERM). Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Government of Vanuatu through the Department of Energy (DoE) of the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Metereology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management, VGET addresses one of the country’s most persistent development challenges: limited access to electricity in rural and remote island communities.

Vanuatu remains among the least electrified countries in the Pacific. Many rural households continue to rely on small solar lanterns or costly fossil-fuel generators, constraining access to education, healthcare, livelihoods and economic opportunities. VGET responds to this challenge by deploying off-grid, clean renewable energy systems, strengthening national and community capacity, and ensuring that women, youth and persons with disabilities are included in the energy transition.

Beyond infrastructure, VGET combines renewable energy deployment, skills development, institutional strengthening and inclusive livelihood creation, delivering climate action alongside social and economic transformation. The project contributes directly to greenhouse gas emissions reductions, reduced fossil-fuel dependence, improved service delivery, and increased community resilience in disaster-prone areas directly contributing to the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by linking clean energy access with inclusive and climate-resilient development. 

• The project advances SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by expanding access to reliable, renewable electricity in remote and underserved communities. 
• It promotes SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by actively empowering women and girls through targeted skills development, leadership roles and green livelihood opportunities within the energy sector. 
• Through the creation of green jobs, support to local enterprises and skills training, VGET contributes to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). 
• By deploying decentralized renewable energy infrastructure and strengthening institutional capacity, the project supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), particularly in rural and island contexts. 
• Its inclusive, community-driven approach ensures that no one is left behind, directly advancing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by reaching remote populations and prioritizing youth, women and persons with disabilities. 
• Finally, by reducing fossil-fuel dependence and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, VGET contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and supports Vanuatu’s national climate and energy commitments.