Improving WASH to protect against COVID-19 in Vanuatu markets and food chains

A busy marketplace in Port Vila with tables covered in a variety of fresh produce and vendors at work

Vendors at a busy marketplace in Port Vila, Vanuatu, rely on access to safely managed WASH facilities not only for hand hygiene, but for continued trading during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic (IWC / Dr. Krishna Kumar Kotra)

Our thanks to research partners, the International WaterCentre (IWC) at Griffith University for this reflection on their project, WASH, Foodways, Markets, Women and COVID-19 in Vanuatu, in partnership with the University of the South Pacific and World Vision Vanuatu.

Where we started

It is widely acknowleded and now understood that WASH is a critical response to COVID-19 and the prevention and control of other communicable diseases. In 2021, Water for Women partners undertook research to better understand, and support WASH responses to COVID-19 in the Indo-Pacific region in support of the Australian Government’s Partnerships for Recovery.

As part of these efforts, IWC led research in Vanuatu to better understand levels of access to functional WASH facilities among food suppliers, vendors, and customers, to improve hygiene and prevention measures against COVID-19 infection by building a shared understanding of WASH-related vulnerabilities across the food supply chain — from garden to market.

Despite there being no community transmission of COVID-19 in Vanuatu as at June 2021, the pandemic had had a substantial impact on the country. The State of Emergency border lockdown and cessation of tourism led to an economic recession, resulting in major job losses in the two main tourist centres of Port Vila and Luganville. Additionally, local and international remittances greatly decreased. While the government implemented some economic support measures for small business this did not include market vendors.

A mixed food and cash crop kava garden in South Melekula, Vanuatu

A mixed food and cash crop kava garden in south Malekula (IWC / Mark Love)

The project

In response to the threat of COVID-19, the government instigated a variety of public health measures that directly impacted markets. These included an increased focus on hygiene (e.g. the installation of handwashing stations), social distancing guidelines, restricted selling hours and, in many but not all locales, a one-day-market rule whereby vendors were no longer permitted to sleep at markets. Combined with a general drop in demand for fresh produce due to the economic down turn, these measures disproportionally impacted women, who make up over 90% of market vendors. Results from this study affirmed that vendors' income decreased by half or more, with the greatest decrease experienced in Port Vila.

“We are afraid to come to town and sell at the market, so now we don’t have enough money for soap, rice, salt, and nappies. My children are no longer going to primary or secondary school.”

Market vendor, Santo

In our research, we investigated the situation in Vanuatu, studying the COVID-19 reponse in markets set by the government and local actors, the impacts on market vendors livelihoods and on food security, and any WASH and food supply chain vulnerabilities. The project asked questions on the enabling environment, that is, the people and organisations, including laws, policies, power relations and social norms, that inform the WASH situation at markets.

Our research utilised a mixed methods approach consisting of surveys and key informant interviews with market vendors, managers, cooperative members and other agri-food employees and managers, alongside structured facility observations and food supply chain analysis.

The research found key COVID-19 impacts included:

84% of surveyed vendors reported a decrease in income (generally half or more), with the greatest decrease in Port Vila.
Transport to and from markets and home was a recurrent issue in all locales.
Income decrease has had significant flow-on impacts on vendors families.
The main impact of COVID-19 on food systems in Vanuatu has thus far been on the demand rather than the production and supply side.
Nearly half (43%) of all vendors reported changing what they grow and/or sold in response to COVID-19.
There has been some positive effects, such as improved hygiene awareness and practices and an increase in home gardening, associated with COVID-19.

"There are only two toilets, we have to wait in line for our turn. We need more toilets. Toilets are also situated where the wind blows in to the market so we breathe the smell of the toilets… Even though there is running water and toilets available, there are no soaps. There are no dish or sinks to wash our hands."

Market vendor, Luganville

Where we are now

Given the WASH-related focus of the research, the main goal of the recommendations was to enable actions that limited the impacts to livelihoods, especially of women, and food security from COVID-19 by reducing the WASH-related vulnerabilities to COVID-19 transmissions. The aim of this was to reduce WASH-related vulnerabilities to all infectious related illnesses.

Our research found Vanuatu's government responded effectively to COVID-19 through widespread awareness campaigns, yet social distancing measures in markets remained inconsistent. Clearer rules and targeted support were needed for market vendors, alongside innovative approaches to ensure food security and leverage increased awareness for sustainable development goals. Market regulations primarily focus on food safety, lacking enforcement in rural areas. Improved coordination, capacity-building for market associations, and policy updates are crucial for enhancing fresh produce market sectors.

Urgent attention to inclusive and sustainable WASH services and behaviours is needed to improve the fundamental resilience of vendors and food systems to public health problems such as COVID-19.

The research project outputs include:

Broader WASH sector contributions

The IWC was proud to collaborate with local partners to build research capacity and WASH knowledge. The research contributes to filling gaps in WASH knowledge associated with markets and other short food supply chains in Vanuatu, improving awareness of WASH-related vulnerabilities to COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, and ultimately contributing to both improved protection against COVID-19 infection and economic stability for food workers. This research benefits the Vanuatu Government, local and extra-local civil society organisations, and industry bodies as well as the market vendors. More broadly, the research informs WASH practitioners on the impacts of COVID-19 on markets and short food supply chains.

Learn more about this research project on IWC’s project website.