Final Evaluation: Integrated Early Childhood Development Project (Vanuatu, 2025)

The Integrated Early Childhood Development (Bildimap Bren blong Pikinini – BBBP) project was implemented from August 2021 to July 2025 in Shefa and Sanma provinces of Vanuatu through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). The project aimed to support children 0-5 years old to reach their optimal development potential through a focus on nurturing care practices and skills, protection of children from violence and child-sensitive social protection.

The evaluation objectives were to determine whether the BBBP project achieved its intended outcomes, to identify the factors that promoted or hindered achievement, and to understand how and why these results occurred. The evaluation was guided by the OECD-DAC criteria and utilised a mixed-methods and participatory approach.

The evaluation found that the BBBP project made moderate progress toward its objectives, promoting positive parenting, violence prevention, early childhood development, and inclusive social protection. Success was enabled by culturally responsive delivery and partnerships, but was limited by low engagement of fathers, uneven collaboration, and difficulties reaching children with disabilities. Efficiency was supported by local partnerships and adaptive approaches, though hindered by coordination issues and resource gaps. Impact was demonstrated at household and system levels, especially in improved parenting and advocacy for child protection, but overall was judged as low to moderate due to operational and measurement constraints. The project was strongly relevant and coherent with national priorities, but future efforts should invest in sustainability, cross-sector coordination, and more strategic engagement of children, youth, and male caregivers.