Saemi Matsumoto and Dalsie Tolang



Published on March 9, 2023

Transforming a Small Island into a Smart Island: Southern Malekula, Vanuatu

While most residents in Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, enjoy modern digital lifestyles with smart phones, broadband and new e-services, those in rural and remote areas of the country often miss out on digitalization and the resulting socio-economic benefits.

In the southern region of Malekula, the second largest island of the archipelago, villagers lack access to high-quality healthcare services, banking and payment systems, and even reliable power and clean water supplies.