What would development mean for the community of Vanuanui? While Vanuanui has a strong and cohesive community, it is also facing many challenges. • Climate change is resulting in frequent destructive weather events and rising sea levels. • Decisions have been made that effect Vanuanui without genuine engagement (free prior informed consent) with the community. This is particularly so with an influx of international interests such as fishing and logging companies. • Family poverty is increasing arising from difficulty in maintaining sustainable livelihoods. • There is an inadequate source of safe, clean water for domestic use and irrigation. • Roads are poor and infrastructure insufficient. • Health services are inadequate and there is little knowledge about sexual and reproductive health. • Family violence, child neglect and child abuse are increasing. • Child labour and sexual exploitation of children are on the rise. • Suicide amongst young people is increasing. • Covid 19 has affected the community’s health, family cohesion and the economy due to closed borders, the ban on non-essential cargo and the lack of overseas tourists Development for the Vanuanuians means finding their own solutions to these challenges. An international interest may provide donations to fix the roads, increase health and education services, or to build tanks. However until the community has had the opportunity to work together to identify its priorities, to recognise the wisdom and expertise located in the community, and to decide its ways of addressing its priorities, it can’t know that these interventions will result in the sustainable long-term outcomes that it is seeking. The human rights community-led development approach understands ‘development’ as a process that prioritises local cultural values, knowledge and experience when deciding how a community will address the issues that are impacting on it. APF HRCLD Guide 16