Like the Provincial Outreach Division, the Finance, Administration and Support Services Division supports the work of all the divisions of the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation. The Finance, Administration and Support Services Division is responsible for:

• Ensuring the environmental laws administered by DEPC are complied with
• Providing administrative support for all DEPC activities
• Managing and controlling DEPC’s re-current budget
• Raising local purchase orders for DEPC and project activities
• Providing financial and administrative assistance to projects housed within DEPC
• Managing the assets of DEPC.

The Provincial Outreach Division is the primary link between the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation’s head office in Port Vila and the provinces. The work of this Division covers activities across all Divisions of DEPC and includes:

• Raising awareness about DEPC, communicating and marketing the work of DEPC
• Raising awareness about the role communities and sector stakeholders play in environmental management
• Acting as a liaison or focal point for DEPC’s provincial activities
• Providing support for provincial projects
• Promoting extension services.

As the Division expands to include officers in more provinces it will also provide for the decentralisation of DEPC’s activities with Provincial Officers playing key roles in assessing applications for approvals from DEPC.

The Environmental Protection Division is responsible for implementing the Ozone Layer Protection Act, the Pollution Control Act, the Waste Management Act and the Vanuatu National Waste Management, Pollution Control Strategy and Implementation Plan 2016 – 2020. In doing so, the Division is focused on achieving an environmentally sustainable Vanuatu in which:

• All types of wastes are collected, reused, recycled and treated by environmental sound technologies suited to local conditions
• Waste going to landfill is minimised
• Pollution to the receiving environment is within acceptable standards.

The main function of the Environmental Planning and Impact Assessment Division is to manage Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Vanuatu.

As part of implementing Part 3 of the Environmental Protection and Conservation Act [CAP 283] the Division’s responsibilities are to:

• Facilitate EIA - from the application stage to the granting or refusal of Environmental Permits
• Screen and review applications for Environmental Permits applications, undertaking Preliminary Environmental Assessments (PEAs) and visiting project sites
• Develop Terms of Reference for EIA reports
• Organise the review of EIA reports and Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans by an EIA Review Committee (the Committee)
• Prepare Committee meeting minutes and reports of the Committee
• Develop Environmental Permit conditions
• Work with the Compliance Officer to monitor and enforce Environmental Permits and the Environmental Protection and Conservation Act [CAP 283].

By administering EIA, the Division seeks to promote better management and protection of the natural environment – effective planning, implementation and enforcement of the DEPC’s environmental frameworks will help to ensure clean, resilient and sustainable use of the natural resources for the citizens of Vanuatu.