Paul Nalau

2024 Cohort

Pronouns: he/him

Paul plans to create a change whereby government projects are more sustainable, with local level ownership working in partnership with local level, traditional governance leadership.

Paul is a senior policy analyst at the Department of Strategic Policy, Planning and Aid Coordination in the Prime Minister's Office. He works with the Prime Minister on policy advice for education, training, youth and sports.

Paul collaborates with different ministries to achieve national goals in these areas. He is committed to developing the skills, knowledge and lifelong learning opportunities for all individuals in Vanuatu to maximise their potential.

Since 2004, Paul has been helping to develop the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports to become fully established with its policies and structures for young people and sports.

Over the past 14 years, he has become increasingly involved in the Government's plan for sustainable development in the country. The primary focus has been on exploring Vanuatu's human resource potential and linking it to educational outcomes, with the underlying consideration being how human resources are developed (in and out of school or the workplace) to implement government policy objectives.

Paul is looking into involving local area governance in national policy implementation – in particular, addressing challenges in sustainable development caused by political uncertainties, budget constraints and natural disasters.

“Imeiyum ne imeiyum kamiaol phun-phun, parawhun nè kowha kwarik atnghin (woman and the child live under the arch of decision making).”

Social change work

Paul has been helping out with the council of chiefs on his island, Tanna, in Tafea Province, Vanuatu. He has been working on creating written guidelines for their traditional customs and governance policies.

The role of traditional custodians is significant because they have historically been responsible for keeping social and environmental balance. They continue to do so today, often without relying on government services for support.

In 2019, 400 chiefs on Tanna island developed a 'principal agreement' on 'custom' which is an important step in getting government recognition and partnership.