Women-led solar project lights up Lawital, Tanna in Vanuatu
PowerWells Foundation, in partnership with ActionAid Australia, ActionAid Vanuatu and the Women I TokTok Tugeta (WITTT) Network, has completed a women-led off-grid solar project in Lawital village, Tanna, Vanuatu, funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) and the Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership (PCIFP). The initiative has connected 115 households and 10 public spaces to clean, reliable solar power, strengthening safety, education and livelihoods for a community of around 800 people.
Community leadership at the centre
Lawital women have led the assembly, installation and maintenance of the systems, backed by hands-on training that built practical, locally owned capability for the ongoing operation and repair. This women-led model turns energy access into broader empowerment, improving night-time study, household safety and the conditions for small enterprise.
What’s been achieved:
115 homes now have solar lighting and device charging, displacing costly and polluting fuels and extending productive hours into the evening.
10 public spaces—such as clinics, community facilities and key pathways—are electrified, with solar street lights improving service delivery and security after dark.
A trained local maintenance team, led by Lawital women, ensure systems stay up and running and that skills remain embedded in the community.
A sustainable funding model
The PayGo rent-to-own approach reinvests monthly payments into a community-managed energy fund, covering maintenance, seeding future renewable installations and supporting income-generating opportunities for women. This mechanism makes access affordable while ensuring long-term sustainability.
Partnership and public recognition
The project milestone was marked at Lawital’s Nakamal with community leaders, Vanuatu Ministers for Climate Change and Internal Affairs, the Tafea Provincial President and Australia and New Zealand’s High Commissioners, underscoring strong local ownership and regional support. The collaboration showcases how targeted public investment, civil society leadership and grassroots training deliver resilient development outcomes.
Circular, durable and built to last
PowerWells systems leverage repurposed e-waste and recycled components, extending product life and reducing environmental impact while meeting the durability demands of remote and challenging environment. Combined with local maintenance capacity, this circular approach is designed to keep the lights on, year after year.
What’s next
Partners will continue supporting the Lawital energy fund and documenting lessons learned, with an eye to adapting and scaling this women-led, community-owned model across Tafea Province and the wider Pacific. Organisations interested in partnership, replication or technical collaboration are invited to connect with PowerWells here.