Andrew Solomon Napuat

Hon. Andrew Solomon Napuat – Leadership in Local Authorities & Decentralisation

As the Minister of Internal Affairs (2017–2020 and since 12 August 2024), Andrew Solomon Napuat has been at the forefront of strengthening local governance in Vanuatu. His tenure has focused on bringing government closer to the people through legislative reform, capacity building, and service decentralisation.

Early Leadership (2016–2020)

• In May 2016, Napuat was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Decentralisation, launching his mission to fully realize Vanuatu’s long-standing decentralisation policy. He openly acknowledged that despite rhetoric since independence, no previous government had delivered real progress in decentralising power and services.
• Upon becoming Minister of Internal Affairs in December 2017, Napuat initiated the recruitment of Area Administrators for all 18 Area Councils—three per province—to ensure local-level representation and coordination.
• In December 2019, he expanded the Lenakel Municipal Council from 13 to 16 councillors to include representation from North, East, West, and Middle Bush of Tanna, formally adding youth, church, and female council membership.
• On 26 November 2018, Napuat introduced the Municipalities Amendment Act and Decentralisation Amendment Act, requiring councillors to resign before contesting national elections—ensuring accountability and focus at local government level
• On 16 July 2019, he allocated Vt100,000 to each of the 72 Area Councils within the Malvatumauri chiefly system to fund Independence Day events—empowering remote communities for the first time in Vanuatu’s history.

Recent Contributions (2023–2025)

• As Minister responsible for decentralisation, Napuat delivered the Keynote Address at SHEFA Day 2025, reaffirming his support for local governance and community inclusion in service delivery.
• The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ 2025 Business Plan, led by Napuat, places decentralisation at its core—prioritising governance reforms, resource transfer to Area Councils, and service expansion into remote communities through updated legislation, procedures, and M&E frameworks.
• Through the Nasara Sector Strategy (2022–2026) overseen by the Department of Local Authorities, Napuat has emphasized community-driven development, inclusive planning, and decentralised budgeting aligned with the National Sustainable Development Plan.
• Napuat’s leadership has supported the Risk-Proofed Planning & Budgeting Guidelines, integrating disaster risk reduction, gender inclusion, and climate adaptation into provincial and area-level planning frameworks.
• He continues to advance decentralisation by addressing administrative gaps noted in recent evaluations, ensuring Area Councils receive adequate funding, autonomy, and coordination support required to deliver services effectively.

Summary Table of Achievements

Andrew Napuat’s consistent emphasis on decentralisation, legislative reform, and local empowerment reflects his belief that effective governance starts at the grassroots. Through civic inclusion and robust local structures, he continues working to ensure every ni-Vanuatu has access to essential services and a genuine voice in development.