Port Vila, Vanuatu – Thursday 29 October 2026: At the occasion of the celebration of the 80 years of the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) in New Caledonia, the National University of Vanuatu (NUV) and the IRD have officially entered into a strategic four-year framework agreement for scientific and technical cooperation. Signed on October 28, 2026, in Nouméa by Mr. Jean-Pierre Nirua, President of NUV, and Mrs. Valérie Verdier, CEO of IRD, this framework establishes a shared roadmap to enhance higher education, innovative research, and sustainable development across Vanuatu and the broader Pacific region.
The partnership builds upon a history of successful joint initiatives and aligns with NUV’s mandate to deliver bilingual academic excellence in French and English. By combining IRD’s extensive global research network with NUV’s regional expertise, both institutions aim to address critical environmental, societal, and health disruptions.
The framework outlines multiple priority scientific domains tailored specifically to the urgent needs of Pacific Island nations. The parties will focus heavily on ocean and atmospheric sciences to better understand climate change. They will also study local knowledge alongside the overall sustainability, vulnerability, and resilience of Pacific societies. Environmental health is a primary pillar through a dedicated “One Health” approach that evaluates the evolution of traditional medicine, practices, and norms. Furthermore, the agreement prioritizes marine and terrestrial biodiversity conservation, geosciences targeting natural hazards like tsunamis and volcanic activity, and the development of geospatial data and services.
Operationally, the partnership focuses on building sustainable local capacity. NUV and IRD will develop joint research programs, create international joint laboratories, and provide direct support and supervision for Master’s and Ph.D. students. The institutions will work together on technology transfer, joint scientific publications, and the mutual exchange of technical personnel. To ensure ethical integrity, both organizations have pledged to adhere strictly to international data protection regulations and the Nagoya Protocol, guaranteeing fair benefit-sharing regarding genetic resources and indigenous traditional knowledge.
This agreement marks an important milestone in the development of NUV’s research capacity, strengthening its role as an emerging research institution and laying the foundations for sustained scientific collaboration, increased research output, and greater international visibility for Vanuatu’s research community.
A joint coordination committee led by NUV’s Director of Policies, Planning, and Global Engagement, NUV’s Director of Research, and IRD’s Representative in New Caledonia will oversee the partnership through annual meetings.
Established under Act No. 34 of 2019, the National University of Vanuatu provides high-quality higher education and lifelong learning through bilingual training, teaching, and research in French and English, preparing graduates to address global challenges while contributing to the sustainable development of Vanuatu.
IRD is a French public scientific institution operating in more than 50 countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific. IRD delivers multi-disciplinary, long-term research partnerships focused on global climate adaptation, biodiversity preservation, and social transformation.
