Tropical Pacific climate data is particularly important to our understanding of the global climate system. Most research projects dealing with climate change require sufficient and accurate data to reach useful conclusions, although available data of this quality is currently limited. Thus, robust networks of climate information, including rainfall observations in the Pacific region are crucial for climate research.

The Vanuatu Rainfall Network (VRN) supports the effort to build and sustain the global climate observing system that is needed to satisfy the long-term climate observational requirements of the operational climate forecast centres, international research programs, and major scientific assessments. Our current and future efforts include expanding our mission to collect, analyse, verify and disseminate Vanuatu's rainfall data sets and products. We will present the latest work by the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department in establishing an in-country rainfall collection network. This network consists of around eighty-four rainfall sites throughout the country. This work demonstrates that given dedicated in-country climate officers, a useful and accurate climate network could be set up in other Pacific island countries. It can be run, maintained and owned by individuals in the communities, on a relatively low budget through effective collaboration with projects implemented in the Pacific region. The network acts as a focal point for the Vanuatu Government in terms of sourcing climate weather information for the communities. It also acts to build partnerships with agencies such as the National Red Cross and National Disaster Management Office. The network provides a platform for empowering provincial and community-based climate change advisors and disaster risk reduction officers to fulfil the vision of the Vanuatu Government to take government services to all corners of Vanuatu.