The Pacific Innovation Forum for Climate and Environment (PIFCE) 1st - 3rd July, 2026

Yumi up

Brief overview

Yumi up is a small upcycling business based in vanuatu , yumi up Focuses on collecting waste , separation of waste , inovation or protecting a product on waste and making a sustainable income on waste ( giving a second life on waste), Yumi up is also woking with the community in vanuatu to train or run trainings of , waste segregation and waste Manegement ,with the help of the vanuatu department of environment.

Your organisation’s goals

Yumi up is a community driven recycling and upcycling initiative that provides practical solutions to climate change, through waste reduction and sustainable production. The business Collects discarded materials such as plastic,cans and other reusable items, transforming them in to handicraft products like baskets ,earrings and keyrings. By giving new life to waste , Yumi Up reduces pollution, lower landfill use ,and cuts carbon emissions linked to waste disposal. In addition to production creation, yumi up offers educational, raising awareness about responsible waste Manegement and environmental protection, especially among youths and local communities. Through workshops and training, it empowers people with skill to reuse materials creatively while generating income ,Yumi Up also promotes a circular economy by encouraging communities and businesses to rethink waste as a valuable resource, contributing to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future for vanuatu.

Describe your innovation

The key innovation implemented by yumi up is its community-base upcycling system, we’re waste material are collected locally and transformed into valuable products through hands-on training and small scale production. Instead of relying on expensive recycling infrastructure, Yumiup works directly with communities to gather packaging plastic , bottle and aluminum cans ,and others discarded items, which are then cleaned, processed, and redesigned into products such as baskets ,pillows, jewelry and souvenirs.

This innovation addresses climate change by reducing the amount of waste that end up in the land fills or is burned ,both of which release harmful greenhouse gases . By reusing materials ,yumi also lower the demand for new raw resources, helping to reduce carbon emissions linked to manufacturing and transportation. Communities to take responsibility for waste Manegement.

This approach is particularly relevant for pacific Island countries and territories where waste Manegement systems are often limited, and the impacts of climate change – such as raising sae water level and population- are already sever .imported goods create increasing waste challenges, especially plastic that are difficult to manage. Yumi Up’s low-cost ,locally driven solution empowers communities to tune waste into income ,supports sustainable livelihoods, and protects fragile island environments, making its a practical and scalable response to both environmental and economic challenges in the pacific.

How is this solution is innovative?

Yumi up’s solution is innovative because it combines waste Manegement, creativity, and community empowerment into one practical model ,instead of relying on large -scale recycling systems, which are often expensive and unavailable in small island settings , Yumi Up uses a low -cost , community-base approach. It transforms everyday waste materials into useful and marketable products, turning a major environmental problem into an economic opportunity. What makes this approach unique is its focus on skills transfer and local ownership. Community members, especially youth and women, are trained to create products from waste ,allowing them to generate income while protecting the environment. This is not only reduces pollution but also builds a long term capacity within the community. By linking environmental action with livelihood and education, yumi up creates a circular system where waste is continuously reused. This model is simple ,adaptable ,and highly relevant for island communities facing limited resources and growing waste challenges.

How can the innovation be replicated and scaled up in other PICTs?

Yumi ups innovation can be replicated and scale across other pacific Island countries and territories by building strong community partnerships and simple support systems. At the institutional level , collaboration with local government’s NGOs and schools is important to support waste collection, training and awareness programs. Clear policies that encourage recycling and small businesses will also help the model grow.
In terms of capacity, communities need basic training in upcycling skills , small business Manegement ,and environmental education. Access to simple tools ,safe workpeaces ,and small start up finding is also essential by using local materials and knowledge, the model can be adapted easily, make it practical and sustainable for different Island contexts.

How is the solution cost‑effective and affordable in the context of Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs)?

Yumi ups solution is cost effective and affordable for pacific Island countries. It uses free waste materials and simple tools , keeping cost low . The model generates income through upcycling products and requires minimal infrastructure. With small start-up support, it is sustainable, practical, and well suited to island communities with limited resources.

Locations (country, island, or community) where this solution has been piloted and/or implemented

Vanuatu

Learn more:

Yumi Up

Abyss Vanuatu Ocean Institute

About

Abyss Vanuatu Ocean Institute (AVOI) is a science-led, community-driven initiative advancing marine restoration, climate resilience and sustainable blue economy development in Vanuatu. Through its Havannah Harbour pilot, AVOI integrates Reef Ball deployment, artificial reef design, drone-enabled monitoring and workforce training via the Vanuatu Ocean Rangers. The model combines innovation and local stewardship to restore ecosystems, strengthen biodiversity and support climate adaptation. By linking technology, community engagement and practical delivery, AVOI is developing a scalable national framework that helps translate ocean policy into measurable outcomes, creating jobs, building local capability and supporting long-term environmental resilience across island communities.

Abyss Vanuatu Ocean Institute (AVOI) delivers integrated, science-led services focused on marine restoration, climate resilience and sustainable environmental management. Its core services include the design and deployment of Reef Ball artificial reef systems and managed vessel reefs to restore degraded marine habitats, enhance biodiversity and support fisheries recovery. AVOI also provides drone-enabled monitoring and survey services, using autonomous and manned systems to track climate impacts, support conservation planning and improve data-driven decision-making across marine and coastal environments.

A central component is the development of the Vanuatu Ocean Rangers program, which builds local workforce capability in restoration, monitoring, conservation and environmental stewardship. AVOI also supports Marine Protected Area (MPA) design, ecological baseline assessments and long-term monitoring frameworks aligned with national ocean policy objectives.

Through community engagement, eco-tourism integration and applied innovation, AVOI connects environmental protection with economic opportunity. Its Havannah Harbour pilot serves as a scalable model to deliver practical climate adaptation, strengthen ecosystem resilience and enable coordinated, whole-of-government environmental outcomes across Vanuatu.

The Innovation

One of AVOI’s key innovations is the integration of the Vanuatu Ocean Ranger program with locally delivered marine restoration systems, including Reef Ball fabrication and deployment. This model combines workforce development, community engagement and practical restoration into a single, scalable framework designed for island environments.

Through structured Vanuatu Ocean Ranger Camps, over a 3 day period AVOI identifies and trains local Ni-Vanuatu participants in marine conservation, Scientific diving, restoration techniques, monitoring and stewardship. One aspect of the Rangers responsibilities is to support the fabrication and deployment of Reef Ball artificial reef systems using locally sourced materials and regional supply chains, significantly reducing costs and increasing local ownership. The approach enables degraded reef systems to be restored while simultaneously building in-country capability and employment pathways, guided by our National AVOI Play Book at its core.

This innovation directly addresses climate change by strengthening reef resilience, supporting fisheries recovery and enhancing coastal protection against storm surge and extreme weather events. It also improves ecosystem health, which is critical for food security and long-term adaptation in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs).

What makes this model particularly relevant for PICTs is its practicality and scalability. It does not rely on high-cost external inputs but instead builds local capacity, integrates customary stewardship and aligns with government policy frameworks. The system can be replicated across islands using a consistent training, deployment and governance approach.

Supported by drone-enabled monitoring and AI self learning data collection, AVOI’s model provides a cost-effective, community-led solution that connects restoration, climate resilience and sustainable economic opportunity in a way that is both locally grounded and nationally scalable.

How is this solution innovative?

AVOI’s solution is innovative because it integrates community workforce development, marine restoration and applied technology into a single, scalable delivery model tailored for island environments. Rather than treating conservation, employment and climate adaptation as separate challenges, AVOI combines them through the Vanuatu Ocean Ranger program and locally delivered Reef Ball restoration systems. This creates a practical pathway where communities are directly trained and employed to restore and monitor their own marine ecosystems. The model also incorporates drone-enabled monitoring and emerging AI-supported survey systems to improve data collection, ecological tracking and rapid response capability, including in remote and disaster-affected areas. This blend of low-cost, locally sourced restoration methods with advanced monitoring technology allows for both accessibility and scientific rigour. What makes the approach particularly innovative is its focus on scalability and replication. By developing a standardised training, deployment and governance framework, AVOI provides a repeatable model based on a National AVOI Play book that can be adapted across Pacific Island Countries, helping translate policy into measurable, community-led climate and environmental outcomes.

How can the innovation be replicated and scaled up in other PICTs

AVOI’s model is designed for replication across Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) through a structured, partnership-driven and capacity-focused approach. Following an initial two-year proof-of-concept in Vanuatu, AVOI will develop a refined National PICT Playbook outlining standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safe work method statements (SWMS), delivered in both English and Bislama, with visual and pictorial elements to ensure accessibility across diverse communities.

Scaling will be enabled through institutional partnerships with government agencies, regional bodies, scientific partners such as UTS, and local stakeholders, supported by blended financing models including public-private partnerships, eco-tourism revenue streams and conservation funding.

A key component is the development of a simplified, citizen science-based survey framework focused on key indicator species. This approach lowers technical barriers, enabling participation from communities with varying levels of formal education while strengthening data collection and stewardship.

By combining local workforce training, accessible science, and standardised systems, AVOI creates a practical, low-cost model that can be adapted regionally, empowering communities while supporting climate resilience, biodiversity restoration and sustainable economic development across PICTs.

Is your solution cost‑effective and affordable in the context of Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs)?

AVOI’s solution is designed to be highly cost-effective and affordable for communities, local governments and small operators across PICTs. A core principle of the model is the use of locally available materials, including aggregates from regional quarries and, where appropriate, surplus or repurposed government materials. This significantly reduces construction and deployment costs for Reef Ball systems and associated infrastructure.

From an end-user perspective, the model lowers financial barriers by building local capability through the Vanuatu Ocean Ranger Camp Initiative and subsequent program, reducing reliance on external expertise and enabling communities to deliver and maintain restoration activities themselves. The integration of eco-tourism also creates revenue-generating opportunities that can help offset ongoing costs.

Affordability is further strengthened through the development of a streamlined cross-departmental approval pathway within the AVOI Playbook. By providing clear guidance on site selection, environmental considerations and standardised processes, local governments can reduce delays, duplication and administrative costs, enabling more efficient project delivery at scale.

Together, these elements create a low-cost, accessible and sustainable model that is practical for widespread adoption across PICTs.

Where is this being piloted?

AVOI’s solution is being piloted in Vanuatu, with Havannah Harbour (North-West Efate) identified as the primary proof-of-concept site, supported by a permanent operational and training hub at Lot 149, Lapita Estate. While over 1,000,000 Reef Balls have been deployed globally across more than 80 countries, this will be the first integrated deployment of this system in Vanuatu. The pilot combines initial baseline surveys across 12 regions using Reef Life Survey (RLS Methodology) prior to any deployments. Once 6 of the sites are selected for deployment we will deploy 50m x 10m of Reef Ball habitat restoration—designed as a 500+ year solution—, allowing us to. Continue to conduct 6 monthly replicated surveys in exactly the same 50m transects to demonstrate recruitment changes providing proof of concept. Together with the Vanuatu Ocean Ranger program, which trains and employs local Ni-Vanuatu to deliver restoration, monitoring and stewardship, supported by drone-enabled surveying, community engagement and eco-tourism integration. The approach is intentionally holistic, linking marine restoration, climate resilience, workforce development, local supply chains and government coordination into a single, place-based model. The Havannah Harbour pilot will be used to refine systems, demonstrate measurable outcomes and establish a scalable framework for national and regional replication across PICTs, through the development of our AVOI National Playbook, helping guide replication across all our satellite sites. Initial training will be conducted through AVOI Headquarters in Havannah Harbour, with Ranger selection conducted through a multi-day conservation camp where participant will all leave with new knowledge and appreciation for the terrestrial and marine environment, and Ocean Rangers selected for employment within the AVOI team at the conclusion of the camps.