New Zealand is providing US$2.25 million to help develop the Vanuatu Electoral Office and the Electoral Commission.
The announcement was made through the United Nations Development Programme's Vanuatu Electoral Environment Project which is working to improve civic education and voter awareness, to build the capacity of the electoral authorities and to enhance the voter registry.
New Zealand's high commissioner to Vanuatu, Jonathan Schwass, said the project will also help the Vanuatu government advance its Political Parties Bill, which is intended to increase political stability.
The UNDP Pacific director, Bakhodir Burkhanov, said the electoral project is also helping Vanuatu make progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
He said SDG 16 stressed the need to build "accountable and inclusive institutions and ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making".