Dialogue ends with clear message for SIG & partners to work together on targetted goals

Solomon Islands’ development partners sat together in a six hours marathon of dialogue on Wednesday in Honiara with SIG presenting a development plan that it wants its partners to help deliver on.

The dialogue brought together the key players, both bilateral and in the multilateral front.

At the close of the dialogue on Wednesday evening at the Heritage Park Hotel, the permanent secretary of Development Planning Dr Melchior Mataki underscored the importance of SIG and its development partners working together to achieve the goals captured in the government’s development aspirations.

In the dialogue, it was clearly stated that Solomon Islands has missed a lot of its development targets in the National Development Strategy (NDS). Some by a huge margin.

It was obvious that Dr. Mataki was basically reiterating what the Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele, stated when he opened the forum.

He stated that: “I call on all of us to work together with respect and in the true spirit of genuine and durable partnerships to help my government deliver on National Development Priorities and Sustainable Development Goals.”

Manele further underscored that the Round Table was part of his government’s 100 days program which the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination has been mandated to carry out.

He said the dialogue was in line with Solomon Islands Aid Management and Development Cooperation Policy 2016 and the principles underpinning.

The PM also added that it was also in line with the principles underpinning the ‘Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action – or SAMOA Pathway’ adopted at the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States in September 2014 in Apia, Samoa – that highlighted the critical importance of ‘genuine and durable partnerships’ for small islands developing states.

He stressed that the expected outcomes of this dialogue were:

1. a)  Reaffirm the strong commitment of Development Partners to support the implementation of the Solomon Islands Government’s priorities.

2. b)  Strengthen mutual understanding, collaboration, and durable partnerships for development of Solomon Islands between the Solomon Islands Government and its Development Partners.

The government also highlighted its key projects for all the nine provinces including Honiara. They range from roads, bridges to airports, hospitals, schools and many others amounting to millions of dollars.

Explaining the pipeline projects, the government says the pipeline projects have been selected and prioritized through an assessment on how well they will contribute to the NDS.

The Solomon Islands National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-2035 as is the overarching development plan that guides the development aspirations of the country. The National Development Strategy 2015-2035 has five objectives:

– Sustained and inclusive economic growth
– Poverty alleviation, addressing basic needs and inclusive  development

-Access to quality health and education

-Resilient and environmentally sustained development in the  areas of disaster risk, response and recovery.

-And unified nation with stable and effective governance and public order.

Minister of Develppment Planning Rex Ramofafia revealed that the NDS is currently under review and the review report is being finalised.

However, he stated that the initial findings show uneven higher- level progress against the NDS objectives for the past eight plus years which is 2016 to date.

Ramofafia cited NDS 5 as an example of a drawback saying despite efforts to improve governance and institutional performance, substantial progress is still needed to strengthen public administration.

“Corruption remains high with the country ranking as 107th out of 180 countries. In terms of security, apart from strategies developed that would enhance security challenges there is also support from our development partners to enhance national capacities,” he said.

Donor partners have also spoken during the roundtable highlighting the work they current do and their plans for the future.

They too underscored the need to work in partnership with the government to achieve those goals.