First Advisory Council meeting: MCC-Solomon Islands Threshold Program

Members of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Solomon Islands Threshold Program (SITHP)Advisory Council held their inaugural meeting in Honiara yesterday, Wednesday 7 February 2024 to discuss progress of the two projects components under the MCC-SITHP.

The Advisory Council is the Solomon Islands Government’s oversight body of the SITHP and is comprised of senior representatives from Solomon Islands Government agencies. The MCC, through its Resident Threshold Director Charles Jakosa, serves as a non-voting observer of the Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council provides advice and makes recommendations related to SITHP implementation and adherence to the MCC-SIG Grant Agreement.

Caretaker-Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination, Rexon Ramofafia, opened the meeting and welcomed members to the Council.

In his opening remarks, Caretaker Minister Ramofafia said, “the Advisory Council plays a very important role in the governance of the Solomon Islands MCC Threshold programme and in ensuring that the programme meets its development objectives”.

“I extend appreciation to the Government and people of the United States of America through the MCC for the Threshold Grant Programme in Solomon Islands and for the Partnership that has been fostered, and which we continue to embody through the implementation of this important initiative,” Caretaker Minister Ramofafia said.

Attending today were Permanent Secretary Ministry of National Planning & Development Coordination, Susan Sulu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Bunyan Sivoro,

and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Climate, Disasters, and Meteorology Dr. Melchior Mataki.

Members participated in discussions on the progress of the two projects under the SITHP – the Accessing Land for Tourism Investment Facilitation (ALTIF) and Forest Value Enhancement Project (FoVEP).

Governance provisions under the Grant Agreement between MCC and the Solomon Islands Government allow for the inclusion of two non-government sector representatives, who are also appointed by the Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination.

The new appointees are Ms. Jennifer Wate, Chairperson of Solomon Islands Development Services Exchange, and the Chief Executive Officer for Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industries, a position which will soon be filled.

Membership in the Advisory Council includes the following representatives:

• Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC);

• Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT)

• Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS);

• Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology (MECDM);

• Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour, and Immigration (MCILI);

• Ministry of Forest and Research (MFOR);

• Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCF); and

• Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs (MJLA)

• Two representatives of non-government organizations duly nominated by the Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination who is the signatory to the MCC-SIG Threshold Program Agreement.

The Grant Agreement between MCC and Solomon Islands Government and the second edition of the SITHP Niusleta are both publicly available at sithp.com.sb