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HONIARA, 31 MAY 2023 – Oxfam in the Pacific have successfully conducted consultations with
provincial government representatives of Central Islands, Malaita and Temotu, to make way for
Oxfam’s second phase of the Australian-funded AHP Disaster READY program.
Oxfam’s Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) team met with provincial leaders over the past
two months, with aims to strengthen the organisation’s relationship with provincial authorities and
explore opportunities to collaborate.
The AHP Disaster READY Project 2.0 is a five-year long Australian-led initiative that aims to help local
communities to prepare and respond to disaster situations.
Oxfam works with selected communities across four provinces in the second phase of the program,
in Malaita, Temotu, Guadalcanal and Central Islands.
The Disaster READY Project 2.0 is part of a wider disaster risk reduction program by the Australian
Government that involves projects set up across Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, PNG and Timor
Leste. The program is delivered through a multi-partnership approach funded by the Australian
government and led by Save The Children, Plan International, Live and Learn, Caritas/CAN DO, World
Vision and Oxfam.
“Oxfam’s delivery of Disaster READY in the Solomon Islands covers selected communities [by the
National Disaster Management Office] in four provinces for this second phase,” explains Oxfam’s AHP
Project Manager for Solomon Islands, Jamal Namo during an induction in Auki.
The second phase of the project is built on learnings from the first five years of implementation in
Guadalcanal, Malaita and Temotu between 2017 – 2022.
“We are returning with a similar approach to strengthen and build on what we have established. We
have also identified key learnings that we have taken onboard for the next phase, such as
strengthening local humanitarian leadership and partnership, harmonized tools, and approaches, the
CBDRM and DRM [Disaster Risk Management], and cooperation with national disaster stakeholders
on cash and voucher systems.
“And of course, to explore more ways we can involve the local provincial governing authorities.”
Jamal says the second phase of the project will extend its reach to a fourth province in Central
Islands, specifically at the volcano vulnerable Savo Island.
“Preparedness to disaster ensures we save lives, respond effectively and save money. Oxfam would
like to contribute to building a safe and disaster-ready community in the smallest way possible.”
To kick off the AHP Disaster READY Project 2.0, the project team had conducted baseline surveys and
CBDRM (Community-based Disaster Risk Management) trainings at six communities on Savo Island,
two communities along the weather coast of East Guadalcanal, two communities in the Langa Langa
Lagoon in Malaita, and two communities in Santa Cruz, Temotu. These communities will undergo a
series of trainings and activities over the remaining four years.
Oxfam’s Country Coordinator for Solomon Islands, Lavinia Dakei, says the organisation is pleased to
be now working very closely with provincial governments in the delivery of its programs.
“We are currently working toward renewed partnership agreements that will further strengthen the
relationship between Oxfam and the provincial governments that we work in. This will help us to see
how we can work together to get the best of our program’s implementation.”
Oxfam’s key partners in the project are the National Disaster Management Office, Solomon Islands
Meteorological Services, Kastom Gaden Association, and People with Disability Solomon Islands.
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