From the High Commissioner’s Desk – Rod Hilton

Australia funds 50 new community projects across Solomon Islands

Uriaupo village members happily receiving building materials paid for by Australia to build their new community hall in South Vella La Vella.

The Malaita Christian Care Centre outside Auki, can now take better care of survivors and victims of domestic violence because of security upgrades and refurbishments, funded by Australia.

The new toilet block at Betikama Adventist College, Northwest Guadalcanal

With most of Solomon Islands’ population living in rural areas, I know how important it is for communities to have quality infrastructure that improves livelihoods. Solomon Islands – Australia Community Partnerships touch the lives of people in every province in Solomon Islands. That is why Australia has increased our community program fivefold since 2023, meaning we are funding more projects in Solomon Islands than ever before.

Australia funded a record 100 community projects in 2024 across every province of Solomon Islands. This month I approved 50 more projects across Solomon Islands, with more to come this year.

These 50 new projects represent more than SBD 11 million in direct funding to Solomon Islands businesses for building materials and transportation services. Australia chooses Solomon Islands’ businesses to supply these projects, because it creates local jobs, and that means more benefits for Solomon Islands’ families.

These projects are delivered in partnership with communities across Solomon Islands, which construct the small-scale community infrastructure projects with a proud sense of ownership, knowing the positive impact the projects have on their communities. There are now hundreds of communities across Solomon Islands that are a part of the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership.

State Ridge Solar Streetlights — Australia is proud to deliver projects in partnership with communities, such as the new solar-powered
streetlights at State Ridge, Central Honiara.

We’ve also had a record number of Members of Parliament working with us to deliver these projects. Forty-one of the projects this round will be delivered in partnership with Members of Parliament, who recognise the importance of working with their constituencies. Overall, this means that there are now Community Partnerships projects in every constituency in Solomon Islands.

I greatly enjoyed celebrating with these MPs at our Awards Night for new Project Coordinators this week, where we acknowledged their important contribution to their constituencies’ development. Solomon Islands – Australia Community Partnerships are designed to improve the living standards of people across Solomon Islands. In this round, for example, there are water access and WASH projects in Central Kwara’ae, East Makira, North Malaita, Temotu Nende, West Kwaio, Ranonga/Simbo, Central Guadalcanal, South Choiseul and South Guadalcanal Constituencies. We’re also funding general renovation upgrades to a rural health clinic in Gao/Bugotu.

GS Faisi TVET School (1) — Upgrades and refurbishments at the GS Faisi TVET School mean they now have more space
for students learning trades in East Honiara.

I’ve loved visiting community halls across Solomon Islands – they’re a key part of building community cohesion and providing a place for people to gather. That’s why Australia has approved funding in this round for community halls in East Are’Are, Rennell and Bellona, West New Georgia/Vona Vona, South Choiseul, East Central Guadalcanal, Hograno/Kia/Havulei and Maringe/Kokota Constituencies. Australia is also funding community footpaths in Aoke/Langalanga and West Are’Are, and a small community market house in Shortland Islands.

Australia is investing in education infrastructure through this round of Community Partnerships, with school fences in Temotu Nende, North Guadalcanal and East Honiara; staff houses in Malaita Outer Islands, South Choiseul, Northwest Guadalcanal and West Makira; school halls in North
Malaita, West Kwaio, North Guadalcanal and Hograno/Kia/Havulei; a dormitory in Hograno/Kia/Havulei; and classrooms in East Central Guadalcanal, Fataleka, Malaita Outer Islands.

Sobiro clinic - 7000 watts of panels on roof — Sobiro Clinic, on Gatokae in Marovo Constituency, now has access to reliable
electricity thanks to solar power funded by Australia.

I know electricity is still a challenge for many parts of Solomon Islands, making it hard for health clinics to help sick people, for schools to teach students, or communities to feel safe at night.

In this round I’ve approved solar powered street lighting projects in East Are’Are, West Are’Are, Temotu Pele, Gizo/ Kolombangara, North New Georgia, Northeast Guadalcanal, Central Honiara, Maringe/Kokota, West Honiara, and East Honiara Constituencies.

In addition, three schools in Aoke/Langalanga, Lau/Baelelea, a clinic in Gao/Bugotu, and a church in Gizo/Kolombangara will have solar powered electricity installed for the first time thanks to funding this round.

I’ve listened as Solomon Islands’ communities and Members of Parliament tell me how important it is for communities across the country to have infrastructure to improve livelihoods. I am looking forward to visiting new and existing projects this year and seeing the impact of the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership.

Lukim yu neks taem!