Aid to Solomon Islands

• Introduction
• Government sources
• RAMSI
• Australia
• NGO activities
• Commentary and Analysis

Introduction

Australia has a major bilateral aid programme to Solomon Islands, and also provides development assistance through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

There have recently been attempts to clarify the role of Australian development personnel working through the Australian High Commission, and Australian personnel seconded to positions through RAMSI - key positions in RAMSI such as the Special Co-ordinator are reserved for Australians and there has been concern over the predominance of Australian technical assistance in a regional initiative (152 of 173 civilian advisors were Australian in mid-2006, with only five Pacific islanders in civilian roles).

There has also been extensive debate over the priority given to security activities and strengthening the machinery of government in the capital Honiara, in comparison to broader programs focussing on community development and rural livelihoods.

Government sources

RAMSI

RAMSI and Australian Bilateral Aid to be Further Separated, Qila Tuhanuku, RAMSI Media release, 19 June 2007

"The management of Australia’s aid to Solomon Islands is to be further separated between RAMSI and the Australian High Commission. Following a decision to separate the responsibilities of the RAMSI Development Coordinator and the head of AusAID in Solomon Islands, the Australian Government’s overseas aid agency is upgrading its bilateral aid representation at the Australian High Commission. Under the new arrangements RAMSI’s civilian programs will remain the responsibility of the RAMSI Development Coordinator while a new AusAID post at the Australian High Commission will be responsible for managing Australia’s bilateral aid program to Solomon Islands.

"Mr Exell said the move was partly in response to concerns expressed by the Solomon Islands Government that the demarcation between Australia’s assistance to the Regional Assistance Mission and its bilateral aid program in Solomon Islands was not obvious or clear enough."

Australia

Country Program Solomon Islands, AusAid

Detailed official account of Australian current aid to Solomon Islands. 

Aid activities in Solomon Islands, AusAID

Outlines allocations of development assistance for law and justice; economy and governance; machinery of government; education and training; community development; agriculture and rural livelihoods; peacebuilding and natural resources.

NGO activities

Australian NGOs supporting projects & operations in Solomon Islands, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)

List of Australian NGOs and their programs in Solomon Islands

ACFID members' work in Solomon Islands, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)

Links to NGO reports and analysis of aid programs

Commentary and Analysis

Solomon Islands Transitional Country Strategy, mid-2006-2007, AusAID

Following the April 2006 riots in Honiara, AusAID revised its development priorities in Solomon Islands, and this transitional strategy outlines the new focus.

Bridging the gap between state and society - new directions for Solomon Islands, Oxfam Australia and Oxfam New Zealand, July 2006

"This report documents a widespread feeling that ordinary Solomon Islanders are excluded from government processes and decision-making, pointing to a lack of linkages and engagement between government and citizens. Whilst many Solomon Islanders have welcomed RAMSI’s role in ending the conflict of the late 1990s, the assertion that the public is both informed about and supportive of all aspects of the intervention needs to be qualified. ’s resources, especially for the bulk of the population who live in rural areas and outer islands. There are also new pressures on government, as citizens express their concern over elite corruption."

See also:

Australian governent policy on Solomon Islands