December 2022 - You are accessing an archived version of our website. This website is no longer maintained or updated. The Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform has been migrated here: https://sdgs.un.org/
December 2022 - You are accessing an archived version of our website. This website is no longer maintained or updated. The Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform has been migrated here: https://sdgs.un.org/
Solomon Islands Voluntary National Review 2020
Key Messages
The National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016 – 2035 is the blueprint for sustainable development in Solomon Islands. It sets out the vision and priorities for advancing human and economic development, ensuring peace and security and the protection of the natural environment. Relevant elements of the 2030 Development Agenda, the SAMOA Pathway, the Istanbul Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries and other relevant international and regional frameworks have been integrated into the NDS, through the five long-term objectives of: inclusive economic growth; poverty reduction; access to quality health and education; resilient and environmentally sustainable development; and effective governance. The NDS 2016-2035 sets the targets and benchmarks for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) at the national level.
The NDS preparations, and localisation of the SDG’s, have been a consultative and inclusive effort. Similarly, the VNR process captures broad stakeholder views, facilitated through a dedicated national Coordinating Committee. The VNR provides an opportunity to share Solomon Island’s national development priorities and related SDG implementation progress.
The Solomon Islands is the third largest archipelago in the South Pacific, comprising a total of 997 islands spread over an exclusive economic zone of 1,340,000km2. The population is 639,157 and predominantly rural. There is also a very large informal sector. The level of biodiversity in the Solomon Islands is globally recognised. While such complexity and diversity provide opportunities, they also pose significant challenges in our efforts to achieve the SDGs.
Implementing the 2030 Development Agenda and the SDG’s
Solomon Islands has promoted economic growth through investments in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism and mining sectors. The Government, with development partners, has provided technical and financial support to programmes aimed at achieving sustained growth and employment.
Ensuring access to basic education and improving the quality of education remain important priorities for Solomon Islands. The Government has implemented free education, and other targeted policy measures which have increased primary and secondary school enrolment rates, and improved gender parity with more girls starting, and remaining, in school. Solomon Islands continues to maintain high levels of proficiency in literacy and numeracy, scoring higher than the regional proficiency levels for years four and six.
Solomon Islands has made impressive gains in health outcomes over the last two decades and is progressing towards achieving universal health coverage. Current priorities include: detection and treatment of non-communicable diseases; addressing shortages of health workers; and increasing the availability of treatment facilities across all health centres. While there is no discrimination in access to basic health care, disparities remain, largely owing to population spread over a difficult terrain. The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the threat of infectious diseases, given limited containment capacity and adverse impact. Solomon Islanders remain vulnerable to health risks due to natural disasters, as well as, malaria, tuberculosis, dengue fever and measles outbreaks.
Human rights, gender issues, peace building and security concerns remain policy priorities, which are being addressed. Reducing domestic violence remains a challenge, and mechanisms have been established to help affected women and children. Employment opportunities for women in senior management roles have improved, although more progress is needed.
Solomon Islands remains vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. Policy frameworks such as the National Climate Change Policy, Nationally Determined Contributions and the National Disaster Management Plan underpin measures currently in place. The effective implementation of adaptation and mitigation measures is dependent on timely availability of financial and technical resources.
Principles of good governance and transparency remain important national priorities. The Government has recently passed the Whistle-blowers Act, Anti-Corruption Act and has established an Independent Anti-Corruption Commission. Ongoing good governance programmes at national, provincial and community levels aim to empower civil society, address corruption and strengthen the judicial system and law enforcement capacity.
Moving Ahead
A major challenge in achieving the SDG’s lies in institutional capacity and effectiveness to manage the rapidly changing development context, including through population growth, socio-cultural and environmental change and global economic systems. A deeper integration of legislation, policies, plans, budgets and activities for transformative change is necessary. Underpinning a sustainable pathway for Solomon Islands requires unlocking the needed means of implementation, and ensuring durable and genuine partnerships to enable the full and effective implementation of the SDG’s.
| Report | Topics covered | Process |
 Solomon Islands - National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaption
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The partnership seeks to establish a culturally relevant and comprehensive set of indicators for use in tracking progress towards achieving sustainable development goals in Melanesia, as well as for use in appropriate policy development at national and sub-regional level.
1. Replace current use of imported fossil fuel for electricity generation by 100% by Year 2030; 2. Increase access to reliable, affordable and stable electricity grid by 50% from the current 12% by Year 2030; 3. Reduce the price of electricity by half the present tariff rate by 2020; 4. Increase access to Solar-Home-Systems by remote rural dwellers located far from electricity grid from current 8.7% to 30% by Year 2020.
This partnership fosters to strengthen/ sustain the resilience of the Lauru people to impacts from current and emerging threats of climate change, environmental degradation and natural disasters. All activities already undertaken and planned are consistent with international, national and provincial commitments and planning policies. These include: Solomon Islands National Development Strategy (NDS); Solomon Islands National Climate Change Policy; National Disaster Risk Management Plan; Solomon Islands National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP); Choiseul Province Medium Term Deve...[more]
The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is a multilateral partnership of six countries working together to sustain extraordinary marine and coastal resources by addressing crucial issues such as food security, climate change and marine biodiversity.There is broad scientific consensus that the Coral Triangle represents a global epicenter of marine life abundance and diversity. Spanning only 1.6% of the planet’s oceans, the Coral Triangle region is home to is home to the highest coral diversity in the world with 600 corals or 76% of the world’s kn...[more]
The Pacific is home to one third of the 52 Small Island Developing States in the world. With the exception of PNG, the rest of the Pacific SIDS are constrained by small administrations and limited economies of scale. Despite universal support for the MDGs, MSI and the high per capita ODA in the Pacific, the region is off track in achieving most of the MDGs by 2015 . Recognising this, the Pacific Isalands Forum Leaders in 2009 agreed to the (Cairns) Forum Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination. The Compact comprises various initiatives including: i) annual Millennium Development G...[more]
Tuna is a highly migratory resource and is found in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of all Pacific Islands states. However, the abundance and distribution of the various tuna species is not shared equally amongst the Pacific Islands. The major species of tuna are skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), albacore (Thunnus alalunga) and big eye (Thunnus obsesus). These 4 tuna species are mainly in the equatorial waters of Solomon Islands, Palau, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu and Tokelau. Solomon Islands rely on these tuna fisheries for ...[more]
The Solomon Islands is a global center for marine diversity. And the ecosystem services of their ocean that deliver benefits to the people is worth more than SBD$2.51 billion per/year. But these valuable services are under threat from multiple and conflicting uses, overuse, destructive uses and pollution. Whilst the Government of the Solomon Islands is doing much to address these threats sectorally, it recognizes a need to work across Ministries, public: private, national government: local communities boundaries. Last year the Cabinet of the Solomon Islands Government approved a way forward ...[more]
The objective of the J-PRISM Partnership is two-fold, firstly to strengthen and develop national waste management systems and human capacity in Pacific SIDS through partnership with Pacific SIDS, SPREP and the Government of Japan; and secondly to promote the regional sharing of knowledge and expertise and encourage the eventual uptake of good waste management practices in Pacific SIDS.Good waste management is a vital component of national sustainable development, since poorly managed waste has negative impacts on areas such as public health, environment, and tourism. By strengthening the syste...[more]
IRENA has developed the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative to support the strategic deployment of renewable energy in SIDS, to bring clarity to policy makers regarding the required steps, and to enable targeted action. As a joint effort of SIDS and development partners, this framework for action will assist in transforming SIDS energy systems through the establishment of the enabling conditions for a renewable energy-based future, by moving away from developing projects in isolation to a holistic approach that considers all relevant elements spanning from policy and market frameworks, through technol...[more]
Many local governments are responsible for sectors that deal with the practicalities of climate change adaptation – investing in and maintaining basic infrastructure, enforcing zoning laws, and managing disaster risk. In many developing countries, local governments lack the fiscal space to invest in ‘climate-proofing’ existing infrastructure or to undertake other forward-looking investments that help build resilience. Most resources come earmarked from central government for recurring expenditures, leaving little for capital investment. LoCAL is the UNCDF facility for investment in local...[more]
Solomon Islands commits to conclude its maritime boundaries and zones and deposit with United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) by 2018. By completing the mapping of its maritime boundaries, Solomon Islands puts itself in an ideal position to secure rights over its ocean space and embark on national process of developing an integrated National Ocean Policy and Marine spatial plan.
In the Pacific islands 70% or 7 million people have no access to electricity. Out of this, 1 million people or 14% will have through the M3P. The partnership aims to bring the miracle of electricity to 1 million people in Melanesia by 2020 that is the equivalent of 14% of the Pacific Islands people who still don’t have access to electricity. Assist to bridge the existing gap on the access to modern energy services between the urban and rural areas in the three participating countries. Access to the national utility grid in these countries is very low compared to other PICs. Access is as low ...[more]
Noumea Communique2nd Oceania 21 ConferenceNoumea, 2 July 20141. The 2nd Oceania 21 Conference (Oceania 21), organised by the New Caledonian Government, with the support of France, and was chaired in turn by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Vanuatu, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu and the President of the Marshall Islands, currently Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum.
The network enables effective knowledge sharing and advocacy on the practical application of Integrated Water Resources Management approaches to address key water resource, catchment and coastal management challenges in Pacific Island Countries
Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting is a summit-level meeting which has been held every three years since 1997. Leaders openly discuss various issues that Pacific Island Countries(PICs) are facing in order to build close cooperative relationships and forge a bond of friendship between Japan and PICs. The 7th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM7) was held in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan, on 22 and 23 May, 2015. At this summit, under the slogan of "We are Islanders - Commitment to the Pacific from Iwaki,
The Partnership will support Pacific SIDS in meeting their obligations to implement and effectively enforce global, regional and sub-regional arrangements for the conservation and management of transboundary oceanic fisheries thereby increasing sustainable benefits derived from these fisheries
The Pacific Mangroves Initiative (PMI) is a partnership-based initiative promoting investment and action for sustainable mangrove futures in the Pacific Islands.
The Pacific Risk Resilience Programme (PRRP) is a large-scale risk governance programme in one of the most vulnerable regions to disasters and climate change in the world. The US$16.1 million Pacific Risk Reduction Programme (PRRP) is being delivered through a partnership between the Australian Government Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and international NGOs Live and Learn Environmental Education (LLEE) and the Mainstreaming of Rural Development Initiative (MORDI). The Programme is helping to build the national and regional ris...[more]
The Pacific Islands Development Forum is partnering with PIDF Member Countries (including Fiji, Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) and Solar Head of State to facilitate the installation of solar energy infrastructure to power residences of heads of state of eleven PIDF member countries and the PIDF Headquarters to promote renewable energy in the Pacific This project will be a symbolic statement of intent by the governments, and also a test project to encourage more future grid-connected solar projects on the...[more]
The goal of the Pacific Islands National Priorities Multi-Focal Area ‘Ridge-to-Reef’ (R2R) program is to maintain and enhance Pacific Island countries’ ecosystem goods and services (provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural) through integrated approaches to land, water, forest, biodiversity and coastal resource management that contribute to poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience. This goal will be achieved through a series of national multi-focal area R2R demonstration projects which will support and address national priorities and development needs whi...[more]
Meteorological training is enhanced in the Southwest Pacific.
Outcome 1: Child Protection Systems (including Justice and Police, child and family social services, health and education and communities) provide improved quality of and access to services for the prevention of and response to violence, abuse and exploitation of children at all times.Outcome 2 Parents, caregivers, and children demonstrate skills, knowledge and behavior enabling children to grow up in caring homes and communities, including schools that are free from violence, abuse and exploitation.
Since the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission in Solomon Islands in 2003, core government functions have been restored and stabilised, institutions have been rebuilt and steady growth has occurred. While good progress has been made, there continues to be a need for ongoing support to develop core systems, processes and capability within the Solomon Islands Inland Revenue Department (SIIRD). Continuing this focus will enable SIIRD to deliver an effective and efficient tax administration system and respond to future tax policy reforms.
The Solomon Islands is a global center for marine diversity. And the ecosystem services of their ocean that deliver benefits to the people is worth more than SBD$2.51 billion per/year. However, these services are under threat from rapid population growth and increased economic development activities. The rapid and increasing growth of industries, urban development and extraction of natural resources has introduced a broader challenge to Solomon Islands from pollution and waste. The Solomon Islands Government has developed a waste management strategy to address waste and pollution control, wi...[more]
The Solomon Islands is a part of the global center for marine diversity. CTI region exemplifies the worlds marine richness, uniqueness and beauty of coastal and marine environment. Communities are the key actors in achieving sustainable management of marine and coastal resources to ensure food security, sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and adaptation to emerging threats (SINPOA 2009). A local framework is developed and tailored to match social and cultural context and enables good practices in developing and implementing appropriate solutions for issues facing coastal c...[more]
To support Ministries of Education and other Institutions to provide quality and comprehensive approaches to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education at primary and secondary school levels.The program will contribute to the development of future Pacific Island leaders who are sensitized to the issues of SRH and gender equality.
