DONORS have invested more money in implementing Solomon Islands National Development Strategy.
The National Development Strategy 2015-2035 has five objectives:
- Sustained and inclusive economic growth
- Poverty alleviation, addressing basic needs and inclusive development
- Access to quality health and education
- Resilient and environmentally sustained development in the areas of disaster risk, response and recovery.
- And unified nation with stable and effective governance and public order.
Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination, Rexon Annex Ramofafia confirmed this during the National Economic Summit held at the Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel yesterday.
Minister Ramofafia said from 2016 to 2021, around SBD 13.604 billion has been committed to fund development programmes in the country.
He said almost 65 percent of the total development-funding package comes from our multilateral and bilateral development partners whilst the Solomon Islands Government accounted for the remaining 35 percent.
•Of the SBD 13.604 billion, the largest portion of it, which is around 54 percent, or SBD 7.362 billion has been utilized on programmes and projects linked to Objective one of the NDS. These are programmes and projects that promote a sustainable and inclusive economic for the country.
•Governance, peace building/policing and rural development related programmes and projects targeting Objective five, accounted for around 31 percent or SBD 4.193 billion.
•Health and education related programmes and projects linked to objective three accounted for around SBD 1.2 billion or 9 percent.
• Roughly, SBD.579 million are spent on programmes and projects targeting Objective two, which aimed at poverty alleviation and improved food security. This is around 4 percent of the total package.
• Environmental, climate change and disaster risk resilience programmes and projects accounted for the final 2 percent that is around SBD 236 million.
Minister Ramofafia said our development partners and other stakeholders have supported us make progress against the five National Development Strategy objectives.
“However, progress is uneven and remain untenable against most objectives and their medium-term strategies.
“Evidently, our country’s development efforts are heavily dependent on our Development Partners. In this connection, I acknowledge our development partners and asks for your cooperation to ensure that your support to us is focussed on our needs and priorities first and foremost,” he said.
The purpose of the National Economic Summit is to bring together key private sector players, State- Owned Enterprises, and Development partners to dialogue with the Solomon Islands Government on Driving Economic Growth in Solomon Islands.
The outcome of the summit will produce a clear policy direction to help the Government implement measures and to prioritize resources over the short- to-medium term to achieve higher rates of sustainable growth in the post-pandemic recovery.
The Summit ends today.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Solomon Star, Honiara
