The Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC), Rexon Ramofafia has highlighted the significance of collaborative efforts to drive Solomon Islands’ development forward.
He was speaking during the donor roundtable dialogue held on Wednesday at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara. It was the first of its kind to be organized by any ruling political government.
Minister Annex expressed enthusiasm that the gathering would be a pivotal step towards the effective implementation of the Government’s policy to “ensure well-coordinated donor-assisted development programs” in alignment with the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-2035 and the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) Policy priorities.
The round table meeting was attended by representatives of the country’s donors, including bilateral partners – the People’s Republic of China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Nations Development Program (UNDP), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank.
The theme of the roundtable was ‘Developing Solomon Islands through genuine and durable partnerships,’ and Minister Ramofafia said it underscored the essence of what GNUT is striving to achieve.
Minister Ramofafia emphasized that genuine partnerships are founded on open communication, mutual understanding and shared goals, adding that durability in these partnerships signifies a commitment to the long-term success of Solomon Islands beyond immediate gains.
The roundtable provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss and align their development programs with the national development priorities, setting the stage for ongoing dialogue and coordination.
Minister Ramofafia said the progress of the NDS serves as the country’s primary development plan and outlined its five core objectives and they are about ensuring:
- Sustainability and inclusive economic growth;
- Poverty alleviation and addressing of basic needs;
- Access to quality health and education;
- Resilient and environmentally-sustained development; and
- Unified nation with stable and effective governance.
He explained that the Medium-Term Development Plan, a five-year rolling plan, translates these objectives into actionable programs and projects funded through the SIG Annual Development Budget and guided by development partners.
“From 2016 to 2021, approximately SBD 13.604 billion was spent on development programs, with SIG contributing SBD 4.795 billion (35 percent) and development partners providing SBD 8.809 billion (65 percent). Notably, 43 percent of this support came from multilateral partners, while 57 percent was from bilateral partners,” he added.
Minister Ramofafia acknowledged the significant role of development partners, noting that many projects are funded off-budget, thereby directly influencing the country’s development trajectory.
He provided an overview of the percentage of the allocation of funds across the five NDS core objective areas and they are as follows:
Objective 1 – Economic Growth: 54 percent
Objective 5 – Governance: 31 percent
Objective 3 – Health and Education: 9 percent
Objective 2 – Poverty Reduction: 4 percent
Objective 4 – Disaster Risk Management: 2 percent
Despite considerable expenditures, Minister Ramofafia highlighted mixed progress in achieving the NDS objectives.
He said challenges persist in economic growth and poverty reduction, with notable shortfalls in GDP targets and high poverty rates.
However, the Minister said there have been advancements in policy frameworks, financial inclusion, communication infrastructure and disaster risk management.
“The review of the NDS indicates a need for continued efforts and adjustments to address these challenges.
“I urged stakeholders to reinforce their partnerships and adhere to the principles of the Solomon Islands Aid Management and Development Cooperation Policy,” he added
Looking ahead, Minister Ramofafia called for a focus on increasing economic growth through infrastructure development, improvement of the investment environment for local businesses, reduction of electricity tariffs and usage of general budget support as the preferred national financing modality.
“And so, I want to express gratitude to development partners for their ongoing support and collaboration,” he added.
Minister Ramofafia reaffirmed the commitment of GNUT to work together with development partners towards the successful realization of Solomon Islands development aspirations.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Honiara
