Country Programs - Solomon Islands

PLP has been building relationships in the Solomon Islands since September 2008. This process has been guided by our Advisory Panel member, Mrs Joy Kere, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, and colleagues at AusAID Post. Partnerships are currently in place with the Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT), the Solomon Islands YWCA and the Anglican Church of Melanesia’s ‘Inclusive Communities’ Program (ACoM ICP). We are now looking to expand our engagement in Solomon Islands to include private sector and youth organisations, to complement existing relationships in other countries, and at regional level.

In addition to establishing strong working relationships with our partners, the Solomon Islands program has also seen new, supportive networks developing between (and beyond) partners. Two Communities of Practice – one for finance staff of NGOs, and another for women managers of indigenous NGOs – have been established, sparked by training and learning opportunities organised by PLP. Although initiated by PLP partners, these Communities of Practice also include staff from non-partner organisations and provide an important site for knowledge and information sharing, informal mentoring, and skills development.

Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT)

SIDT is the Solomon Islands’ longest running indigenous non-government organisation. Since its inception in 1982, SIDT has been one of the primary proponents of community-level development in the Solomon Islands. SIDT works with villages across the Solomon Islands to promote community empowerment in the areas of governance, education, health, environment, natural resource management, and disaster risk management.

SIDT recognises strength and ability at the village level, and builds on these through a network of Community Development Workers (CDW). Using participatory approaches, CDWs assist villages to formulate Village Action Plans and encourage village led initiatives which encourage self-reliance and provide opportunities where villagers can improve their village living.

PLP first began discussions with SIDT in early December 2008. PLP recognised that SIDT played an important role not only in supporting community-level development in Solomon Islands, but in fostering a strong sense of empowerment, active citizenship, and self reliance in the communities in which it worked. PLP also recognised SIDT – the Solomon Islands’ oldest (and one of its largest) indigenous NGO – as a strong, credible organisation which played an important leadership, advocacy and referral role for community members and other civil society organisations in Solomon Islands. We also recognised SIDT’s Executive Coordinator, Jennifer Wate, as a prominent leader and role model for Solomon Islands women and other leaders in the NGO sector.

SIDT recognised that PLP represented an opportunity for a local, indigenous NGO to access genuine and cooperative support for its work in the Solomon Islands. SIDT had emerged from a transition phase following the retirement of both its founder and long term Director, and were seeking support to stabilise the organisation and create space to grow. SIDT also felt that working together with PLP would encourage other local, indigenous NGOs to embrace a partnership approach to development and leadership building in the Pacific.
PLP provides a diverse range of support to SIDT, which is reviewed on a regular basis. Currently this includes assistance and advice on strengthening SIDT’s internal leadership and management capabilities, assistance with sustainability planning, support for leadership and other village based activities identified in SIDT’s strategic plan, some core funding and salary support, and funding for other initiatives, such as the Youth Drama program, community radio outreach program, and SIDT’s archives and NGO resource centre. We have recently assisted Jennifer Wate to establish a Community of Practice for women leaders of indigenous NGOS, which meets regularly to share knowledge and information.

Solomon Islands Young Women’s Christian Association (SI YWCA)

YWCA Solomon Islands is a non-government, women's membership organisation that is affiliated with the global YWCA movement. The YWCA encourages young Solomon Islands women to fulfill their potential as leaders through delivering relevant programs and activities in areas such as leadership, sexual and reproductive health, livelihood skills and financial management. The YWCA also provides safe, affordable accommodation to young women and quality early childhood learning through kindergarten for children aged 3 to 6 years.

PLP commenced discussions with the YWCA in early October 2008, on the recommendation of the Solomon Islands Advisory Panel member, Mrs Joy Kere. A relationship was developed between the two organisations over a period of more than twelve months. During this period PLP provided advice to the YWCA on its financial and administrative systems, and funded a short term adviser to work on a range of management and planning initiatives. A formal partnership agreement was signed by SI YWCA and PLP in December 2009.

PLP recognised that YWCA was the only local organisation in Solomon Islands that was working in the area of leadership development for young women. This was identified in early stakeholder consultations as an important area of work that should be supported and expanded. PLP also recognised that the YWCA was an established, credible organisation with a wide support base both in Solomon Islands and abroad. The YWCA recognised that a partnership with PLP represented an opportunity for them to negotiate a holistic package of funding, technical assistance and other support to help them achieve their mission and objectives.

Today, YWCA and PLP enjoy a close and productive working relationship. With PLP support, they have undertaken a range of initiatives including strategic planning, Board governance training, and the development and of Rise Up!, a young women’s leadership program. PLP provides a mix of core and program funding to help SI YWCA not only deliver services and programs to young women, but to strengthen its management capacity and longer term financial sustainability.