The Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) and United Nations (UN) Agencies operating in Solomon Islands have convened a two days Country Implementation Plan (CIP) Technical Stakeholder Validation Workshop with a call to deliver tangible results.
The workshop is set to review the progress in terms of achieving the goals set in the CIP 2023-2024 and at the same time review the proposed activities for the CIP 2025-2027 for Solomon Islands National Development Strategy (NDS).
Speaking at the workshop opening yesterday, Secretary to the Prime Minister and Supervising Permanent Secretary to MNDPC, Dr. Melchior Mataki highlighted the need for proper alignment and implementation of resources to achieve the goals set in the Solomon Islands National Development Strategy (NDS).
Dr. Mataki highlighted that the Solomon Islands development assistance report for 2016-2021 noted that of the SBD$13.6 billion expended on development programs, SIG accounted for 35% ($4.8 billion) and development partners provided 65% ($8.8 billion).
He noted that the NDS Mid-Term Review Report showed the need for proper alignment with respect to the set objectives with mixed progress.
“In short, we did not fare well in the first 10 years of the NDS,” he said.
“We need to have such a validation workshop to ensure not only alignment but also tangible outcomes that addresses our national development priorities and needs in the way we see and need them to be actioned,” he added.
Dr. Mataki said the framework to align the CIP is the NDS and the CIP must show what, where, how and how much is invested to address the NDS Objectives and medium-term strategies associated with each of the 5 NDS objectives.
This means the CIP must be tailored toward the Solomon Islands needs instead of tailoring those needs to UN SD Cooperation Framework.
Dr. Mataki also highlighted the need to ensure completeness that covers everything that the UN does in the Solomon Islands and not just what is being implemented by UN agencies in the region and Solomon Islands.
The workshop concludes on Tuesday, June 3.
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