Participants doing their discussion and prepare to present during the presentation.
THE CHIEF OF United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (IUNICEF) (UNICEF) Field Office in Solomon Islands says he‘s pleased with attendance of the Ward Development Committee (WDC) Project Officers who attended a half day Institutional Triggering Training in Western Province.
UNICEF CEO in Solomon Islands, Mr. Ben Grubb highlighted this when he gave his opening remarks during the opening of the Half-day WDC Institutional Triggering Training held at Women’s Resources Centre (WRC) in Gizo on Thursday 13 March 2025.
The Half-Day Ward Development Committee (WDC) Sanitation Institutional Triggering Training was organized by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) through its National Sustainability Sanitation Plan (NSSP) Phase 2 Project, in collaboration with UNICEF.
The training targeted WDC Committee Project Officers from 26 Provincial Wards across Western Province.
Despite the inter-islands transportation challenges, 19 (nineteen) representatives from the wards in Western Province were able to attend, as WDC Project Officers from Shortland Islands and Marovo Wards were not able to attend due to transportation difficulties.
However, one provincial member from Marovo Ward was able to join midway through the training and was given the opportunity to share insights during the session.
The training was funded by DFAT through UNICEF and organized by ADRA with the support of the UNICEF Provincial Coordinator, who is currently based in Gizo and works closely with the National Sustainable Sanitation Plan (NSSP) Phase 2 project team in Western Province.
The training was facilitated by UNICEF WASH Specialist Mr. Issifu Adama and UNICEF Program Officer Mr. Erick Hale.
However, CEO Grubb expressed his pleasure in attending the training and acknowledged the presence of WDC Project Officers.
“I am here to see you and take part in this training, to listen to your challenges and explore how UNICEF, ADRA, and WDC can collaborate to implement this sanitation project,” he said.
“Other provinces prioritize clinics and education, but sanitation—especially toilets and fresh water—is often overlooked. I am pleased that we are here to discuss sanitation, particularly toilets. I believe WDC will work closely with UNICEF and ADRA to successfully implement this project in Western Province,” CEO Grubb added.
The main aim and objective of this Sanitation Institutional Triggering training workshop were to inform WDC Project Officers about the NSSP Phase 2 project in Western Province, enabling them to support the project in various ways through their WDC Committees.
Some provincial Officers from Western Provincial Government also attended the training with UNICEF OPM team led by MPA Rence Sore.
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-ADRA SI
