The Solomon Islands Government has launched a keystone publication to help the country improve access to climate finance and effectively utilize this financing, through strengthened resource management and coordination between the Government and development partners. The roadmap sets the path forward for 2022-2027 and was recently launched in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

This critical publication identifies key barriers, and opportunities for three priority areas – accessing climate finance; undertaking internal system reform to better manage resources and investments; and strengthened transparency and accountability. Furthermore, it addresses cross-cutting issues of governance, coordination and monitoring and evaluation. It has been jointly supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Gov4Res) Project and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).

Minister of Finance and Treasury of Solomon Islands, Honourable Harry Kuma, reflected on the development of the roadmap. He said, “[Ministry of Finance and Treasury] is uniquely placed to facilitate an integrated risk-informed approach to development and improving access to climate finance in the Solomon Islands.”

“The roadmap is a crucial milestone for our climate finance work and advancing the sustainability agenda in the Solomon Islands, particularly as we strive to meet our commitments on tackling climate change,” he added.

The roadmap is intended to improve the country’s ability to access external resources for investment in climate and disaster-related activities. It provides a holistic approach across government sectors and recommends establishing processes to understand how funding flows through government systems, as well as to the private sector, and non-governmental organisations. The roadmap also emphasizes the need for a strong enabling environment and recommends the adoption of a robust legal and policy framework.

Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC), Permanent Secretary Ms. Susan Sulu, emphasized during her remarks, “The roadmap provides strategic actions that pave the way forward to meet our national development and international climate change objectives.”

During the event, representatives from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT), MNPDC and development partners including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Forum Secretariat (PIFS) acknowledged the importance of coordination and partnerships across whole of government and the stakeholders present.

Acting Resilience Team Leader for Forum Secretariat, Mr. Karlos Lee Moresi said “Resilience is not only a government responsibility, but a whole of societal issue and must be addressed accordingly. In that regard, I am confident that with the integrated and holistic approach taken in developing this roadmap, the ownership and commitment are there to ensure its success.”

In acknowledging this as a milestone event, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative and Country Manager for the Solomon Islands Sub-Office, Mr. Berdi Berdiyev said, “Resilient development requires appropriate planning, budgeting and finance mechanisms to ensure financial investments are directed towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and priority climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.”

The roadmap officially launched on 1 December 2022, emphasizes the need for all stakeholder involvement, “Umi together for a resilient Solomon Islands”. With the launch of the roadmap complete, the work to implement the recommendations and activities laid out in the document begins.