The objective: More responsive service delivery and improved local development in Provinces for all men and women.
The provincial governments of each of Solomon Islands’ nine provinces have responsibility for much of the civic and economic development in their province.
In partnership with the United Nations Development Program and European Union, RAMSI is supporting the improvement of infrastructure in each of the Solomon Islands nine provinces. RAMSI also provides support to the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening and the Provincial Governments to ensure that all provinces have the systems and processes in place to manage their long-term development.
The strategy
RAMSI, the United Nations Development Program and European Union will provide assistance to the Solomon Islands Government to improve provincial governments’ capacity and financial management in order to strengthen local development. This is done by:
- Clarifying and strengthening the functions of provincial government.
- Ensuring provincial governments are resourced to match their responsibilities.
- Strengthen the capacity of provincial governments to manage local development.
To learn more about some of the specific targets that have been set for each strategy, download the Partnership Framework document.
The challenges
In many provinces, infrastructure remains of a very basic standard with limited capacity to ensure any new infrastructure projects are managed carefully and appropriately maintained.
Consequently, Solomon Islanders show little confidence in the ability of their respective provincial governments to deliver services and support development. In the People’s Survey 2009, over 5000 respondents were asked their opinion on the performance of their provincial governments – just 1.2% stated that they believed their provincial government was performing very well.
RAMSI’s work
RAMSI’s work to strengthen Solomon Islands provincial governments is undertaken as part of a partnership with the European Union, the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Capital Development Fund, which work alongside the Solomon Islands Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening.
The focus of this partnership is an incentive-based system that encourages provincial governments to improve the way they manage projects. Before being provided with financial support is provided, assessments are undertaken of the management systems that a provincial government has in place to support them. This approach encourages provincial governments to take the lead in strengthening their organisations.
The work to support provincial governments covers the following areas:
1. Defining roles
Defining the functions of provincial governments, including the purpose and roles of individual provincial representatives clarifies the expectations of both the provincial government and the province’s constituents. Key targets for this work are that:
- Clarifying and expanding the functions of provincial governments.
- Implementing and regulating delegated management functions.
2. Resources
Ensuring each provincial government is equipped with the resources to serve its constituents is a key priority of the support provided by RAMSI and the United Nations Development Program. Key targets for this work include:
- A review of the provincial government grants system is undertaken, with a monitoring system implemented.
- Provincial Capacity Development Funds are established and used for priority developments.
- Provincial Governments’ own revenue sources are enhanced.
3. Development capacity
Building the long-term capacity of individuals to oversee provincial developments, such as mining, agricultural and other economic developments, is a key part of the strengthening of Solomon Islands provincial governments. The key targets for this work include:
- Provincial Governments can better formulate policies, legislation and regulations to oversee provincial administration.
- Provincial Governments can better manage infrastructure, service delivery and natural resources.
- Provincial Governments have the capacity to manage public expenditure to enable effective infrastructure development.
- Provincial Governments can better promote local development.
- A system is in place to improve relations between Provincial Governments and administrative agencies.
Achievements so far
The work to strengthen the systems and processes of Solomon Islands provincial governments has resulted in a number of achievements including:
Development planning
- Development planning systems are now being put in place within each provincial government.
- Grants are now provided to provinces through a clearer, more streamlined process – enabling greater planning with each provincial government.
Financial management
- The financial management capacity of provincial governments has improved significantly. This has been demonstrated by the fact that, for the first time, all nine Solomon Islands provinces qualified, for the first time in 2010, for project development funding in 2010-2011, having met the eight minimum conditions which help to ensure financial management protocols are in place to manage projects.
- Accounting processes have been standardised across all provincial governments, with a standard chart of accounts and the use of accounting software MYOB introduced into all provincial governments throughout Solomon Islands.
- Accounts are up to date across all nine provincial governments, with audit routines now in place.
- Provincial development budgets have become more realistic and better planned.
Socio-economic infrastructure
115 provincial infrastructure projects have already been approved, with 87 projects having commenced and/or been completed since 2004. These include:
- Building of a girl’s school dormitory, Rennell-Bellona Province.
- Installation of solar power panels at Kira Kira Hospital, Makira Province.
- Construction of a Women’s Resource Centre, Western Province.
- Rehabilitation of Luesaleba Provincial Secondary School, Temotu Province.
- Upgrade of the Taro Airport Terminal, Choiseul Province.
Building capacity in the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening
- Interaction between the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening and Provincial Governments has significantly improved.
- New Directors of Provincial Government, Finance and Human Resources have been appointed to the Ministry of Provincial Government, with a greater focus on improving relations with Provincial Governments.