Solomon Islands

Saving lives

Results to June 2012

• Malaria cases per 1,000 reduced from 199 in 2003 to 77 in 2009 to 49 in 2011.
• Improved access to clean water and sanitation for 23,600 people in 2010–11.
• 86 per cent of births in 2010 attended by skilled health personnel.
• Health facilities have essential medical equipment and supplies around 90 per cent of the time (70 per cent in 2008).
• An additional 4,623 births made safer due to the attendance by skilled health personnel.

Commitments 2012–13

• Improved health services, including reduction in child and maternal mortality and increased numbers of stocked and staffed clinics.
• Faster, more accurate malaria diagnosis in 95 per cent of health facilities.
• Continued improvements to the quality, reliability and coverage of water services in Honiara and other urban centres.
• Improved access to clean water and sanitation for 15,000 people in rural communities.

More on saving lives

Promoting opportunities for all

Results to June 2012

• Removal of school fees in 2011, helping more than 140,000 young Solomon Islanders get an education.
• Scholarships and support for 95 students in 2012 for technical and vocational training.

Commitments 2012–13

• Increase in number of tertiary scholarships, so more students can access tertiary education at Australian and Pacific regional institutions.
• Improved retention rates and improved literacy and numeracy outcomes in primary education.
• Continued roll-out of the mobile telecom network to rural areas.

More on promoting opportunities for all

Sustainable economic development

Results to June 2012

• 36 community infrastructure projects built since 2007 (e.g. village solar power and water supply systems); further 170 under construction and 166 designed.

Commitments 2012-13

• Continued maintenance of more than 500km of road per year and upgrade to key wharves. Half the 80,000 workdays a year this creates will go to women.
• Strengthen the Solomon Islands Quarantine Service to carry out core functions of pest and disease control, trade facilitation and market access.
• Improved income and food security through support for Kastom Gaden Association to provide advice, training and access to more productive and resilient crop varieties for over 3,000 farm households.

More on sustainable economic development

Humanitarian and disaster response

Results to June 2012

• Rendova Earthquake 2010: $75,000 provided to Oxfam, Solomon Islands Red Cross and World Vision Solomon Islands.
• Cyclone Ului 2010: $80,000 provided to Oxfam and $50,000 to World Vision Solomon Islands.
• Flash Floods 2010: $50,000 provided to Solomon Islands Red Cross and World Vision Solomon Islands.

Commitments 2012–13

• Upgraded bridge infrastructure on Guadalcanal to make transport infrastructure more resistant to flood damage.
• Realignment of key sections of road in North Malaita to move away from the coast and reduce the risk of inundation and flood damage.

More on humanitarian and disaster response

Australian ODA to Solomon Islands, 2005–06 to 2012–13

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The graph above shows AusAID's expenditure in Solomon Islands from 2005-06 to 2012-13.

The exact values are as follows:

• 2005-06: AusAID $37,900,000, OGD $2,500,000
• 2006-07: AusAID $35,000,000, OGD $4,100,000
• 2007-08: AusAID $40,300,000, OGD $8,400,000
• 2008-09: AusAID $53,300,000, OGD $3,100,000
• 2009-10: AusAID $79,600,000, OGD $2,700,000
• 2010-11: AusAID $71,300,000, OGD $2,600,000
• 2011-12: AusAID $79,600,000, OGD $3,100,000
• 2012-13: AusAID $78,300,000, OGD $3,600,000

Australian ODA to Solomon Islands by strategic goal, 2009–10 to 2012–13 (%)

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The graph above shows Australian Official Development Assistance to Solomon Islands by strategic goal.

The exact values are as follows (%):

• 2012–13
  Saving lives: 37
  Promoting opportunities for all: 26
  Sustainable economic development: 21
  Effective governance: 7
  Humanitarian and disaster response: 1
  Cross cutting: 8
• 2011–12
  Saving lives: 32
  Promoting opportunities for all: 21
  Sustainable economic development: 33
  Effective governance: 8
  Humanitarian and disaster response: 0
  Cross cutting: 6
• 2010–11
  Saving lives: 35
  Promoting opportunities for all: 17
  Sustainable economic development: 35
  Effective governance: 11
  Humanitarian and disaster response: 0
  Cross cutting: 2
• 2009–10
  Saving lives: 30
  Promoting opportunities for all: 16
  Sustainable economic development: 31
  Effective governance: 17
  Humanitarian and disaster response: 2
  Cross cutting: 5

Other ODA in Whole of Government 2010–11 to 2011–12 ($'000)

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The graph above shows the Australian Official Development Assistance to Solomon Islands by Other Government Departments.

The exact values are as follows:

• Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research:
  2010-11: $1,505,700. 2011-12: $1,531,600.
• Attorney-Generals—Customs and Border Protection:
  2010-11: $- 2011-12: $23,700.
• Defence:
  2010-11: $588,600. 2011-12: $945,400.
• Education, Employment and Workplace Relations:
  2010-11: $489,100. 2011-12: $231,500.
• Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education:
  2010-11: $10,700. 2011-12: $372,700.
• Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Community:
  2010-11: $15,300. 2011-12: -.

Research overview

Good research can lead to positive change for the world’s poorest people by enhancing the design and implementation of development policies and programs. This is why AusAID is committed to an innovative research portfolio and funds research, including:

• competitive funding mechanisms (such as the AusAID Development Research Awards Scheme)
• research partnerships with different Australian, international and developing country research institutions
• commissioning research to address a specific question or clearly defined research gap
• one-off research grants, when an existing program of research is relevant to the Australian aid program.

Research funded by AusAID’s Solomon Islands country program targets the country’s specific development challenges. Research is also carried out on a regional level. Some of the highlights of this AusAID-funded research are listed below.

Solomon Islands Family Health and Safety Study: A study on violence against women and children

This report of the Solomon Islands Family Health and Safety Study analyses data and reports on findings of the first nationally representative study on violence against women and children.

This national survey was carried out by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in partnership with the Government of Solomon Islands, with funding from AusAID and the United Nations Population Fund. Using this evidence base, the Government of Solomon Islands has adopted a National Policy on Eliminating Violence Against Women and action plan to address violence against women. The results of the study are also informing legal reform of the Penal Code, which is being undertaken by the Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission.

Solomon Islands Family Health and Safety Study: A study on violence against women and children

People's Surveys (2007–2011)

The People’s Survey is an independent annual survey that provides a unique insight into the opinions of Solomon Islanders on a wide range of issues, including business and employment, law and order, public accountability and access to services.

The survey also provides important statistics on areas that are not directly related to RAMSI's work, including health and education.

People's Surveys (2007–2011)

Audience Market Research in Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands Media Assistance Scheme (SOLMAS) aims to improve the reach and quality of all Solomon Islands media.

SOLMAS initiated a project involving an all-media audience survey in Honiara and provinces to determine the needs of audiences and to explore whether these are being met. SOLMAS is an AusAID funded media for development project delivered through a partnership between RAMSI and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Audience Market Research in Solomon Islands

Where is the Solomon Islands?

Country statistics

Population: 518,870 (2009)

GDP growth (5 year average): 7.1% (2011)

Percentage population living on less than $2 a day: 22.7% (2006)

Net Primary School completion rate: 70% (estimate)

Ratio of female to male primary enrolment: 100 girls per 100 boys (2010)

Mortality rate of children under 5 (per 1,000): 36 (2009)

Maternal mortality (per 100,000): 146 (2010)