Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)—Australian aid estimate 2010–11: $63 million
Total Official Development Assistance (ODA) estimate 2010–11: $225.6 million
Why Australia supports RAMSI
In the late 1990s Solomon Islands experienced increasing civil unrest and instability, leading to a breakdown in the delivery of basic services including law and order. In 2003, the Solomon Islands Government requested assistance from all Pacific Island Countries including Australia and New Zealand. This assistance is delivered through the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
The Solomon Islands Government–RAMSI Partnership Framework, was signed in 2009. It has three core pillars which support improvements to the machinery of government, law and justice and economic governance and growth. Australian aid support to RAMSI supports these core pillars.
Recent achievements of the RAMSI aid program in Solomon Islands
Law and justice
During the period of civil conflict the local police force collapsed and there was a breakdown of law and order. The RAMSI Participating Police Force reinstated the rule of law and re-built the police. Stable law and order in the Solomon Islands and justice to victims of crime and their families have been the results.
RAMSI helped draft the 2009 Evidence Act which assists in the prosecution of sexual assaults and provides greater protection for victims and witnesses. Legislative protection to women is a major step towards greater equality.
By 2010, with RAMSI support to justice administration, Court waiting periods had been reduced to an average of five months from 12 months in 2005.
RAMSI has helped build major correctional facilities, such as the Auki Correctional Centre in Malaita Province that opened in 2009. This has meant that prisoners can be incarcerated closer to their families, increasing their prospects for rehabilitation.
Economic reform
RAMSI support has helped the Solomon Islands better manage the economy and mitigate the effects of the global economic crisis. Support to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury helped the Government to clear external and domestic debt arrears.
Revenue collection increased from $589 million in 2007 to $924 million in 2009. The improved financial position enabled the government to maintain spending on health and education services across the country.
RAMSI supports a range of activities that work to reduce corruption in the Solomon Islands. For example, improved tax collection and administration have minimised loss of much-needed government revenues.
Reform in the telecommunications sector has improved access, services and affordability since the sector was opened to competition in June 2009. Costs to consumers are decreasing, 3G mobile services (high speed mobile internet) have started and access to new services for consumers—such as mobile banking—is becoming a possibility.
Public sector performance and accountability
By helping to re-establish the Institute for Public Management, RAMSI has trained 2,000 public servants in basic public administration and financial management skills since 2008.
There is also increased Parliamentary scrutiny. 133 Parliamentary Committee meetings were held in 2009, up from seven in 2004. Forty of these public hearings were held in the provinces and for the first time, covered all nine provinces. Committee Meetings were televised in an attempt to promote broader public understanding of how Parliament functions.
Increased Public awareness of Solomon Islands Accountability Institutions, including the Auditor General and the Ombudsman mean the community are placing greater demands for more accountable decision making. RAMSI assistance to the Ombudsman’s Office has bolstered investigations into complaints of poor administration by public sector agencies and resulted in a 100 percent increase in reports tabled to Parliament.
More information
RAMSI [external website]
Last reviewed:
22 February, 2011
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