Solomon Islands : Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Improvement Program

Transport / Road transport (non-urban) - Transport policies and institutional development - Urban roads and traffic management

The proposed Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance will support the Government of Solomon Islands (government) to implement the nationwide program from 2015-2020 to improve its multimodal transport system, including its safety. The program, supporting the priorities of the National Transport Plan (NTP), is a major government initiative that pools funding from the government budget, ADB and the Government of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It will be for (i) transport infrastructure rehabilitated and maintained to be safe, gender responsive, and climate- and disaster resilient for all users, (ii) country systems strengthened, and competency and capacity of government agencies improved to finance and implement national transport plans, and (iii) Ministry of Infrastructure Development's (MID''s) supervision and management of work program strengthened.

The program will benefit populations in rural and urban areas by strengthening country systems for achieving better transport infrastructure system and intermodal connectivity of national transport infrastructure using the existing mechanisms established through NTP, National Transport Fund (NTF), and MID's Central Project Implementation Unit (CPIU). Improved accessibility and mobility will stimulate growth of the domestic industry, such as agriculture; regional trade, and expansion of socioeconomic opportunities for rural and urban communities. The program will also increase the sustainability of transport infrastructure improvement through a comprehensive sector approach.

Transport sector development is a national priority in the Solomon Islands National Development Strategy, 2011-2020. Transport is a strategic priority in ADB''s Solomon Islands Country Partnership Strategy 2012-2016. The Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Improvement Program (STIIP) is included in ADB''s Solomon Islands Country Operations Business Plan 2014-2016.

The results based lending (RBL) modality is proposed, as it (i) supports the Solomon Islands Government's (SIG''s) medium and long term transport plans; (ii) strengthens country system to deliver the NTP to meet SIG's development goals; and (iii) aligns ADB support with government and other development partner assistance through the NTF. The STIIP provides sector-wide financing of government's transport sector program upon achievement of a set of pre-agreed Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs).

Sustainable access to socioeconomic opportunities and inclusive growth

Multimodal transport system efficiency and sustainability improved

Transport infrastructure rehabilitated and maintained with access for all users, with safety, gender-responsiveness, and climate and disaster resilience improved

Country systems strengthened to finance and implement the NTP

MID's management and supervision capacity strengthened

No wharves were reconstructed under STIIP. They were not in the priority list due to fund constraints. 2 gender facilities were built in 2018 and the other four structures were completed in December 2021. 10 locations were identified in Honiara for the safety audit for the purpose of installation of traffic signage/calming measures. The safety audit report was completed by SMEC in June 2021. As of 15 September 2022, the variation is in process which will be followed by the recommended improvement on site. The fund for this implementation work has already been approved by the NTF Board. The work will be executed by the routine maintenance contractors by Q3 2022. 693 km of unsealed roads actively maintained. 156 km of sealed roads actively maintained. 4.1 km (5 roads) of unsealed roads have been upgraded to sealed roads. 36 bridges actively maintained. 15 wharves actively maintained. There are no more wharves maintenance contracts under STIIP.

The annual government contribution of SBD40 million (base contribution only) was achieved for the period 2016-2019.All subprojects include climate resilient features. Project account was maintained by MID and audited annually by the independent auditor. The external audit has been completed up to FY2020 and disclosed on the ADB website. For FY2021, a copy of the audited statement is yet to be furnished to ADB. For FY2022, the audited statement will be due on 30 June 2023. As described in the external financial audit statement, the funds were used in accordance with the loan agreement between ADB and the government.The Medium Term Transport Action Plan (MTTAP) is being updated every 5 years. MTTAP 2021- 2025 was approved by the Government in Q4 2021.The Safeguards Procedures Manual is adopted and being used for project screening.Road classification has been completed and registered in the asset database: Solomon Islands Transportation Asset Management System (SITAMS).For major sealed roads in Honiara and east and west Guadalcanal sealed roads and Malaita Central road, the safety audit was conducted by SMEC as part of their FSDDCS contract (total length 137km).TA9119 consultants team has prepared a schedule of rates for roads and bridge works in Solomon Islands. Cabinet has approved it in September 2022.

No information available on the percentage of MID staff whose performance has been reviewed and whose issues were handled promptly by MID management using the 4-stage Public Service Performance Management Process.MID staff in key core areas appointed (i.e increased to 2 procurement officers, 3 safeguards officers, and 1 monitoring and evaluation officer).Road length for LBES road upgrading contracts was at an average 5.5 km against the 9 km target. CPIU's priority shifted away from LBES contracts as they did not have resources to manage this scope.Road network and wharves inventoried and condition surveyed in 2017 and documented in Solomon Islands Transport Asset Management System (SITAMS).LBES maintenance contracts under implementation reduced to 27 contracts in 2020.Annual financial rate of execution or sustained NTF expenditures towards the NTF work program target was met in 2019 . In 2020, the disbursement achieved was SBD100.8 million.Sex-disaggregation data has been compiled and analysis completed. All wages or subcontract payments paid by contractors are collected in a monthly logbook disaggregated by sex and data and has been analysed. For the LBES contracts, data has been compiled to analyse the percentage of LBES contractors that are women and the percentage of people employed by contractors that are women.