Solomon Islands : Supporting Good Governance through Safeguards

Transport / Road transport (non-urban) - Urban roads and traffic management - Water transport (non-urban)

The context of the TA stems from ADB' transport sector work since the early 2000s and recognition that the government struggles with understanding and applying safeguards systems. With Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) assistance, ADB has been supporting the Solomon Islands government to strengthen its environment and social safeguards through TA 8217-SOL, which is an 18-month TA that commenced in April 2013. The core participants are: (i) the Environment and Conservation Department (ECD) within the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology (MECDM); (ii) the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS); and (iii) the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID). Using diagnostic tools that were developed under the RSES Technical Assistance for Strengthening and Use of Country Safeguard Systems (RETA 7566-REG) which includes legal inventory review and equivalence assessment and institutional capacity assessment, TA 8217 was able to delve in great detail into the legal and institutional framework.

The government has requested additional technical assistance based on the findings and recommendations of TA 8127-SOL and has asked for support to implement some of the key priority actions identified during TA 8217-SOL. The new TA focuses on addressing (i) the existing flaws in the land acquisition and development consent (and environmental assessment) processes, and (ii) improving and strengthening the development consent and environmental assessment process.

One of the major challenges and implementation of infrastructure projects in the Solomon Islands is to successfully address land and environmental issues, and to be able to effectively implement land acquisition. Projects that require land, most of the time, also require development consent and this requires working with the ministries of Lands and Environment, both of which, suffer from poor governance and a lack of systematic and formalized procedures. The results have identified a number of inconsistencies in the main laws i.e. Lands and Titles Act and Environment Act and also identified a number of constraints and blockages in the institutions.

Smoother and more timely implementation of infrastructure projects

Increased government capacity for applying strengthened land acquisition and development consent procedures in the transport sector.

Strengthened systems and fully constitutional safeguards framework developed

Established institutional arrangements for land acquisition/ development consent process

MID will be the executing agency and MID, MLHS and MECDM will be the implementing agencies. Coordination is assisted through the Infratsructure Advisor and Development Coordination Officer. Workshops and formal sessions will supplement smaller consultations and discussions.

The Pacific Department''s Transport, Energy and Natural Resources Division will manage the TA with support from Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office in Sydney, and the Development Coordination Office and ADB Infrastructure Advisor in Solomon Islands.