Solomon Islands: Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing)

Sovereign Project | 51271-003

The current project adopts a sector approach for developing sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient water supply and improved sanitation in the greater Honiara area (GHA) and in five other towns of Auki, Gizo, Noro, Munda, and Tulagi in Solomon Islands. The additional financing will complement project activities and will focus on: (i) promoting resilient and effective management of Honiara's watershed area, and (ii) improving water quality in Kongulai Spring through reduction of high turbidity.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Blaik, Stephen
    Pacific Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Solomon Islands
  • Sector
    • Water and other urban infrastructure and services

Related Projects

Project Name Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing)
Project Number 51271-003
Country / Economy Solomon Islands
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant 0801-SOL: Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project " Additional Financing
GEF-Least Developed Countries Fund US$ 4.59 million
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Knowledge solutions
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban water supply
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Effective gender mainstreaming
Description The current project adopts a sector approach for developing sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient water supply and improved sanitation in the greater Honiara area (GHA) and in five other towns of Auki, Gizo, Noro, Munda, and Tulagi in Solomon Islands. The additional financing will complement project activities and will focus on: (i) promoting resilient and effective management of Honiara's watershed area, and (ii) improving water quality in Kongulai Spring through reduction of high turbidity.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy The proposed additional financing will contribute, directly and indirectly, to the scaling up of the project scope in two ways. First, it will finance a new project output focused on fostering water source protection, including revegetating disturbed water source areas of the GHA water supply. Second, it will partially finance the capital costs of the Kongulai Water Treatment Plant under Output 1 of the project, replacing a portion of the EU financing that was to be used for this purpose. Through this substitution of funds, the EU financing, once available, will finance further expansion of new and upgraded water mains to be financed under Output 1 of the project.
Impact

Access to safe water and improved sanitation in urban areas increased
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Efficiency, accessibility, climate change and disaster resiliency, and sustainability of safe water and sanitation improved in Auki, GHA, Gizo, Munda, Noro, and Tulagi towns.
Progress Toward Outcome Progress towards the project outcome has been achieved. However, progress is limited as the project is in its initial phase as the project was declared effective in February 2022.
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Continuous, safe, and climate resilient urban water supply ensured

Urban sanitation services are effective, efficient and safe in GHA.

Enhanced and sustained awareness and behaviors of hygiene and water conservation in GHA and five towns.

SIWA is financially and technically sustainable

Management of Honiara's drinking water source area strengthened to build resilience to climate change
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) Not yet due.Not yet due.Not yet due.Not yet due.Not yet due.On track.OT Contract for new water treatment plant at Kongulai awarded.OT- Construction commencedOT Contract for 3 new reservoirs in GHA awardedData not yet available as contracts have just been awarded.Not yet due.Not yet due.Upgrade of Auki water supply completedNot yet due.OT - On track (on target)Not yet due.Not yet due.Not yet due.Not yet due.Not yet due.Not yet due.On track.School hygiene awareness and education program to commence in February 2023.Hygiene promotion and outreach program commenced September 2021.Hygiene promotion and outreach program commenced in September 2021.On trackOn track
Geographical Location Nation-wide, Auki, Gizo, Honiara, Munda, Noro, Tulagi
Safeguard Categories
Environment B
Involuntary Resettlement B
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects The additional financing components are assessed as having minimal and only site-specific impacts. An environment assessment and review framework and a resettlement framework have been prepared specifically for Output 5 activities and complemented the approved initial environmental evaluation and resettlement plan for the Kongulai water treatment plant (Output 1) and the overall project. A grievance redress mechanism has been established to address concerns and complaints promptly and transparently, with no cost or discrimination impacts on the reporting persons.
Involuntary Resettlement The project's involuntary resettlement impacts will include land acquisition of an estimated 21.750 square meters, residential and nonresidential impacts associated with one informal settler to be relocated, impacts on gardens and crops, and temporary impacts on structures during civil works. Overall, an estimated 100 persons will be affected, with 24 considered significantly affected.
Indigenous Peoples The project is not expected to have a negative impact on any distinct or vulnerable group of indigenous peoples as defined under ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement.
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design The project consulted and continues to consult different stakeholders, including the Government of Solomon Islands, the business community, civil society, and safeguard-affected persons. Consultations are conducted through stakeholder interviews, public consultation workshops, and household surveys with potentially affected persons. Information shared with the relevant stakeholders includes the proposed project design and components, affected properties, entitlement to compensation, and the grievance redress mechanismparticularly who to contact if stakeholders have any questions and how to resolve grievances.
During Project Implementation The participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) will be explored in the implementation of the gender-sensitive hygiene awareness and education program. The staff of SIWA have received training on CSO involvement in urban projects to provide the necessary skills to facilitate CSOs' involvement in water, hygiene, and sanitation activities.
Responsible ADB Officer Blaik, Stephen
Responsible ADB Department Pacific Department
Responsible ADB Division PAUW
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Finance and Treasury
Timetable
Concept Clearance 28 Nov 2021
Fact Finding 03 Jun 2021 to 04 Jun 2021
MRM 10 Aug 2021
Approval 29 Sep 2021
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 21 Sep 2022

Grant 0801-SOL

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
29 Sep 2021 29 Oct 2021 03 Feb 2022 31 Dec 2027 - -
Financing Plan Grant Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 5.25 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 0.00 23 Jan 2023 0.00 3.11 68%
Counterpart 0.66 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 4.59 23 Jan 2023 0.00 0.30 7%
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating Satisfactory Satisfactory - Satisfactory - Satisfactory

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

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Title Document Type Document Date
Grant Agreement (Externally Financed - Global Environment Facility) for Grant 0801-SOL: Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing) Grant Agreement Oct 2021
Project Agreement for Grant 0801-SOL: Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing) Project/Program Agreements Oct 2021
Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing): Project Administration Manual Project/Program Administration Manual Sep 2021
Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing): Gender Action Plan Gender Action Plans Sep 2021
Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing): Additional Financing Report Additional Financing (Cofinancing) Sep 2021
Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing): Procurement Plan Procurement Plans Sep 2021

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

Title Document Type Document Date
Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing): Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Dec 2020
Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing): Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Nov 2020
Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (Additional Financing): Land Acquisition and Resettlement Framework Resettlement Frameworks Nov 2020

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.

Related Publications

None currently available.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Catchment Management and Paid Ecosystem Services Firm - Consulting Closed 13 May 2022 06 Jun 2022

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
Catchment Management and Paid Ecosystem Services Grant 0801 09 Nov 2022 The Nakau Programme Pty Ltd. | Donkey Wheel House, 2nd Floor 673 Bourke St, Lismore Heights Melbourne, Australia, Victoria 3000 Australia Ministry of Finance and Treasury 1,286,206.00 —