Solomon Islands: Improved Fiscal Sustainability Reform Program
The proposed Improved Fiscal Sustainability Reform Program will help the Government of Solomon Islands implement policy and institutional reforms that improve public finances and investments, strengthen fiscal management and sustainability, and contribute to private sector development.
Project Details
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Project Officer
Hodge, Matthew W.
Pacific Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Solomon Islands -
Sector
- Public sector management
Project Name | Improved Fiscal Sustainability Reform Program | ||||||||||||||
Project Number | 52074-001 | ||||||||||||||
Country / Economy | Solomon Islands |
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Project Status | Closed | ||||||||||||||
Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Grant ND |
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Source of Funding / Amount |
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Strategic Agendas | Environmentally sustainable growth Inclusive economic growth Regional integration |
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Drivers of Change | Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Governance and capacity development Knowledge solutions Partnerships Private sector development |
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Sector / Subsector | Public sector management / Economic affairs management - Public expenditure and fiscal management |
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Gender Equity and Mainstreaming | Effective gender mainstreaming | ||||||||||||||
Description | The proposed Improved Fiscal Sustainability Reform Program will help the Government of Solomon Islands implement policy and institutional reforms that improve public finances and investments, strengthen fiscal management and sustainability, and contribute to private sector development. | ||||||||||||||
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | Solomon Islands is confronted with a narrow production base, remoteness and geographic dispersion, thin administrative capacity, vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change, a large infrastructure gap, and high dependence on aid and imports. Despite these constraints, its economy has continued to grow in recent years. Growth averaged 2.9% per annum during 2013-2017, which is higher than the regional average of 2.4% over the same period. But population growth of about 2.3% means there is limited per capita income growth. The government's challenges in managing and accounting for its scarce resources, combined with weak internal coordination, poor utilization of capital expenditure, and outdated business and taxation laws and regulations, has often resulted in poor public sector management and service delivery. Although economic growth has been broadly steady, it has relied on expansionary fiscal policy, unsustainable logging, and post-flooding reconstruction. While export performance is currently strong, the longer-term prospects for sustaining growth are uncertain. The government is well aware that recent trends are not sustainable, especially as logging (which accounted for around 20% of domestic revenue and two-thirds of exports in 2017) is expected to gradually decline over the medium term. When the government was formed in late 2017, one of the first steps it took to accelerate its reform program was reactivating the Core Economic Working Group (CEWG) and adopting a policy reform matrix that would unlock budget support from development partners. In the past the CEWG has proven effective in utilizing policy financing to sustain reform momentum and efforts to strengthen fiscal sustainability. During 2010-2014, the government streamlined the process for foreign investment, modernized company and business legislation, and liberalized the telecommunications industry in order to improve the business and investment climate. Following the global financial crisis in 2009-2010, the government implemented several important financial reforms, including adopting fiscal management targets for the budget and public debt, launching a debt management strategy, establishing a multiagency public financial management (PFM) working group, and strengthening internal auditing across government. From 2011, and working closely with the International Monetary Fund, the government also maintained a cash buffer of at least 2 months of recurrent expenditure to improve its ability to respond to shocks. However, the fiscal position deteriorated during 2015-2017, reversing earlier surpluses, because of poor fiscal management, in particular rising discretionary expenditure and changes in government priorities that resulted in limited policy dialogue and reform slippage. The government's cash buffer declined to less than 1 month of cash reserves in September 2017, well below the target of 2 months of total spending. Action is needed to restore a sustainable budget and improve PFM processes to strengthen budget credibility. Key leadership changes in late 2017 have enabled the resumption of reform momentum. In 2018 the government made a concerted effort to reestablish macroeconomic and fiscal stability through a balanced budget and a targeted fiscal adjustment program that included budget support and rebuilding of cash buffers. This approach is closely aligned to the National Development Strategy; ADB's Pacific Approach, 2016-2020; and its three-pronged strategy to reduce costs, manage risks, and enable value creation. It is also consistent with the IMF's policy advice to the government. Achieving a fully funded budget, however, has come at the expense of substantial reductions in development expenditure. The government adopted the same prudent approach to the July 2018 supplementary budget, which was around $28.9 million. Line ministries were advised that new or additional expenditure pressures would only be accommodated if there was a commensurate increase in revenues and/or funds could be reallocated from the 2018 recurrent budget. No new or additional discretionary expenditures have been included. Consequently, the government's fiscal framework maintains a near-balanced budget. |
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Impact | The rate of inclusive economic growth reinvigorated and increased. The environment for private sector development improved and investment opportunities for all Solomon Islanders increased. |
Project Outcome | |
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Description of Outcome | The program will help the government achieve the National Development Strategy objective of sustained and inclusive economic growth. The outcome will be improved public sector management and service delivery through enhanced public financial and investment management, improved fiscal management and sustainability, and fostering of a more supportive private investment climate. |
Progress Toward Outcome | |
Implementation Progress | |
Description of Project Outputs | The environment for private sector development improved and investment opportunities for all Solomon Islanders increased |
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | |
Geographical Location | Nation-wide |
Safeguard Categories | |
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Environment | C |
Involuntary Resettlement | C |
Indigenous Peoples | C |
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
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Environmental Aspects | The proposed program will not result in a project with infrastructure component and will not lead to policy or regulatory reform affecting environmental laws or country safeguard systems. |
Involuntary Resettlement | The proposed program will not include any civil works. The policy actions to be supported will not cause any invonlutary resettlement impacts. |
Indigenous Peoples | The proposed program will not impact any distinct and indigenous vulnerable groups. |
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
During Project Design | The proposed program is designed and implemented in partnership with the Core Economic Working Group (CEWG). Consultation in various forms has been carried out during formulation and implementation of the National Development Strategy and the government's policy documents. |
During Project Implementation |
Responsible ADB Officer | Hodge, Matthew W. |
Responsible ADB Department | Pacific Department |
Responsible ADB Division | Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office in Sydney, Australia |
Executing Agencies |
Ministry of Finance G.P.O. Box 26 Honiara Solomon Islands Ministry of Finance and Treasury P.O. Box 26 Honiara, Solomon Islands |
Timetable | |
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Concept Clearance | 15 Sep 2018 |
Fact Finding | 08 Aug 2018 to 16 Aug 2018 |
MRM | 28 Sep 2018 |
Approval | 26 Nov 2018 |
Last Review Mission | - |
Last PDS Update | 12 Jun 2019 |
Grant 0629-SOL
Milestones | |||||
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Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
Original | Revised | Actual | |||
26 Nov 2018 | 29 Nov 2018 | 07 Dec 2018 | 31 Dec 2018 | - | 12 Feb 2019 |
Financing Plan | Grant Utilization | ||||
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Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
Project Cost | 21.40 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
ADB | 5.00 | 17 Jun 2022 | 5.00 | 0.00 | 100% |
Counterpart | 0.00 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
Cofinancing | 16.40 | 17 Jun 2022 | 5.00 | 0.00 | 100% |
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.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.
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Title | Document Type | Document Date |
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Improved Fiscal Sustainability Reform Program: Completion Report | Project/Program Completion Reports | Dec 2020 |
Grant Agreement (Special Operations) for Grant 0629-SOL: Improved Fiscal Sustainability Reform Program between Solomon Islands and ADB | Grant Agreement | Nov 2018 |
Improved Fiscal Sustainability Reform Program: Report and Recommendation of the President | Reports and Recommendations of the President | Oct 2018 |
Improved Fiscal Sustainability Reform Program: Concept Paper | Concept Papers | Sep 2018 |
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.
None currently available.
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
Title | Document Type | Document Date |
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Solomon Islands: Improved Fiscal Sustainability Reform Program | Validations of Project Completion Reports | Jun 2021 |
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.
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$5 Million ADB Grant to Support Fiscal Sustainability in Solomon Islands
ADB has approved a $5 million policy-based grant to support the efforts of the Government of Solomon Islands to implement policy and institutional reforms to progressively improve fiscal sustainability, business climate, public...
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