Overview

This page provides an overview of how Australia is working in partnership against the Stability pillar of Partnerships for Recovery. It outlines key related initiatives and summaries of programming and related documents.

Australia has an enduring interest in a stable Solomon Islands. As well as a desirable goal in and of itself, stability is critical to both economic growth and human development. Australia's programs in governance, justice and policing work towards a common goal: that communities in Solomon Islands are safer and experience better access to services.

Related initiatives

• Related initiative - Solomon Islands Justice Program
• Related initiative - Solomon Islands Police Development Program
• Related initiative - Education Sector Support Program
• Related initiative - Addressing Gender Equality in Solomon Islands
• Related initiative - Australia's Solomon Islands Governance Program

Solomon Islands Justice Program

Up to $32 million, 2017-2021

The Solomon Islands Justice Program works with all key justice agencies in Solomon Islands including the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, the National Judiciary, the Attorney-General's Chambers, the Public Solicitor's Office, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Police Prosecutions Directorate, Law Reform Commission, Solomon Islands Bar Association and Correctional Services Solomon Islands, as well as the Seif Ples Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Clinic. The Program's goal is that communities in Solomon Islands have greater access to a credible justice system that supports the rule of law.

The Justice Program has four components:

• Justice agency strengthening: Supporting the core aspects of the legal system including the courts and correctional systems.
• Legal policy and legislation: Building capacity for improved government legal advice and policy development and enhanced legislative drafting.
• Improving access to justice: Improving access to justice in the provinces and strengthening responses to family violence.
• Whole of sector strengthening: Supporting cross-cutting issues including improved gender and social inclusion in the justice sector, better human resource and financial management, professional development, and improved information management system.

Consultations with the Solomon Islands Government on the next phase of Australian engagement in the Justice Sector post-2021 have commenced.

Related documents

Solomon Islands Police Development Program

Up to $79 million, 2017-2021

The Solomon Islands Police Development Program (2017-21) builds on the gains made by the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (2003-2017).

This police development program seeks to strengthen the capability and responsiveness of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) so that it can better undertake community policing and maintain security in Solomon Islands.

The four priority areas are:

• Effective, ethical and accountable leadership and management
• Improved operational capability and capacity
• Improved community relations - to reduce the precursors to conflict and build robust crime prevention strategies, and
• Improved enabling services.

To support SIPDP's four priorities, AFP activities focus on:

• Mentoring support and training for senior police officers and select middle managers, including in legislative and regulatory mandates, professional standards, and strategic planning
• Capacity development support to RSIPF investigations; criminal intelligence and crime prevention; public order management and officer skills maintenance; and prevention of family and gender-based violence
• Strengthening of corporate governance functions, and
• Support for the consolidation of the limited rearmament of the RSIPF.

Consultations with the Solomon Islands Government on the next phase of Australian engagement with the RSIPF commenced in 2021. Details of the next phase of Australia-Solomon Islands policing partnership will be finalised in late 2021.

Related documents

Education Sector Support Program

Up to $64 million, 2020-2023

The Education Sector Support Program is a four-year $64 million ($41.5 million Australian contribution) initiative supporting the Solomon Islands Government to implement its Education Strategic Framework 2016-2030, and National Education Action Plan. The program is delivered in partnership with the Solomon Islands Government and jointly funded by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.

The Program's goal is to improve the quality of basic education which is accessible to all Solomon Islands children. Support is provided through direct budget support to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, technical advisers and grants to non-government organisations (NGOs). The program is also supporting the Ministry's Learning Continuity plan to provide learning material and improved water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to schools across Solomon Islands during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related documents

Addressing Gender Equality

Through Pacific Women (2012-22) Australia has committed $34.8 million over ten years to advance gender equality and support women's empowerment in the Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands Gender Equality program ($4 million per annum) works with the government, international and local NGOs and the private sector to improve the political, economic and social opportunities of Solomon Islands women and girls to end violence against women and girls. The program aims to reduce violence against women and girls and ensure:

• survivors of violence have access to support services and to justice
• women have expanded economic opportunities to earn an income and accumulate economic assets
• women, and women's interests are increasingly and effectively represented and visible through leadership at all levels of decision-making, and
• women have a stronger sense of their own agency, supported by a changing legal and social environment and through increased access to the services they need.

The program works in partnership with the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family affairs to support institutional strengthening, it provides funding and support to targeted service providers and violence prevention activities including supporting the national rollout of the SAFENET Response and Referral Network. Over the next two years the program will continue to focus on eliminating violence against women and girls (EVAWG) and expand activities focused on women economic empowerment to address the impact of COVID-19 on women and increase support to women's organisations.

Consultations with the Solomon Islands Government on the next phase of Australian engagement will be undertaken in early 2022.

Related documents

Governance Program

Up to $30 million, 2017-2021

The Governance Program builds on the public financial management (PFM) and public sector reform gains achieved through the Solomon Islands Economic and Public Sector Governance Program (SIGOV). The Governance Program supports Australia's long-term national interests in Solomon Islands by supporting stability, enabling economic growth, and enhancing human development.

The budget for the Governance Program is approximately $7.5 million per annum. The program includes four components encompassing a number of individual activities.

• Component 1 – Fiscally and socially responsible budgeting and borrowing policies.
• Component 2 – A professional public financial management cadre that facilitates improved service delivery.
• Component 3 – A more accountable and responsive public service; and
• Component 4 – Strengthening coalitions for reform.

Consultations with the Solomon Islands Government on the next phase of Australian engagement have commenced.

Related documents