THE WORLD 93395 BANK Solomon Islands Rural Development Program Improve mechanisms for the Improving agricultural extension services, and economic and social delivery of important economic and infrastructure in rural Solomon Islands. social infrastructure and services. Background Increase the access of rural households to quality agricultural Solomon Islands, after a period of civil conflict known as the ‘tensions’, from 1998 to 2003, has begun services. to move from post-conflict reconstruction to longer-term development. However, raising rural living standards remains a formidable challenge. Roughly 85 percent of Solomon Islanders live in rural areas, Develop rural businesses through relying on subsistence, smallholder agriculture. Agriculture remains the backbone of the rural the provision of financing, related economy. As such, the Rural Development Program (RDP) is designed to respond to priorities training and technical assistance. identified by villagers to improve agricultural extension services, and rural infrastructure. Location: The program has begun in the four provinces of Western, Temotu, Choiseul, and Malaita, and will be rolled out to the other About the Program provinces as the program progresses. The RDP has been prepared as the first phase of a long term program to support the Solomon Islands national rural development goals. With funding from AusAID, the European Union and the World Approval Date: 9 November 2007 Bank, the RDP, which is implemented by the Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in collaboration with the Provincial Governments, aims Closing Date: 2012 to raise the living standards of rural households. The RDP has three main components. These deal with rural infrastructure, agricultural support services, and assistance to rural businesses. Total Program Cost: US$21.84 million Within the first component of improving rural infrastructure, the RDP has established transparent and Donors: Solomon Islands inclusive community driven mechanisms to identify, select and implement small-scale infrastructure. Government—US$0.84 million Grants are being provided each year for the construction or rehabilitation of essential infrastructure World Bank (International such as health posts, teachers' accommodation, water tanks, foot bridges, etc. The grants are Development Association)—US$3.2 managed and projects implemented by village-level committees. Component one, through its million community driven approach, also serves to assist in the development of financial management skills European Commission—US$10.06 and project organisation within the village-level committees that implement individual RDP projects. million AusAID—US$6.61 million Community contributions—US$1.08 The second component aims at increasing the capacity of existing agricultural institutions to provide million essential agricultural support services, such as extension services, veterinary services and quarantine. The program aims to revitalise the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock which was badly affected by Implementing Agency: Ministry of the years of unrest during the tensions and also seeks to strengthen its collaboration with other Development Planning and Aid agricultural service providers such as NGOs and the private sector. This component also provides Coordination, Ministry of essential equipment and training to the Ministry to further build on its ability to provide services. The Agriculture and Livestock, in collaboration with the Provincial training and services provided are driven by demand at the local level, with men and women farmers Governments prioritising their own needs. Contact: World Bank Component three focuses on rural business development. This component aims to facilitate the Task Team Leader growth and development of rural enterprises by providing financing and offering assorted training and technical assistance to rural businesses. The Solomon Islands Government is committed to Marianne Grosclaude improving outreach of financial services to rural areas. This component contributes to broader Senior Agriculture Specialist government initiatives of expanding access to finance and stimulating private sector investment in mgrosclaude@worldbank.org rural areas. www.worldbank.org/pi