East Are’are Constituency Strengthens Governance Structure To Bolster Development

The East Are’are Constituency (EAC) Office recently organized a two-day workshop covering areas of constituency governance and processes.

This is in relation to the implementation of the new Constituency Development Funds Act 2023 (CDF Act 2023). Held in Honiara, the objective of the workshop was to help constituency workers and leaders to understand and familiarise themselves with the key provisions of the Act and relate these to their roles in the communities.

The workshop also aimed to prepare committee members to better understand:

• The CDF reforms that the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) is implementing
• The planning and budgeting process for the constituency
• The roles of the sub-committees in planning, budgeting and project development and implementation

EAC Constituency Development Officer (CDO) Daniel Manata stated that this was a very important workshop for them as it prepares them for the 2025 CDF program implementation in their constituency.

Since the establishment of the CDF in the 1980s, decision-making has been centralized and left to the discretion of Members of Parliament. That is, MPs have more or less decided how to utilize the CDF with limited inputs from the communities.

This has since changed under the new CDF Act 2023 which requires the establishment of a Constituency Development Committee (CDC) which serves as a vital decision-making body for the Constituency Development Program (CDP).

Chaired by the Member of Parliament (MP) of a constituency; the membership of the CDC as required by law must include a women’s representative, a youth representative, and a community representative. Other members may be appointed by the Permanent Secretary of MRD on the request of the Constituency Office and based on its specific need.

For instance, the EAC identifies that whilst the CDF Act 2023 specifies inclusive community participation in decision making process of a constituency; it does not specify how this should be undertaken.

“The EAC took a step further and establish a planning and budgeting structure to ensure communities participate in decision-making regarding the planning and budgeting for the use of CDF including its monitoring of programme and project implementation,” CDO Manata said.

CDO Manata further added that effective governance structures are crucial for successful rural development because they ensure resources are allocated transparently and development initiatives are implemented effectively with the needs of rural communities addressed in a participatory and sustainable manner.

“Without strong governance, rural development projects may face challenges such as corruption of processes and resources, lack of accountability, and insufficient community involvement, which hinder progress and sustainability,” he emphasized.

MRD Principal Legal Officer Ms Diana Alasia who represented MRD at the workshop acknowledged the Member of Parliament for EAC, Honourable Peter Kenilorea Jr., and his constituency officers for allowing the ministry to be part of the workshop.

Ms. Alasia stated that, with the reforms undertaken by the ministry, MRD is committed to helping all constituencies improve on how they implement the Constituency Development program.

Ms. Alasia also delivered a presentation on the overall aims and objectives of the CDF Act 2023 and clarified some of the legal implications stipulated under the new law.

Participants also took the opportunity to ask questions and discuss their concerns about the new Act, which were clarified.

“The workshop marks a pivotal moment for EAC, setting the stage for coordinated efforts to achieve sustainable development and improved livelihoods in the constituency,” Mr. Manata said.

The CDF is a national program of the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) and is implemented across the 50 constituencies through the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), with the aim of improving the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders.

It was initially established by the government in 1989, along with the Solomon Islands Communities and Provincial Special Assistance Fund (SICOPSA), to assist MPs in responding promptly to the urgent needs of their constituents.

Although SICOPSA was discontinued after its initial two years, its name was changed to the Rural Community Development Fund (RCDF), which eventually evolved into what is now known as the CDF.

The initial idea was to decentralize development resources and empower Members of Parliament (MPs) to address the specific needs and priorities of their constituencies.

The CDF Act 2023 came into commencement on January 5, 2024, with the purposes of strengthening good governance, ensuring improved and effective delivery mechanisms for development funds, and promoting equal and inclusive participation of all Solomon Islanders in development across the country.

Members of the Constituency Development Committee (CDC), community leaders, chiefs, church leaders, and constituency officers attended the workshop.

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