One of the great privileges of being Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands is meeting the people and organisations working to make their communities stronger.

Civil society organisations connect communities, help people participate in decisions that affect them, and bring diverse voices into national conversations.

Representatives of civil society organisations sign their grant agreements with Australian High Commission officials.

Over the last three years, Australia has invested around SBD 17 million to strengthen these organisations.

At the heart of our support for civil society is a simple principle: Solomon Islands’ development should be shaped and led by Solomon Islanders.

The program is a broad one and the list of organisations we work with is long.

We support the Development Services Exchange (DSE), an umbrella body that strengthens coordination across the sector and helps civil society engage collectively.

We partner with Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI), whose research, outreach and advocacy make complex governance issues more accessible.

We work with the Solomon Islands Climate Action Network (SICAN), strengthening locally led climate advocacy and bringing community perspectives into national, regional and international climate discussions.

We support the National Youth Congress and its networks, helping young Solomon Islanders, including those from the provinces, participate in decisions about their country’s future.

Through the Solomon Islands National Council of Women and its affiliates, we support women’s leadership and stronger networks between women’s organisations at national and provincial levels.

The National Disability Forum was able to purchase a vehicle using its CSSP grant.

We partner with People with Disability Solomon Islands and the National Disability Forum to strengthen the voice and participation of people with disability.

We support women-led organisations including the West Are’Are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA), which create opportunities for women to organise and lead within their communities.

The West Are’Are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA) is using its CSSP grant to create opportunities for women to organise and lead within their communities.

We engage with churches and faith-based organisations, including the Anglican Church of Melanesia’s ‘Men’s Care’ initiative, recognising their deep community connections and potential to support change on issues from family wellbeing and youth engagement to respectful relationships.

Our support has also reached Dreamcast Theatre, which uses arts and storytelling to give Solomon Islanders a platform to speak about issues affecting their lives.

These grants help organisations strengthen governance, leadership, strategic planning, financial management, safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation, research and advocacy. Strong organisations can better serve their members, manage resources responsibly, advocate effectively and sustain their work.

Whether talking with youth leaders, disability advocates, climate campaigners, church leaders or artists, I am continually struck by the depth of knowledge within Solomon Islands communities. These organisations understand the challenges because they live them, and as a consequence they understand the solutions.

Building communities, Australian High Commission
officials handing over the Visale Catholic Church
Leaf Hut.

Our role as a development partner is to listen, build genuine partnerships and provide resources that enable local organisations to pursue their own priorities. Lasting change is more likely when Solomon Islanders own it.

One lesson from our partners is clear: building strong organisations and networks takes time.

A strong civil society gives people a voice, strengthens accountability and trust, and helps ensure women, young people, people with disability, provincial and faith communities can contribute to their country’s future.

We are proud to help amplify local voices. But those voices, and the leadership behind them, belong to Solomon Islanders.

Our job is to listen, to partner, and to support.

Lukim iu neks taem!