Solomon Islands
Joint Strategy Meeting:
Objectives, Methodology and Messages
1.
Background and Justification
1.1
Context
In September 2007, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF conducted joint technical consultations to
develop the Country Programme Action Plans 2008-2012 (CPAPs). This exercise culminated in
October with a High-Level Review Meeting, attended by Permanent Secretaries and Directors,
and the three UN Representatives. The High-Level Review Meeting reviewed the Results and
Resources Frameworks (RRFs) for the three agency CPAPs. Based on the recommendation of
the meeting participants, the CPAP RRFs were submitted to Cabinet for formal endorsement.
At the meeting, the Government requested for the review exercise to be an annual event, and
specifically asked for additional UN agencies to be involved.
In April 2008, at the launch of the Joint Country Presence, the Prime Minister requested that the
UN consider expanding the “jointness” to include other resident and non-resident agencies. He
specifically mentioned annual reviews, in this context. Following consultations among the Joint
Presence agencies, it was agreed that the annual review meeting would be held at the end of
October—with the participation of the Prime Minister—and that all UN agencies which are
party to the UNDAF would be invited to participate.
1.2
Development Funding
In 2008, the Solomon Islands Recurrent and Development Budgets totalled SBD 2.6 billion
(approximately USD 350 million). Of this amount, 59 per cent is funded by bilateral and
multilateral donors.
The United Nations departments, offices, funds and programmes—collectively—are among the
smallest of the donors to the Solomon Islands. The two agencies with the largest programmes in
the country, UNDP and UNICEF, together account for just 0.7 % of total funding. Australia is
by far the largest donor, followed by the EU, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan. For details,
please see Figure 1.2.1, below.
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Figure 1.2.1: Sources of Total Funds : 2008
Australia
39.1%
EU
6.4%
PNG
0.5%
Japan
2.5%
GEF/ODI/SPC
0.2%
NZ
3.8%
UNDP
0.4%
Other
2.2%
UNICEF
0.3%
ADB
2.0%
World Bank
0.8%
ROC
3.2%
SIG
40.9%
Source: Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination
The differences in contribution levels are mitigated somewhat when the “RAMSI effect” is
removed from the equation (see Figure 1.2.2, below). However, the UN remains a “niche”
player.1
Figure 1.2.2: Sources of Non-Security Development Funds : 2008
EU
14.8%
Japan
5.9%
PNG
1.1%
GEF/ODI/SPC
0.5%
NZ
7.8%
UNDP
0.9%
Australia
37.6%
Other
5.0%
UNICEF
0.8%
World Bank
1.8%
SIG
16.9%
ADB
4.5%
ROC
7.5%
Source: Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination
1.3
Commitment to Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda
The Solomon Islands is keenly aware of its responsibilities under the Paris Declaration and the
Accra Agenda for Action. In order to comply with its Paris Declaration commitment to
strengthening country ownership over development, it has developed a Medium Term
Development Strategy 2008 to 2010 (MTDS). The Government is using the MTDS to structure
its dialogues with all donors—both bilateral and multilateral—and is requiring donors to
Government of the Solomon Islands. July 2008. “Medium Term Development Strategy 2008 to 2010,” p.
F.9.
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explicitly link their programming to the development priorities and programmes elaborated in
the MTDS.
Within the development context described in 1.2 above—and in line with the Paris
Declaration—the Government is eager to reduce its transaction costs when dealing with the
United Nations agencies working in Solomon Islands. It has been a staunch advocate of greater
UN coherence, and frequently urges the UN agencies to work more closely together and to use
common reporting and planning tools.
2.
Objectives
The main objective of the high-level review/Joint Strategy Meeting is to obtain high-level
endorsement of the UN’s development work in Solomon Islands—including draft
annual workplans for 2009—and recognition of the UN’s contribution to the
achievement of the Government’s Medium-Term Development Strategy.
As one of the Joint Presence countries in the Pacific, the Solomon Islands Government is
very aware of the “One UN” agenda and progress in other countries. They are strongly
supportive of greater UN coherence, and have consistently lobbied for greater involvement of
all UN agencies in joint programming, review and reporting initiatives. Bilateral and
multilateral donors are also monitoring the Joint Presence initiative, and have been active in
lobbying for greater coordination of the UN agencies working in the country.
3.
Methodology
The UN Local Team in Honiara2 discussed the proposed annual review at a meeting on 9 July
2008. At the meeting, it was proposed that the annual review exercise be conducted in two
stages:
 Technical review of progress on 2008 AWP and review of draft 2009 AWP; and
 High-level review of the UN programme.
Thirteen United Nations agencies3 have indicated their willingness to participate in the technical
reviews and/or the high-level review.
Technical consultations are currently under way, and are expected to be completed by 17
October 2008. This will enable time for the participating agencies to revise the documentation
on 2008 progress and draft 2009 annual work plans based on the technical review discussions; to
create consolidated presentations on the MTDS thematic areas; and to identify overarching
issues and risks which will need to be addressed at the high-level session. The high-level review
meeting will be held on 30 October.
At a meeting on 23 September to discuss the strategy for engaging with Government at the
high-level review/Joint Strategy Meeting, the UN Local Team agreed on the following
elements:
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Currently comprising UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO.
UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNESCO, UNIFEM, FAO, UNV, UNIDO, ILO, WMO, OHCHR and
UNCDF.
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3.1
Progress reports and 2009 AWPs to be presented according to MTDS categories
in order to maximize government ownership of the review process.
The relevant development priorities—and sub-categories are:
 Public Sector Development (UNDAF Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4)
 National Government
 Provincial Government
 Reconciliation and Rehabilitation (UNDAF Outcome 2)
 Reconciliation
 Cultural Identity
 Social Services Sector (UNDAF Outcomes 2 and 3)
 Education
 Health and Medical Services
 Economic and Productive Sectors (UNDAF Outcomes 1 and 4)
 Rural Development
 Natural Resources
 Commerce and Trade
 Land
 Environmental Protection and Management
 Civil Affairs (UNDAF Outcomes 2 and 3)
 Women
 Youth
 Children
 Sports Sector
 National Disaster Risk Management
In addition, a sub-category on “Monitoring” will be included, which will refer to Annex A of the
MTDS (UNDAF Outcome 1).
3.2 A “coordinating agency” will coordinate all UN inputs to the different MTDS
categories.
The coordinating agency will assist the Government to prepare a presentation on the UN’s
support to the MTDS for delivery at the Joint Strategy Meeting, and will coordinate with
other coordinating agencies to ensure consistency of format, content and style across
presentations.
The suggested coordinating agencies are:
 Public Sector Development – UNDP
 Reconciliation and Rehabilitation – UNDP
 Social Services Sector Education – UNICEF
 Social Services Sector Health – UNFPA
 Economic and Productive Sectors – UNDP
 Civil Affairs – UNICEF
 Monitoring - UNDP
The suggested coordinating agencies were chosen based on their existing/planned programme
in the MTDS category, and also their current status as resident agencies. Coordinating
agencies will be responsible for coordinating with all other agencies working within the
MTDS category, consolidating inputs into a single presentation on behalf of all United
Nations agencies.
The UN Local Team is currently discussing with the Government whether Government
ministries will deliver the presentations at the high-level review/Joint Strategy Meeting. This
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was proposed in 2007, but the Government declined (the UN agencies did the presentations).
It is hoped that with greater familiarity with the review mechanism, the Government will this
year agree to do the presentations.
3.3
Joint presentation on implementation issues4 and risks5
Through review of past and future UN annual workplans, a number of existing and future
risks and issues impacting implementation will be highlighted. During the technical
consultations, the participating Government departments and UN agencies will identify and
discuss these risks and issues. In the week between the technical consultations and the highlevel review, these risks and issues will be grouped and consolidated in order to identify the
3-5 risks/issues with the greatest potential impact on the implementation of UN programmes.
These risks/issues will then be discussed at the high-level review meeting, and consensus will
be reached on strategies for mitigation and remediation.
The draft agenda for the high-level review/Joint Strategy Meeting is attached herewith as
Annex A.
4.
Messages
Due to the one-day format of the Joint Strategy Meeting, and to the number of UN agencies
which will be participating in the event, it will be necessary to agree in advance on common
messages and themes which will be touched on in the presentations. Some suggestions
include:

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
The UN is supporting the Government to implement the MTDS.
The UN is helping the Government to attain the MDGs (both global and national
MDGs).
The UN is helping the Government to meet its international treaty obligations (Kyoto
Protocol, Convention on the Rights of the Child, etc.)
The UN links the Government to global expertise, and the experiences of other
countries in similar development situations.
The UN is working toward greater coherence in the Pacific.
Wherever possible, issues will be raised or statements will be made “on behalf of the United
Nations system”, rather than as the position of individual agencies.
5.
Expected outputs of the exercise
Expected general outputs of the high-level review/Joint Strategy Meeting are the following:
1) High-level endorsement of 2008 progress reports and draft 2009 annual workplans.
“Issues” are defined as unsettled matters—often under discussion or in dispute—or matters on the verge of
decision. For instance, an issue might be the source of Government funding for the “Free Basic Education for
All” programme post- 2012, when logging revenue is expected to decline sharply. This decision will affect UN
programming in the education sector.
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“Risks” are defined as the chance that a situation will result in a loss or hazard. For example, the risk that
programme implementation will be delayed due to a lack of technically qualified consultants, or the risk that a
certain percentage of vaccines will spoil due to lack of electricity in provincial health centres. Either of these
would affect the UN’s ability to deliver on its programmes.
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2) Recommendations related to remediation of and/or preparation for “risks” and “issues”
associated with the implementation of UN programmes.
3) High-level endorsement of (or recommendations on) the draft UNDAF Monitoring and
Evaluation Framework.
An expected output specific to the UN is the following:
4) Contribution to the UNDAF Outputs and Outcomes Annual Report.
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Annex A
AGENDA
Joint In-Country Annual Review
High-Level Review Meeting
30 October 2008, Mendana Hotel
08:30
Opening Prayer and Welcome Remarks
Mrs. Jane Wa’etara, Permanent Secretary, MDPAC
08:50
Remarks on behalf of the United Nations agencies in the Pacific
Mr. Richard Dictus, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident
Representative
09:10
Remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Development Planning and Aid
Coordination
Honourable Minister Steve Abana
09:30
Keynote speech on UN-Solomon Islands Cooperation
Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Derek Sikua
10:00
Coffee Break
10:30
The UN’s contributions towards the Medium-Term Development Strategy
 Governance at National and Provincial Levels
 Reconciliation and Rehabilitation
 Social Services Sector – Education
 Social Services Sector – Health
 Economic and Productive Sectors
 Civil Affairs
12:00
Lunch Break
13:00
Presentation and discussion on implementation issues and risks
14:30
Tea Break
15:00
UNDAF Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
Mr. Najib Assifi, UNFPA Representative and Director of Country Technical
Services Team
16:00
Session wrap-up and next steps
17:00
High-Level Review Meeting closes
Master of ceremonies:
Mr. Allan Daonga, Director of Aid Coordination, MDPAC
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