The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Provincial Governments and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) have recently formalized their commitment to further cooperation in the area of “Strengthening Provincial Governance and Service Delivery in Solomon Islands.”
A Letter of Agreement (LoA) was signed at the UNDP Office in Honiara, marking a significant milestone in advancing this joint endeavour.
This LoA was signed by Mr. Stanley D Pirione, Permanent Secretary of MPGIS and Mr. Berdi Berdiyev, Country Manager and Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Solomon Islands.
The agreement paves the way for implementation of activities under the Provincial Governance Service Delivery Project supported by the European Union. This partnership solidifies the mutual dedication to improving provincial governments’ institutional capacity and enhancing service delivery, particularly in the crucial sectors of health and education, especially the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector at the provincial level.
Expressing gratitude for UNDP’s exceptional support to the Government of Solomon Islands, Mr. Pirione acknowledged the signing of the LoA as a valuable instrument for empowering the ministry to enhance provincial government performance in service delivery through heightened transparency and accountability.
“Signing of the LoA will help the ministry to support provincial government to improve their performance in service delivery through enhanced transparency and accountability,” he said.
In response, Mr. Berdiiyev commended the MPGIS for its commendable efforts and underscored the LoA as a significant step towards accelerating decentralization, promoting effective governance, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by prioritizing improved service delivery, including reaching marginalizaed populations.
He said, “This LoA will reinforce our journey towards accelerating decentralization, promoting governance, and achieving the SDGs through improved service delivery by reaching the furthest behind.”
This collaborative agreement sets the stage for a transformative journey towards bolstering provincial governance, strengthening service provision, and fostering inclusive development in the Solomon Islands.
Both parties are committed to working closely together to advance these shared goals and make a lasting impact on the lives of the Solomon Islands citizens.
Source: Press Release, UNDP Solomon Islands