Four civil society organisations in the Solomon Islands have received funding under Phase 2 of the Small Grants Initiative (SGI), a program designed to strengthen community-led, climate-resilient development across the Pacific. The funding awards were announced at an event hosted by the New Zealand High Commission in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), supported through New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This partnership ensures that climate finance reaches accountable local organisations while reinforcing national systems for long-term resilience.
Following earlier phases in Tuvalu and Fiji, the Solomon Islands rollout reflects SGI’s ongoing expansion across the region, aimed at empowering civil society to lead locally-driven resilience initiatives. Civil society organisations play a critical role in delivering services, supporting livelihoods, and enhancing community resilience, but many face limitations in governance, capacity, and resources that hinder their ability to scale solutions effectively.
SGI addresses these challenges by combining funding with institutional support, including mentoring, governance strengthening, and technical guidance provided through UNDP’s Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Gov4Res). This approach ensures projects are community-led, gender-responsive, and built on a strong foundation for sustainable implementation. Phase 2 of the initiative allocates US$200,000 in grants to four community-driven projects scheduled for implementation in 2026, each aligned with national development priorities and climate resilience goals.
The grantees include Greenergy Pacific, the ACOM Care Foundation Trust Board, the Gizo Women in Business Development Trust Board, and the Tabata Ward Development Committee. These organisations will lead initiatives that strengthen climate resilience, livelihoods, and local governance in partnership with communities throughout the Solomon Islands. New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Curr emphasized that the initiative ensures climate finance reaches community organisations while providing the capability support necessary to deliver practical adaptations at the local level.
UNDP Pacific Deputy Resident Representative in Solomon Islands, Dr. Raluca Eddon, highlighted that the grants are complemented by capacity-building support, enabling civil society to access climate finance and deliver resilient development beyond the initiative’s timeframe. Grantees participated in a two-day workshop to strengthen skills in risk-informed project design, gender equality and social inclusion, financial management, climate adaptation, and reporting, equipping them to achieve measurable, lasting impact.
Gov4Res will continue to support grantees throughout implementation, aligning projects with national systems and contributing to long-term resilience across the Solomon Islands. Phase 2 of SGI is also active in Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, fostering partnerships between governments, civil society, and development agencies to deliver Pacific-led solutions. The program receives backing from the Australian Government, Korea International Cooperation Agency, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
