29 January 2015: The World Bank and the Government of the Solomon Islands signed agreements for three projects related to fisheries management, poverty reduction, rural development and economic and fiscal reform in Honiara, the Solomon Islands.

The Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Programme (PROP), which includes financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to: build capacity to better manage coastal and ocean tuna fisheries, including improved vessel monitoring; ensure that fisheries benefits are equitably shared within countries; fund marine protected areas (MPAs); and enhance community capacity to manage coastal fisheries and their habitats. PROP also will promote regional coordination and implementation support and training for the Solomon Islands, the Federated State of Micronesia (FSM), the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu as well as the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).

At the signing ceremony, FFA Director General James Movick said improved sustainable management of coastal and ocean fisheries is critical to regional economic integration and growth. He noted that PROP builds on existing fisheries management policies and frameworks in the Pacific region.

The Government also signed agreements for the Rural Development Program Phase Two and an Economic Reform, which will target rural poverty and improve rural community access to education, energy, health, transport and water services, and the Recovery Development Policy Operation, which will support ongoing economic and financial reforms and provide rapid flood recovery assistance. The Government of Australia provided support for the Rural Development Program.

The three projects were approved and announced in December 2014. [World Bank Press Release, 30 January 2015] [World Bank Press Release, 22 December 2014] [PROP Website] [Rural Development Program Website]