BY NED GAGAHE

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka, on Friday, signed an amended Grant Agreement for the Kilu’ufi Hospital Expansion Project with the Ambassador of Japan to the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Keiichi Higuchi.

The original Exchange of Notes and Grant Agreement for the improvement and expansion of Kilu’ufi Hospital in Malaita Province was signed in June 2023, with Japan providing an initial grant of 2.011 billion yen (SBD $120 million).

However, due to global price escalations and the depreciation of the Japanese yen, work on installing medical equipment and facilities was suspended following the project’s commencement in October 2024.

The amended agreement now provides additional grant aid to resume the suspended components of the project. An additional 356 million yen (SBD $20 million) has been allocated, bringing the total project value to 2.367 billion yen (SBD $130 million).

Minister Agovaka expressed his deep gratitude to the Government of Japan for its continued support and emphasized the significance of this collaboration.

“I am so honored to have you all here this morning to witness the signing of the amended Grant Agreement regarding the Kilu’ufi Hospital Expansion Project. Excellency, such a kind gesture shown by the Government of Japan is again one of those obvious indicators of the unwavering friendship between our two countries.

“Allow me to express our heartfelt and deepest acknowledgement and appreciation to the Government of Japan for the invaluable support extended to the Solomon Islands over the years,” Minister Agovaka said.

The Minister further highlighted that once completed, Kilu’ufi Hospital will serve at least 24% of the country’s population. He added that Kilu’ufi is the only public hospital in Malaita Province, which is the most densely populated province in the country.

“Given its accessibility by boats and aircraft, patients from neighboring provinces can also opt to seek medical treatments and services there once the Kilu’ufi Hospital Expansion Project is completed,” Agovaka said.

Ambassador Higuchi also expressed his appreciation to everyone involved in advancing the project and reaffirmed Japan’s continued commitment to the Solomon Islands.

He stated that the recent visit by Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to the hospital site, noting that it reflects the enthusiasm surrounding the initiative.

“Although I have not yet traveled to Malaita Province, I would like to visit the hospital and explore Malaita at an early opportunity. This project responds to the calls made by Prime Minister Hon. Manele during the Tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held last year in Japan.

“Lastly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who have been working for this project, including officials of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, officials of the Malaita Provincial Government, staff at Kilu’ufi, consultants, and contractors,” Ambassador Higuchi said.

The newly improved Kilu’ufi Hospital is set to open next year.

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By Loretta B Manele

Under the “Transformations Agenda”, the aim is working towards achieving a 100 percent sustainable ocean economy.

Dr Tom Pickerill of World Resources Institute discussed this when contributing to the Honiara Summit which focused on SDG 14.4 “Achieving Sustainable Resources” in late February this year.

He explained that there is the Ocean Panel which is currently formed of 18 members from across the globe and they collectively contribute 37% of the world’s exclusive economic services.

Pickerill said they have prepared what is called the “Transformations Agenda” which is their roadmap to 2030 that sets the tone to how they are going to get a sustainable ocean economy.

“The keystone of this Transformations Agenda is their headline commitment, which is by 2025, or within five years of joining, whatever is soon, to sustainably manage 100% of their national waters.

So just to put that in perspective, we have 37% of the world’s exclusive economic zones committing to deliver 100% sustainable management of their national waters.”

Pickerill stated that this is a significant effort that goes towards ocean conservation and sustainable ocean economy.

He expressed that this initiative relates to the aim of the Honiara conference in three ways.

Pickerill said firstly, the 100% sustainable management is a solution to IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing) and overfishing in the sense that the 100% approach commits nations to manage 100% of their national waters whilst also ensuring that fisheries are not only productive, but also well-regulated.

He added that this directly supports SDG 14.4 by integrating real-time monitoring, stronger enforcement, transparency, all to eliminate IUU.

Pickerill said the second point is the 100% sustainable management as a framework for achieving 30 by 30 and marine biodiversity goals.

He stated that the 100% approach not only works to protect the 30%, but also ensures that the remaining 70%, in this example, is managed responsibly through a framework called a Sustainable Ocean Plan, or SOP.

Pickerill said it helps to ensure the balance between conservation and sustainable use.

He went on to state that the final point is on the 100% sustainable management as a political and financial catalyst.

Pickerill said the 100% approach provides a clear, actionable commitment that enables governments, donors and investors to align funding with national ocean priorities.

Henceforth, he noted that by linking RFMOs, (Regional fisheries management organisations) UN agencies, and multilateral agreements, such as the High Seas Treaty or the World Trade Organization subsidies reform, this approach ensures policy coherence and long-term investment, all necessary for SDG 14.

Pickerill also took the opportunity to stress that the 100% approach can be really formative in transforming fisheries management, both including marine conservation and political action however it should be extended.

“37% is admirable and a huge achievement, but it means there’s an awful lot left, 63% of the world left.”

Pickerill stated that in September last year, they launched something called the 100% Alliance, which seeks to expand the approach to all coastal and island nations, providing technical and financial assistance and resourcing.

“We invite you to join us in this endeavour and commit to 100% sustainable ocean management.”

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By Loretta B Manele

Partnership and cooperation have been stressed as vital components for fisheries management in the region and more broadly, globally.

Dr Darius Campbell, Secretary of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission took the opportunity to share how global partnerships work towards fisheries management during the Honiara Summit on SDG 14.4 “Achieving Sustainable Fisheries” late last month.

He explained that the regional fisheries body, Secretariat for Networks comprised of about 50 inter-governmental organizations covers all of the regions and areas like deep-sea, pelagic fishing, tuna and inland lake fishing as well as providing advice and legal binding measures.

Campbell said while each of their members reflect very different social, economic and environmental circumstances of their regions and the priorities of their member states, for them SDG 14.4 is really business as usual.

“We’re already working in partnership to share information on ecosystem-based fisheries management, on climate change, on sharing operational data with each other, where our parties have allowed that.

So, we do have a focus around the globe tackling issues such as illegal fishing that we can again do through our partnerships”

Moreover, Campbell expressed that he is glad to see how discussions in the Pacific reflect the understanding that is at the heart of all the Sustainable Development Goals and not just on SDG 14.4.

“And not even just SDG 14 on life underwater, but on food security, on health, on nutrition, on land and water use, on employment and on gender roles and processes, etc.”

Campbell highlighted that as fisheries bodies they can’t cover all these aspects so they work in cooperation with other members in the region and across sectors.

He said one example is of that the Regional Secretariat’s network that has had two regional consultations, one in the Western Indian Ocean and one in the Eastern Central Atlantic.

Campbell stated that through this cooperation, all of the fisheries bodies in these regions were involved along with key players like the Southern African Development Community or the Economic Community of West African States.

“These meetings have tackled the sort of what, why, who and how of dealing with fisheries issues of common interest in the region, particularly overlaps and species and working out practical partnerships to deal with this.”

Campbell mentioned that fisheries bodies also have a central role in conservation, both as users of the environment and as managers of human impacts.

He said they have good monitoring and control systems, scientific capacity and can put measures in place for the long-term biodiversity benefits alongside sustainable use.

Campbell stated that another example of cross-sectorial cooperation is under the Convention on Biological Diversity and Sustainable Ocean Initiative.

He said under this cooperation, there have been meetings of about 25 regional fisheries bodies and regional seas conventions since 2016.

“We’ve been meeting to talk about our respective strengths and competencies in protection of biodiversity and in management of resources.

This has been a very effective way of collaboration on biodiversity issues and also has included a regional focus, so my Pacific brothers and sisters have also been really reactive in the Sustainable Ocean Initiative.”

He explained that in terms of how they operate as any governmental organization, it’s usually that one or another country leads a new initiative or partnership hence member states have the right of initiative.

However, also mentioned is that as individuals, secretaries and other members of the organisational secretariat, they also have a role to lead and engage with others, look for links, opportunities and to develop partnerships.

He pointed out that the bottom line is that they all have an individual responsibility and opportunities to initiate and to lead cooperation at every level.

Campbell furthered that in some regions, capacity and resources limit actions whereas in other places, all the elements are in place to do what is needed but there is lack of political will.

“So, I would say to those who are represented here at the highest levels in government, we in the fisheries bodies are willing and able and we look to you to help us deliver the real solution for your priorities.”

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