CAUSE II 4th ISM Gets Underway
HONIARA, Solomon Islands –THE Fourth Implementation Support Mission (ISM) for the Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement Project Phase II (CAUSE II) has commenced in Honiara, bringing together the Solomon Islands Government, the World Bank, project partners and implementing agencies to review progress and agree on priorities for the next phase of implementation.
The mission, which began on 7 September and will continue through 2 October 2026, is providing a comprehensive review of CAUSE II implementation across its five components, while also considering additional financing and opportunities to further strengthen the project’s climate resilience and development impact.
Implementation Support Missions are an important part of the World Bank’s partnership with government projects. They provide an opportunity for the World Bank and implementing partners to take stock of progress, identify challenges, review implementation arrangements and agree on priority actions to keep project activities on track.
For CAUSE II, the fourth ISM is reviewing progress across areas including resilient township development, safe and inclusive communities, urban productivity, land administration and urban management, as well as project management and systems. Discussions are also addressing environmental and social risk management, monitoring and evaluation, procurement, financial management, communications and citizen engagement.
A significant focus of the mission is additional financing, including proposed activities to strengthen climate resilience, community-based flood mitigation and improved access to infrastructure and services. The mission is also supporting preparations for the project’s Mid-Term Review and reviewing longer-term implementation and sustainability priorities.
The mission will include field activities in Western Province, where the World Bank and project team will visit Gizo and Noro and participate in the official handover of 19 completed Component 2 community infrastructure sub-projects – nine in Gizo on 22 September and 10 in Noro on 23 September.
Later in the mission, discussions will also focus on CAUSE II’s Integrated Land Information System (ILIS), valuation and revenue mobilization workstreams, and the finalization of key ILIS instruments. The mission will conclude with a wrap-up meeting on 2 October to present findings and agree on priority actions arising from the review.
CAUSE II is a Government of Solomon Islands initiative implemented through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Honiara City Council, in collaboration with relevant national and provincial government partners. The project is supported by the World Bank and the Government of Australia through the Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands Umbrella Facility Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
The US$37 million CAUSE II project builds on the achievements of the first CAUSE project and is supporting climate-resilient infrastructure, economic inclusion and stronger urban service delivery in Honiara, Greater Guadalcanal, Auki in Malaita and Gizo, Noro and Munda in the Western Province.
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