CAUSE II Steering Committee Review Progress and 2027 Plans

HONIARA, Solomon Islands — THE CAUSE II Project Steering Committee met in Honiara on 8 October 2026 to review implementation progress across the project’s five components and discuss priorities for the 2027 workplan and budget.

The key highlight of the meeting was the Committee's approval of the CAUSE II Calendar Year 2027 (CY2027) Budget, with a total allocation of SBD 140.4 million, which sets the financial basis for project activities in the year ahead.

Co-chaired by Honiara City Council Clerk Justus Denni and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Mike Qaqara, the meeting brought together senior government officials and representatives of the Project Implementation Unit to discuss progress and provide direction for the project’s next phase.

In his welcome remarks, Mr Denni highlighted the importance of the Steering Committee as the project’s highest decision-making body, providing a platform for government partners to review implementation progress and guide future priorities.

The Project Management Unit presented updates across the five components, covering resilient township development, safe and inclusive communities, urban productivity, land administration and urban management, and project management.

Following the presentations, the Steering Committee reviewed and approved the CAUSE II CY2027 Budget. The approved budget provides the financial framework for delivering the 2027 workplan across all five components, including the expected scale-up of infrastructure works under component 1, and allows the Project Implementation Unit (PMU) to proceed with planned activities from the start of the new year.

Closing the meeting, Mr Qaqara welcomed the project’s progress and emphasized the importance of continued government support and collaboration to move implementation forward. He also noted the anticipated increase in project activity as infrastructure works under Component 1 advance, including road maintenance initiatives.

He noted that the approval of the CY2027 Budget places the project in a strong position to deliver on these commitments.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of collective government oversight and clear direction to sustain implementation and advance CAUSE II’s development objectives.

Implemented by the Solomon Islands Government, the CAUSE II Project is supported by the World Bank and the Australian Government through the PNG and Pacific Islands Umbrella Facility Multi-Donor Trust Fund

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