First Footpath Project Completed Under CAUSE II in Noro Township

22 August 2025

The first community footpath project under the Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement (CAUSE II) Project has been successfully completed in Noro Township, a bustling urban and economic center in the Western Province. This milestone marks a significant step in improving safe and inclusive access for both schools and local communities.

The 208-meter footpath was completed on 6 August 2025, just in time for the school opening, through the dedicated efforts of 15 community workers engaged under the CAUSE II program. One of the main beneficiaries is Ferguson Adventist Academy, known locally as Rita School, where 219 students—including 107 kindergarten pupils and 112 primary students—now have safer and easier passage to school.

Speaking at the completion of the project, Headmistress Rita Hivae expressed her gratitude on behalf of the school community:

“This footpath is a blessing for our children. It will make their daily journey to school much safer, especially during rainy days. We thank CAUSE II and the community workers for their hard work and support.”

 

Beyond providing safer access, the project highlights CAUSE II’s commitment to enhancing community resilience and urban services while also generating short-term employment opportunities for local workers in Noro.

A Government of Solomon Islands initiative, CAUSE II is led by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Honiara City Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey, and the Provincial Governments of Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Western Province. 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 (PPIUF).