World Bank Director Han Fraeters Visits CAUSE II Project Sites

Honiara, Solomon Islands – The Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement Project II (CAUSE II) was honored to host Mr. Han Fraeters, the World Bank Division Director for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, during his first visit to Solomon Islands.

  
Accompanied by representatives from the CAUSE II Project Management Unit, Mr. Fraeters visited ongoing and completed works in West Kola’a Valley, including drainage improvements, footpath rehabilitation, and solar lighting installations that form part of CAUSE II’s efforts to create safer, more accessible, and climate-resilient communities.

Since 2018, CAUSE has provided immediate income-generating opportunities and employment pathways for vulnerable urban populations by building community infrastructure and restoring critical tertiary roads across Honiara and surrounding areas. The visit highlighted the Project’s engagement in communities, inclusive participation, and the pride communities take in constructing and maintaining infrastructure with their own hands.

 
The delegation also visited the proposed Mbokona Bridge project that exemplifies the Project’s focus on improving essential urban infrastructure that enhances connectivity, manages flood risks, and supports safer mobility in vulnerable settlements. The upgrade of Mbokona Bridge showcases how CAUSE II integrates climate resilience, community benefit, and long-term sustainability into infrastructure design and delivery.

Another objective was to understand CAUSE’s employment pathways, which supports unskilled, unemployed, and vulnerable individuals including persons with disabilities - through literacy training, work readiness training, structured work placements, income-generation training, financial literacy, and referrals for further employment and education. These pathways equip beneficiaries with practical skills, documentation, and confidence to progress toward more sustainable livelihoods.

Fourteen hearing-impaired community workers under the CAUSE II Waste Cleaning and Collection Program clear clogged drainage along Vara Creek Road, contributing to safer and cleaner neighborhoods while gaining meaningful employment and practical skills. The World Bank Division Director Han Fraeters, CAUSE II Task Team Leader Ifeta Smajic, and CAUSE II Project Managers Cris Afable and Sam Belamide, met with the group to acknowledge their efforts and the program’s commitment to inclusive, community-driven development.

Finally, Mr. Fraeters examined CAUSE II’s efforts to strengthen sustainability and institutional capacity, including the training of local contractors and the transfer of systems and knowledge to Honiara City Council and Ministry of Infrastructure Development – such as the Community Contract Management, which supports transparency and improves implementation efficiency.

During the visit, Mr. Fraeters commended the dedication of the local workforce, many of whom are women and youth - highlighting how the Project not only delivers essential infrastructure but also provides meaningful employment and skills development opportunities.

“Seeing CAUSE II in action, it’s clear to me that this is an intelligent and practical response to the pressures that fast-growing towns are placing on communities in Solomon Islands,” said Mr. Fraeters. “Here, community infrastructure is more than roads and bridges — it becomes jobs, skills, and real opportunities for the people who need them most.”

Project Manager Cris Afable expressed appreciation for the World Bank’s continuous support and guidance, noting that the field visit provided valuable insights for future planning and implementation.
“Visits like these help ensure that our work remains grounded in community needs while staying aligned with Donor’s standards for sustainability and inclusion,” he said.

CAUSE II is implemented by the Solomon Islands Government and is supported by the World Bank and Australia through the Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands Umbrella Facility Multi-Donor Trust Fund. 

#CAUSEII #WorldBank #UrbanResilience #InclusiveDevelopment #SolomonIslands #CommunityEmpowerment #ClimateResilience #HoniaraCityCouncil
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