Solomon Islands Threshold Program

"Freedom 250 asks us to look back 250 years and forward 250 more." - Charge d’Affaires Dan O’Hara 🇺🇸🤝🇸🇧

Investors alone are not enough. Building a stronger tourism sector requires the right policies, partnerships, and processes.

These priorities were the focus of last week's 11th Accessing Land for Tourism Investment Facilitation (ALTIF) Tourism Investment Task Force meeting, where the Solomon Islands Government and the U.S. Government reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening tourism investment.

Chaired by Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Bunyan Sivoro, the Task Force discussed ALTIF's work to strengthen the policy and institutional environment for tourism investment.

Progress was made to further reforms that improve access to land, facilitate development over water, strengthen cross-government coordination, and support community preparedness for tourism investment.

"Strong coordination across government is essential to creating an enabling environment for responsible tourism investment,” said MCC Resident Threshold Director, Mr. Charles Jakosa. “Through ALTIF, we are supporting reforms that improve investment processes, strengthen collaboration, and help ensure tourism delivers lasting benefits for Solomon Islanders."

Funded by the American people through the Millennium Challenge Corporation - MCC, ALTIF supports reforms to increase tourism investment and unlock economic opportunities for Solomon Islanders.

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📸 Roger Dakamae

How can stronger forest management help deliver Solomon Islands’ national development priorities?

This was the key question at last week’s Forest Value Enhancement Project (FoVEP) Task Force meeting, where Solomon Islands Government and the U.S. Government reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening forest management and supporting the country’s national development priorities.

Chaired by PS Ministry of Forestry and Research, Mr. Richard Raomae, the meeting provided an opportunity for Task Force members to discuss program updates, government priorities, and opportunities to align FoVEP activities with the Solomon Islands’ GREAT Coalition Policy.

Discussions drew particular attention on how FoVEP can contribute to the implementation of Solomon Islands’ GREAT Coalition Government Policy, which sets the country's national development agenda and includes a focus on strengthening institutions and building a productive economy – a shared focus of the Solomon Islands Threshold Program.

Further program updates were provided by Nakau, highlighting the recent commemoration of Yato in Makira achieving Protected Area status. The extraordinary achievement has meant that close to 10,000 hectares of rainforest is now legally protected, making Yato the largest protected forest in Solomon Islands. This achievement paves the way for communities to receive greater long-term value for their forest resources and promote the resilience of domestic supply chains.

“Strong coordination is essential to delivering meaningful results,” said MCC Resident Threshold Director, Mr. Charles Jakosa. “These discussions reinforced our shared commitment to working collaboratively, maintaining momentum across project activities, and ensuring FoVEP continues to support forest value enhancement in Solomon Islands.”

This work, funded by the American people through the Millennium Challenge Corporation - MCC, reflects the U.S. commitment to strengthening partnerships and creating long-term economic opportunities for Solomon Islanders.

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📸 Roger Dakamae

We are proud of the U.S.-Solomon Islands bilateral partnership driving engagement to foster opportunities for growth in Solomon Islands.
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The Millennium Challenge Corporation - MCC was pleased to welcome Prime Minister Matthew Wale to MCC headquarters in Washington, DC, where Acting Chief of Staff Dan Petrie reaffirmed our shared commitment to strengthening forest management and unlocking tourism opportunities through the Solomon Islands Threshold Program.

These efforts support long-term economic growth in the Solomon Islands while creating avenues for deeper U.S.–Solomon Islands cooperation.

Together, we’re building a more resilient and prosperous Pacific future.

⭐ DEADLINE EXTENDED ⭐

A reminder that we have extended the closing date to submit responses to our RfP for Aerial Survey and Surface Modeling at Papatura Fa’a Island.

Applicants wishing to submit a proposal may do so by Friday, July 24 at 5pm Melbourne time.

Click through to learn more and submit your proposal.
🔗 https://sithp.com.sb/press-news/posts/request-for-proposal-aerial-survey-and-surface-modeling-papatura-fa-a-island

✨ WORK WITH US ✨

We are seeking qualified bidders to submit proposals in response to this Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Aerial Survey and Surface Modeling of Papatura Fa’a Island.

We anticipate that the period of performance for this activity will commence in August and end in October2026.

Click through to learn more and submit your proposal.

🔗 https://sithp.com.sb/press-news/posts/request-for-proposal-aerial-survey-and-surface-modeling-papatura-fa-a-island/

Nafinua Island is a renowned getaway for surfers, fishing lovers, and adventure seekers alike. But beyond its crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches, life on Nafinua is about culture and the stories of its people.

Discussions during recent SITHP engagements highlighted a major opportunity: while Nafinua Surf Retreat continues to attract international visitors, there is still untapped potential for local communities to shape the cultural experiences that visitors are seeking.

From traditional warrior dances to handmade crafts and local storytelling, Nafinua’s cultural expressions offer meaningful opportunities for communities to share their heritage while generating income.

However, gaps in communication and planning have limited many of these opportunities.

SITHP is addressing these challenges through a social licensing model that builds clear agreements and stronger communication between the resort, landowners and communities. This work will help ensure that cultural contributions are better organised, fairly valued, and consistently delivered.

With the right systems in place, Nafinua has the potential to further enrich Solomon Islands’ tourism sector and offer visitors a richer, more authentic experience that creates lasting economic opportunities for local communities.