Outcome SLB_D_2.2

By 2027, the operational, normative and collaborative potential of the UNCT Cooperation Frameworks to contribute to greater gender equality is fully optimised by UN Women’s interventions

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-WEB:1ab3d1c3-9e81-45e5-851a-d69775608ddd-22" data-testid="conversation-turn-36" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> The United Nations Country Team in Solomon Islands demonstrated measurable strengthening in 2025 in how gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) commitments are applied, reviewed, and accounted for under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework . This strengthening was enabled by UN Women ’s catalytic role in driving gender mainstreaming, reinforcing analytical rigour, and strengthening accountability for gender results across UNSDCF planning and reporting processes. At the operational level , the UNCT in Solomon Islands strengthened the way gender commitments are embedded within planning and validation processes. A key area of progression was the annual Country Implementation Plan (CIP) cycle, where gender review is embedded as an essential step in validation, with broader inter-agency participation and more consistent adherence to agreed GESI standards. Structured technical oversight and coordination by UN Women increased the depth and quality of feedback in 2025, resulting in more substantive revisions prior to finalisation. Gender analysis therefore functions not only as advisory input but as a recognised quality assurance checkpoint within UNSDCF implementation. Planning instruments demonstrate clearer articulation of gender results and stronger alignment with national frameworks, including the National Development Strategy and the National Gender Equality and Women’s Development Policy . Operational strengthening was also evident in the more consistent application and calibration of gender markers across agencies in UNSDCF reporting for Solomon Islands. Through inter-agency guidance, structured review, and technical clarification facilitated by UN Women, scoring practices became more harmonised, reducing variability and strengthening comparability across entities. Compliance with gender marker requirements improved, and reporting demonstrated greater consistency in how gender integration and associated resource allocations were reflected. These improvements enhanced the UNCT’s collective capacity to track and report gender results in a structured and accountable manner. At the normative level , UN Women coordinated the UNCT’s engagement in Solomon Islands with international accountability mechanisms, including CEDAW and the Universal Periodic Review . Alignment between treaty body recommendations and UNCT planning instruments became more deliberate in 2025, with normative commitments more clearly reflected in CIP priorities and joint advocacy positions. This strengthened the translation of international gender standards into nationally relevant policy dialogue and programming under the Cooperation Framework. At the collaborative level , strengthening was evident both within the UNCT and across national coordination platforms in Solomon Islands. Internally, performance deepened across thematic areas including governance, peacebuilding, economic policy, and electoral processes. Gender and Women, Peace and Security considerations were more consistently integrated into joint initiatives, supported by strengthened analytical inputs and coordinated use of gender-relevant data. Senior leadership engagement in gender review discussions during the CIP cycle increased, reinforcing institutional accountability and signalling that gender integration is a shared responsibility across agencies. Externally, multi-stakeholder coordination platforms demonstrated strengthened functionality and alignment around shared GESI priorities. The GEWD Policy National Stakeholders Taskforce operated as a structured mechanism for sustained dialogue, joint review, and policy alignment between government, civil society, and UN actors. Through facilitation and technical contributions by UN Women, collaboration within this platform became more structured and inclusive, reinforcing national ownership while positioning the UNCT as a more coherent partner on gender equality. At the individual and group level , UN staff and national counterparts in Solomon Islands demonstrated increased confidence in using gender-relevant data, policy tools, and analytical products to inform planning, dialogue, and decision-making. Improved access to coordinated information on budgets, assistance flows, and gender-focused research supported more informed and aligned engagement with national planning, financing, and governance processes. This behavioural shift reflects the practical effects of strengthened coordination systems: gender analysis is not only embedded in planning instruments but increasingly applied in institutional practice. Overall, UN Women’s catalytic contribution in Solomon Islands in 2025 lay in strengthening the functionality, consistency, and accountability of existing UNSDCF coordination mechanisms. The embedding of gender review within CIP validation, improved gender marker calibration, tighter normative alignment, strengthened leadership oversight, enhanced multi-stakeholder coordination, and increased analytical confidence collectively indicate a maturing coordination architecture. The UNCT in Solomon Islands is increasingly operating from a shared and institutionalised gender accountability framework, positioning it to advance gender equality in a coherent, systematic, and results-oriented manner through to 2027.

By 2027, the operational, normative and collaborative potential of the UNCT Cooperation Frameworks to contribute to greater gender equality is fully optimised by UN Women’s interventions

This outcome is on track. There has been some progress towards the realisation of the operational, normative, and collaborative potential of the Pacific United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) to contribute to greater gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Solomon Islands. The United Nations in the Pacific has committed to the rollout out of a comprehensive assessment of the United Nations System-wide Action Plan (UNCT-SWAP) Gender Equality Scorecard for a second time in less than 5 years. This commitment demonstrates willingness to being able to more concretely understand areas that need further joint action to progress gender mainstreaming and advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. The assessment will be undertaken across all three sub-regional United Nations Resident Coordinator Offices (RCOs) in a separate but coordinated manner as the RCOs come under one Pacific regional UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027). The Fiji RCO, overseeing the Solomon Islands Joint Presence Office, will be included in the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard assessment. In December 2023, the Government of the Solomon Islands signed the Solomon Islands Country Implementation Plan 2023-2024 (CIP), signifying a country-level agreement with the Pacific UNSDCF. The Solomon Islands CIP builds upon the Pacific United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027 (UNSDCF) developed by the United Nations (UN) and 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). The Solomon Islands CIP is firmly anchored to country-level priorities and structures and defines the UN actions and deliverables in the Solomon Islands, including those of UN Women, to help achieve the outcomes of the Pacific UNSDCF. The CIP will guide the joint efforts, and the collective results expected will help the Solomon Islands to ensure all people are equal and free to exercise their fundamental rights, enjoy gender equality and peace, remain resilient to existential threats, and live in harmony. Throughout 2023, UN Women played a pivotal role within the Joint Programme Presence in the Solomon Islands to advance and ensure the inclusion of gender equality and women's empowerment throughout the Solomon Islands CIP. Capacity building of agencies through training and access to tools and guidance on gender responsive programming was undertaken which in turn has advanced joint action on gender equality in the Solomon Islands. UN Women’s overarching commitment focused on supporting the Solomon Islands’ national development priorities on gender, Sustainable Development Goal 5, and alignments with international standards such as CEDAW and the Beijing Platform for Action.

By 2027, the operational, normative and collaborative potential of the UNCT Cooperation Frameworks to contribute to greater gender equality is fully optimised by UN Women’s interventions

UN Women in the Solomon Islands continues to progress in strengthening the UNCTs' capacity for advancing gender equality and women's empowerment. Through collaboration with the UN Local Team—comprising UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, IOM, FAO, WHO, UNCD and UNESCAP, UN Women led transformative efforts in supporting the Solomon Islands government's completion of its second Voluntary National Review (VNR). The successful VNR process exemplified systematic advancement of joint action on gender equality, reaching key government ministries, particularly the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) and the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC). The review process integrated gender perspectives throughout national development frameworks, ensuring the voices and needs of marginalized populations—including women, youth, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, and disaster-affected communities—were prominently featured across all nine provinces of the Solomon Islands. This comprehensive geographical coverage demonstrated a commitment to leaving no one behind, particularly in remote and traditionally underserved areas. UN Women's technical expertise strengthened national capacities through two pivotal achievements. First, the organization supported MWYCFA in developing the CEDAW 4th and 5th Combined Periodic Report, which demonstrated measurable progress in legislative compliance. A comprehensive review revealed that out of 76 legislative indicators, 32% now show full compliance with CEDAW, marking an improvement from 23% in 2006. This progress reflects enhanced institutional capacity and strengthened duty-bearer commitment to implement gender-responsive legislation while highlighting areas requiring continued attention to protect and promote women's rights. Second, collaboration with MNPDC on the National Development Strategy 2016-2035 mid-way review provided crucial insights into development challenges affecting women and marginalized groups. The review process is creating new pathways for gender-responsive policy implementation, emphasizing areas where enhanced focus is needed to ensure women benefit from development initiatives. This work specifically addressed gender-based violence through integrated approaches to protection and safety in crisis-affected communities, while establishing mechanisms for meaningful participation in national development processes. The enhanced institutional mechanisms for gender analysis and mainstreaming resulted in improved coordination across sectors. These initiatives demonstrate clear alignment with the Pacific UNSDCF 2023-2027, particularly in strengthening national mechanisms for inclusive development. The VNR process culminated in a successful presentation at the 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, showcasing Solomon Islands' progress while acknowledging particular vulnerabilities to climate change and natural disasters. This comprehensive approach ensures that gender equality remains central to resilience-building efforts across all sustainable development initiatives. The initiatives were implemented through direct collaboration between UN Women, key UN agencies, and national government ministries, particularly MWYCFA and MNPDC. These partnerships ensured effective coordination and sustainable capacity building for gender-responsive programming across the Solomon Islands, establishing a strong foundation for continued progress toward gender equality in the national development agenda.