Outcome SLB_D_2.3

Local governments and market management are gender responsive and accountable to women market vendor needs

During this reporting year this outcome is on track for the project. Western Provincial Government, Malaita Provincial Government & Honiara City Council are being gender responsive and accountable to women market vendor needs. This is evident in the implementation of the Market Ordinance Review and the participation of MVAs in the consultations and discussions. There are key recommendations agreed at the Market Ordinance review which accommodates key gender perspectives. For example the inclusion of Market Vendor Association in Market Board and Market Steering committees across 3 markets in Solomon Islands, and having female wardens in the markets, recognizing the need to ensure the market environment is inclusive and responsive to women vendors needs. Four Project Management and Working committee meeting held this year, MVA presidents and market managements were able to discuss and dialogue on issues affecting women vendors at the markets. The Western, Malaita and Honiara market authorities recognized the important role MVAs play at the markets. Such as given MVAs to organise vendors at the markets. MVAs are more confident to approach market authorities and discuss issues, resulting in a conducive market for vendors.

Local Govts and market management are gender-responsive and accountable to women market vendor needs

The capacity and commitment of Solomon Islands partners to ensure safe and secure market spaces have continued to grow. In 2022, local government bodies, namely the Malaiata Provincial Government, the Western Provincial Government, and the Honiara City Council that are overseeing the Auki Market, Gizo Market, the Honiara City Market, and the Munda Markets, worked with UN Women and other partners to strengthen the legal landscape for marketplaces, through the development of market public ordinances. A feature of the ordinances is the promotion of gender equity in market management and market supervisory roles. In addition, the four markets, namely the Auki Market, Gizo Market, the Honiara City Market, and the Munda Markets have developed their respective Market Disaster Preparedness Plans, which are gender responsive and protection inclusive – the development of which also led by the Malaiata Provincial Government, the Western Provincial Government, and the Honiara City Council in partnership with the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management office. UN Women provided technical support and guidance for the development of the ordinances and plans.