outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLB_D_2.5

Women market vendors have the ability to succeed and advance economically

Supportive and enabling marketplace environments are empowering women market vendors in the Solomon Islands to thrive and advance economically. This has included the institutionalising of policies and practices that are addressing gender biases in the markets and promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. In 2022, the development of the public market ordinances, and the implementation of established ongoing SOPs and other marketplace plans are ensuring women market vendors’ inclusion and protection. In addition, enhanced gender-responsive capacities of duty bearers such as local governments and market management at the point of day-to-day market operations are creating experiences for women market vendors where they feel safe, secure, content and empowered to participate in market activities (apart from selling their goods and produce). This includes leading market vendor associations, actively participating and speaking at market meetings and claiming their rights. Membership of MVAs have also given women market vendors access to information, resources and goods to further progress their economic participation and growth.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLB_D_3.2

Women and Girls, especially from particular groups (with disabilities, rural, sexual and gender minorities) from target countries, who experience violence have access to quality essential services (health, social service, police and justice) to recover from violence

Progress was made to ensuring women and girls from the Solomon Islands have increased access to quality essential services. SAFENET 2022 data demonstrated how COVID-19 community transmission has impacted the number of new clients accessing SAFENET services, particularly in Honiara. The number of new clients registered in 2022 is 1,571, in contrast to the 3,165 clients registered in 2021. This approximate 50% decrease is consistent with the fact that most services were not operating in full capacity from January to June 2022. Despite the coordinated and well planned for response, COVID-19 brought many challenges to frontline service providers. Each organization had to adapt rapidly and move services online or implement thorough COVID-19 prevention measures. The Solomon Islands Police Force, for example, utilized their vehicles for COVID-19 response therefore de-prioritizing emergency transportation of survivors. Organizations faced challenges in obtaining vehicle passes to transport VAWG survivors to various services during lockdown as well as a lack of capacity to physically house survivors of violence and meet the case demand. Other essential services were disrupted, including the via court, health care and police systems. Health providers were focused on preventing and treating COVID-19 patients. The crisis centre SeifPles was at capacity and did not have sufficient space to accommodate survivors of violence, leading to a closure of their services. MWYCFA’s Department of Women personnel and resources were diverted to support broader national COVID-19 response amidst the state of emergency. As documented globally, resources and interventions for survivors of VAWG were deprioritized or re-routed to respond to the broader public health emergency. While SAFENET maintained a strong and steadfast commitment to providing services, capacities were stretched and efforts focused on supporting broader national priorities. It is widely accepted that GBV cases increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is supported by SeifPles data showing a comparatively high number of women calling the hotline number compared to previous years. SeifPles total genuine hotline calls for 2022 is 7,581. While this figure is the lowest for a calendar year between 2019-2021, the number of women calling the hotline service is 4,144 which is the highest compared to previous years. This might be due to the increased GBV cases during the COVID-19 period and increased awareness of services and rights in communities.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-SLB_O_1

Improved management of financial and human resources in pursuit of results

The Solomon Islands NRA has in year enhanced coordination and accountability of the UN system for commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment (in its role as part of the Solomon Islands UNJPO); increased engagement of partners in support of UN Women’s mandate (particularly partners of the new Women’s Resilience to Disasters programme); improved the quality of programmes through knowledge exchanges for staff and results-based management and improved management of finances and human resources. Programme implementation rate at the end of 2022 stood at 91%.