Over 200,000 residents, including children, in the Solomon Islands are set to benefit from a US$7 million (SBD 58.3 million) contribution from the Government of Korea.
This funding, announced on 4 March 2025, aims to strengthen the nation’s resilience to climate threats by developing child-focused and climate-responsive laws, policies, and funding over the next two years.
Among the beneficiaries, more than 30,000 people in East and West Ghoabata, Guadalcanal Province, will gain access to upgraded, climate-smart social services and infrastructure. The programme focuses on enhancing school and health facilities to withstand climate shocks, integrating low-carbon solar panels, and ensuring access to quality water, sanitation, and hygiene services at both institutional and household levels.
Guadalcanal Provincial Government’s Hon. Premier William Atu expressed gratitude for the initiative, saying, “I would like to sincerely thank UNICEF and KOICA in this partnership in helping us to achieve our strategy on climate change and at the same time addressing 7 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which was stipulated in our Climate Change and Disaster Risks Management Policy.”
The Solomon Islands is highly vulnerable to climate change, with 80% of the population living in coastal areas susceptible to sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and severe weather events. citeturn0search12 These challenges threaten freshwater supplies, food security, and infrastructure, making climate resilience efforts crucial.
UNICEF Pacific Representative Jonathan Veitch highlighted the urgency of the situation, saying, “Urgent action is needed to address the impacts of climate change. This generous support from the Government of Korea will significantly reduce the vulnerability that communities face.”
The two-year programme, led by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, as well as the Guadalcanal Provincial Government, also aims to integrate climate change education to promote green skills among youth and enhance community access to quality nutrition services.
By supporting social protection systems to adapt to evolving climate shocks and enhancing child protection mechanisms before, during, and after climate-related events, the initiative seeks to build a more resilient future for the Solomon Islands.
