Preparations are on track in Solomon Islands as the Government gears up to host the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) Leaders’ Summit in July. Solomon Islands is hosting the first Pacific Islands Development Forum Leaders’ Summit since the entry into force of its Charter on 4 September 2015. Since then, the new Secretariat has increased its member-ship, advocated its flagship Suva Declaration for Climate Change at the COP21 in Paris, and builds its organizational structure together with new partnerships towards the implementation of its mandate on sustainable development through green and blue economies. The Leaders’ Summit oversees the functioning and development of the PIDF and will approve policies, the strategic plan, budget and work programmes of PIDF for the years to come. Climate resilience and follow-up on the Paris agreement in preparation for COP22 of the UNFCCC will remain a key topic of discussion during the Summit. Chair of the Solomon Islands Nat

This  World Oceans Day  a challenge has been made, calling upon people to be part of the  Wave for Change  for ocean conservation through committing to activities to protect our ocean.    The Pacific islands region comprises 98% water and 2% land; it covers 10% of the global ocean containing over 33,000 different islands making the ocean one of the most valuable resources for Pacific islanders.  More than any other peoples on the planet, Pacific islanders know that we live on an ocean planet. “Our ocean plays a crucial role for us all, it generates our oxygen, helps feed us, is the basis of many Pacific island traditions and customs and has helped provide the foundation for the way of life for many coastal island communities,” said Mr. Warren Lee Long the Coastal and Marine Adviser of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). “Our ocean, along with the marine life it sustains, faces many threats and challenges – we all need to come together and

Improving Productivity and Income for Vendor Farmers Program was launched in the Solomons Islands, in Honiara. Guests included representatives of the partners in the Markets for Change Project such as Director Extension Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock - Mr. Michael Ho’ota, Manager of Kastom Garden Association (KGA) - Mr. Clement Hadosaia, Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs - Ms. Elsie Wickham, DFAT Australia officer - Ms. Sarah Leary, Malaita Provincial Government - Mr Siosi Linley, Honiara Market Vendors Association Acting President Moreen Sariki, M4C Project Manager UNW – Ms Kristy Nowland, and Chief Guest, UNDP Country Director SI, Ms Azusa Kubota. UNDP Country Director spoke of how encouraging the M4C project was in how it mobilized so many development partners, the Solomon Islands Government, and NGOs to work together with sister agencies UNDP and UNW, in providing the productivity training that would improve the economic situation of farmer