Honiara, Solomon Islands: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) of the Solomon Islands Government has recently launched the Community Participatory Audit (CPA) programme in Honiara.

Through the Vaka Pasifika project, funded by the European Union (EU), support to the OAG and the UN Development Programme has helped develop the CPA approach and prepare its first application through technical assistance and capacity-building. 

The CPA brings together government institutions, constituencies and civil society to strengthen transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

One of the first participatory audit initiatives of its kind in Solomon Islands, the CPA enables citizens and civil society organisations to participate in the audit process, complementing existing oversight mechanisms through community feedback and local knowledge. The pilot focuses on Constituency Development Funds (CDFs), which support local development priorities across the country’s 50 constituencies and are subject to audit under the CDF Act 2023.

Speaking at the launch, Auditor General David Dennis said the CPA marks a shift towards a more participatory approach to public accountability.

“Effective oversight cannot remain confined to our offices in Honiara. With CPA, communities themselves become part of the accountability process, providing the local knowledge and evidence needed to ensure public resources deliver real benefits where they matter most,” he said.

In his keynote address, Minister for Rural Development, Hon. Daniel Waneoroa, said transparency and accountability are essential to building trust and ensuring that public resources deliver meaningful benefits to communities.

“We must open our doors and open our books. By working with the audit process, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that CDFs remain a trusted engine for growth and development,” he said.

With around SBD$250 million allocated annually across constituencies, CDFs play an important role in supporting livelihoods and delivering services at the community level.

Sharing lessons from East Are’are, Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination, Hon. Peter Kenilorea Jr. said community ownership ensures development initiatives remain responsive to the diverse needs of communities.

“These are not the Member of Parliament’s funds, they are public funds. Communities themselves are best placed to know who needs support and to help ensure resources are used in ways that genuinely improve people’s lives,” he said.

UNDP Pacific Office Team Leader for Effective Governance Rustam Pulatov said the CPA reflects the importance of citizen participation in strengthening transparency and public trust.

“Community participation is at the heart of stronger institutions. Through the CPA, citizens and civil society become active partners in promoting transparency and accountability, helping ensure that public resources reach the communities they are intended to serve,” he said.

The pilot audit covers the 2024 and 2025 financial years, with the Ministry of Rural Development selected for the first application. It contributes to ongoing efforts to strengthen public financial management and accountability around CDFs.

A representative from the European Union Delegation to the Pacific added: 

“This initiative fits closely with EU priorities to promote good governance, transparency and accountability by enabling citizens and civil society organisations to take part directly in the audit process, alongside public institutions. By opening the audit process to community feedback and local knowledge, the CPA helps ensure that public funds are used for their intended purpose and deliver real benefits to communities, while also reinforcing public trust in government and strengthening civic participation in oversight.” 

UNDP has supported the OAG in developing the CPA approach and preparing its first application, including through technical assistance and capacity-building. This support helped transform the concept into a practical mechanism for citizen participation, bringing communities, civil society and institutions together to strengthen accountability, public trust and citizen voice.

For more information please contact:

Nick Turner | Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships Specialist | nicholas.turner@undp.org