Honiara, Solomon Islands - Women leaders from Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Isabel Provinces gathered in Honiara this week for a Tokstori session, sharing their experiences in public finance management and decision-making at the community level. The event marked the closure of the Public Finance Management (PFM) activity led by the Development Services Exchange (DSE).

Supported under the Vaka Pasifika Project funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP in partnership with PIANGO and DSE, the initiative reflects the EU’s wider commitment to strengthening governance in the Pacific by promoting inclusive participation and accountability in public finance. The Vaka Pasifika Project, through PIANGO, currently works with 11 National Liaison Units (one of which is DSE) across the region to implement PFM-related activities in their countries.

The DSE PFM project, Strengthening Women and Youth Leadership Oversight on Public Finance Management, was delivered through targeted trainings and workshops across Solomon Islands. Three provincial-level PFM workshops were held alongside Citizen Budget Guide training, engaging more than 70 community representatives and Ward Development Committees. The project also provided tailored training for Women and Youth Councils, involved DSE members directly in Ward Development Committees, and conducted a Public Finance Management evaluation survey to capture lessons and inform future initiatives.

From Guadalcanal, Alice Hou reflected on the changes she has witnessed:

“We supported five women to become Ward Development Committee chairs — a major achievement for women in decision-making. After training, women realised they could demand proper consultations and monitor whether community priorities were being delivered.”

From Malaita, Rebecca Awa described a cultural shift:

“When this program came, I realised it gave us something different — an opportunity for women to participate in decision-making and to have our voices heard.”

And in Isabel, Sarah Tony shared:

“The project gave us a way to participate in budgeting and planning. Communities are beginning to recognise that women play important roles and can contribute to decisions that affect everyone.”

The Tokstori also underscored the importance of inclusive civic spaces where women and communities can ask questions, hold leaders accountable, and influence how resources are allocated.

UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Team Leader Effective Governance & Inclusive Growth, Rustam Pulatov said:

“These stories remind us that accountability is strongest when it begins in the community. Women leaders are showing how citizen voices can shape budgets, policies, and the future of governance in the Pacific.”

The Tokstori session is part of the Vaka Pasifika Project’s broader efforts to strengthen governance and build more inclusive institutions across the Pacific.

For more information, please contact:

Sofaia Koroitanoa, Vaka Pasifika Communications Specialist, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, sofaia.koroitanoa@undp.org.