by Ednal Palmer
Students at Gifu Primary School in the remote Barana highlands of Guadalcanal have welcomed a new water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facility, easing pressure on the school’s ageing and inadequate toilets.
The facility, funded by the European Union through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and delivered in partnership with the Guadalcanal Provincial Government under the Provincial Governance and Service Delivery (PGSD) project, includes new ablution facilities, a shower for girls and two 10,000-litre water storage tanks.
UNDP Resident Representative Tuya Altangerel, who is in the Solomon Islands on a brief visit, formally handed over the facility today alongside Guadalcanal Province Premier Willie Atu.
Ms Altangerel said the project represented more than an investment in physical infrastructure, describing it as an investment in the health, safety and dignity of students.
“We invest in healthier lives, safer learning and greater dignity,” she said.
She said the long-term benefits would depend on the school and community taking ownership of the facility and ensuring it was properly maintained.
“Its lasting impact depends on shared community ownership and responsible care, demonstrating what government, communities and partners can achieve together,” she said.
Ms Altangerel said the PGSD project had demonstrated that provincial governments could deliver practical improvements to essential services when provided with appropriate resources, technical support and clear accountability.
She said the project’s final evaluation rated PGSD as highly relevant and satisfactory, particularly because it addressed the link between provincial governance capacity and unequal access to basic services in geographically isolated and underserved communities.
The WASH investments had produced significant benefits for women and girls, including improved privacy, dignity, hygiene, safety and access to services, she said.
However, Ms Altangerel stressed that infrastructure would only remain effective if provincial governments and communities were committed to maintaining it.
“External grants alone cannot ensure the long-term functionality of these investments,” she said.
“Strong commitment, capacity and own-source revenue from Provincial Governments are key to sustaining service delivery.”
‘A meaningful change’
Premier Willie Atu said the Guadalcanal Provincial Government remained committed to using development grants responsibly and effectively.
He thanked UNDP and the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening for supporting efforts to strengthen provincial capacity and improve services in education, health, infrastructure and livelihoods.
Addressing teachers and the school administration, Mr Atu said relatively modest investments could make a significant difference when they responded to genuine community needs.
“Across schools and health centres, WASH facilities have already improved safety, dignity and daily life,” he said.
Speaking directly to the students, Mr Atu said the new facility should be viewed as more than a physical structure.
“Let it stand as a symbol of care for our children, respect for their dignity, and our collective promise to protect their health and support their education,” he said.
“May every student who uses this facility be reminded that their wellbeing matters, their learning matters, and their future matters.”
Relief for more than 260 students
Gifu Primary School head teacher Gibson Rabea thanked the European Union, UNDP and the Guadalcanal Provincial Government for providing the new facility.
He said it would significantly ease pressure on the school’s existing rundown toilets.
“This facility will greatly alleviate the pressure on the run-down toilets the school has now,” Mr Rabea said.
He said the shower for girls and the two 10,000-litre water tanks were particularly important additions.
With more than 260 students attending the school, Mr Rabea said the need for proper water and sanitation facilities was urgent.
A young female student also thanked the development partners and assured them that students would take care of the new facilities.
She encouraged donors to continue supporting schools across Solomon Islands.
$24 million invested across Solomon Islands
The Gifu project is part of the wider PGSD programme, supported by the European Union and implemented through UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Provincial Government, to strengthen provincial governance and improve access to essential services.
Across three grant cycles, more than SBD24 million has been allocated to 76 projects across all nine provinces.
The investments include 61 education projects and 15 health projects, reaching a reported 51,628 beneficiaries, including 27,278 women and girls.
Guadalcanal Province has been the largest recipient of PGSD funding, receiving more than SBD4 million over the past three years for WASH infrastructure.
For communities that have long struggled with inadequate sanitation and limited access to safe water, the investments are expected to deliver more than improved infrastructure — providing greater dignity, safety and healthier learning and working environments.
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