The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) in Solomon Islands has reinforced its commitment to transparency and good governance by conducting a one-day Refresher Procurement Training in Honiara on 22 October 2025.
Held under the theme “Improving MFMR Simple Procurement Process,” the training brought together over 25 officers from across the Ministry’s divisions to strengthen understanding of the Solomon Islands Government’s Simple Procurement Process and improve compliance, record-keeping, and internal control systems.
Supported by the World Bank through the PROPER Project, the refresher course was organized in response to ongoing challenges in applying procurement procedures consistently—issues that have affected the accuracy of asset verification and audit processes.
Facilitated by Procurement Officer Mr. Kenneth Kuni and Asset Verification Officer Mr. Raymond Wate, the workshop featured interactive sessions, group exercises, and real-life case studies covering the procurement cycle, quotation and bid evaluation, annual planning, and the use of procurement tracking tools such as Gantt Charts.
“I believe the workshop achieved its purpose by bringing together officers from across our divisions to better understand the role of the Procurement Unit and the processes involved in procuring goods,” said Mr. Kuni.
“Often, procurement is carried out without the knowledge of the Procurement Officer, and that is one of the major hiccups we continue to face. I hope the information shared during the workshop will help officers follow proper procedures and strengthen coordination across divisions,” he added.
According to the Ministry, the training aligns with Goal 4 of the MFMR Corporate Plan 2025–2027, which aims to build a professional and high-performing Ministry that delivers quality advice to the government and efficient services to the people of Solomon Islands.
As the fisheries sector continues to support more than 30 percent of the population and plays a crucial role in food security and economic development, MFMR’s investment in building staff capacity underscores its ongoing commitment to accountability, efficiency, and sustainable management of marine resources.
Expected outcomes include enhanced staff compliance with procurement policies, improved documentation standards, and reduced procedural errors.
The ministry’s Procurement Unit acknowledged the active participation and commitment of all officers,
reaffirming MFMR’s dedication to fostering good governance, transparency, and efficiency
across its operations.
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