The newly elected government of the Solomon Islands can act to help dampen simmering public dissatisfaction but RAMSI will need to change its approach and seek more ways to support ordinary people to have their say in shaping the future of the country, says a new report by Oxfam as the third anniversary of the mission's arrival approaches.
"More needs to be done to allow ordinary people to help shape the future of the Solomon Islands and to have a say in how development is to address their needs and to create jobs," said Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand.
Bridging the Gap Between State and Society - New directions for the Solomon Islands is published today (20 July) to mark the start of a one-day seminar co-hosted by Oxfam International and Transparency International in Honiara to debate the future of the Solomon Islands. The report found that RAMSI's focus on rebuilding the state and machinery of government was missing meaningful consultation with and the informed support of the people of the Solomon Islands.
"RAMSI had been hailed as a model for state building in post-conflict societies," Coates said. "But a central challenge for RAMSI now is to help build a bridge between state and society."
The Oxfam report calls for resources allocated to strengthen the government to be balanced with an increased emphasis on building better linkages between rural and urban communities and the state, as well as addressing concerns for employment, rural livelihoods and basic services.
In 2005, Oxfam interviewed 776 men, women, youths, police, civil society and government officials in Honiara, Malatia and Central Guadalcanal. It found:
* widespread dissatisfaction that government rhetoric on economic development had yet to be translated into real action on livelihoods and human security
*little understanding of the rebuilding process among the general population
* a perception especially in rural areas where RAMSI has less of a presence that security had not greatly improved
* a pervasive sense of exclusion from government decision making and a lack of linkages and engagement between government and its citizens.
A lack of Pacific Island staff in RAMSI also hinders the mission's impact with Solomon Islanders, according to Oxfam. As at end of May 2006, 94 per cent of civilian advisors in the Solomon Islands came from Australia and New Zealand, with Pacific Island staff largely confined to the role of foot soldiers.
"To help promote long-term peace and stability in the Solomon Islands, RAMSI needs to improve community engagement, address security concerns, focus more on livelihoods, food security and rural development and bolster its ranks with increased representation from the region," concluded Coates.
Download the report Bridging the Gap (PDF 2.4mb)
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