Which institutions manage different parts of everyday surroundings in the Solomon Islands?

The Environment and Conservation Division handles environmental approvals and controls, the National Disaster Management Office coordinates disasters, the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service issues warnings, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Honiara City Council address infrastructure. Solomon Water, Solomon Power, the health ministry, provinces and customary landowners manage other services or access arrangements.

How does water and sanitation access differ across everyday surroundings in the Solomon Islands?

Solomon Water operates municipal networks in Honiara, Auki, Noro and Tulagi, while many rural communities rely on rainwater or community systems. In 2019, improved drinking-water access covered 78.3% of households nationally, compared with 90.6% in urban areas and 74.2% in rural areas; sanitation access was much lower, especially in rural communities.

What should people do when flooding, blocked drainage or another surroundings-related hazard threatens them in the Solomon Islands?

Follow warnings from the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service and contact the National Disaster Management Office or provincial disaster structures for hazard coordination. Infrastructure problems such as blocked drains, damaged bridges or unsafe roads can also be reported to the responsible infrastructure authority or Honiara City Council.

How can communities in the Solomon Islands influence developments that affect their surroundings?

Projects covered by environmental impact assessment procedures can involve public consultation, public display and objections through the Environment and Conservation Division. Project programmes such as CAUSE II also use community consultations and grievance mechanisms, while Ward Development Committees, provincial governments, customary leaders and community organisations can provide locally appropriate feedback.

Surroundings in Solomon Islands

Everyday surroundings in the Solomon Islands are shaped by water and sanitation access, waste services, drainage, roads, electricity, coastal exposure, green space, air and noise. Services differ between Honiara, provincial centres, rural communities and outer islands because formal networks operate alongside community, customary and informal arrangements. Water, flood protection, waste disposal and climate resilience are major practical concerns, while planning, environmental controls and disaster warnings guide safer development.

Tip

Treat surroundings as a site-level decision, not as one service that can be assumed to exist. For a home, move or project, verify water, sanitation, waste collection, drainage, coastal and flood exposure, and access with the relevant local bodies and customary authorities before committing money. Where formal coverage is absent, use a maintained community or household arrangement and record who handles failures, costs and complaints.

byMary&John

The Solomon Islands has no single public service or institution responsible for all surroundings. The Environment and Conservation Division of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, the National Disaster Management Office, the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Honiara City Council, Solomon Water, Solomon Power, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services rural water and sanitation programme, provinces and customary landowners each cover different functions. Formal, non-formal and informal solutions operate in parallel. In 2019, 27.6% of the population lived in urban areas and 72.4% in rural areas; Honiara had 169,721 inhabitants and about 65% of the country's urban population. Rapid migration, informal settlements, peri-urban growth and coastal exposure place additional pressure on roads, drainage, waste collection and public space. The National Urban Policy 2020–2035, the Town and Country Planning Act and Regulations, and the Honiara Local Planning Scheme 2015 guide development. New subdivisions in Honiara are expected to address roads, footpaths, water, electricity and telecommunications, but urban centres still have service gaps in drainage, flood control and waste systems. The CAUSE II programme is improving roads, bridges, culverts, drainage, shoreline protection and open spaces in Honiara, Auki, Gizo and Noro; access and timing depend on the project location, construction stage and community consultation.