Monthly Progress Report: A-E Services to Support Infrastructure Related Programming in Solomon Islands

The strategy focuses on improving the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders through sustainable economic growth and improved service delivery. SCALE's purpose is to develop local economies in Malaita at a community level to support further growth at the provincial and national levels and drive expansion of market access and supporting infrastructure. The SCALE-A&E contract is designed to acquire qualified architectural and engineering services in support of SCALE, particularly objective b, which aims to strengthen and expand the agribusiness sector. The contract will complete analyses, feasibility studies, design, and construction oversight of small-scale infrastructure at approximately 10-20 sites. The interventions under SCALE will support the following objectives: enabling environment for trade and investment improved, agribusiness sector strengthened and expanded, and improved natural resource governance with a focus on the forestry sector. Task 1 of the SCALE-A&E contract involves providing sectoral analyses, planning, and draft design standards. This task was completed in June 2021, with the submission of five reports and appendices to USAID. Task 2 involves completing concept and pre-feasibility studies for the National Transmission Company (NTC) and related infrastructure. This task includes outreach to the Solomon Islands National and Provincial Government, evaluation of stakeholder concepts for infrastructure development, and preparation of concept notes for prioritized projects. The construction status of the project is currently at zero, with no construction activities taking place. However, significant progress has been made in other areas. Four new Solomon Islands staff began work in July 2021, and a local consultant team has been engaged to support the project. The pre-screening and prioritization framework developed by Planet Partnerships includes a total of 42 projects, of which 24 are small-scale and 18 are large-scale. Information is being collected to identify donors associated with the large-scale infrastructure projects. The project has also made significant progress in terms of data collection and analysis. A GIS map showing the economic growth centers (ECGs) has been prepared for Malaita Province, and a subject matter expert is preparing a list of donors interested in or currently participating with the top-ranked/screened large-scale infrastructure projects. The project has also held meetings with representatives from the National Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labor, and Immigration to identify the role and purpose of ECGs on Malaita Province. Planned activities for the project include working with implementing partners to develop concept notes for additional potential projects to implement in SI related to agricultural business, continuing to coordinate with the Malaita Provincial Government members regarding a possible future additional 'virtual overview,' and holding the first meeting with the finalized SCALE A&E Advisory Board to provide introductions and clarify scope. The project will also begin having the DCOP attend donor coordination meetings in Honiara to introduce SCALE, learn more about large-scale infrastructure projects on Malaita, and discuss transactional services that SCALE A&E can provide.