Australia has awarded 74 projects under the Solomon Islands - Australia Community Partnerships programme in its second round for 2026, the Australian High Commission said on 28 October.
The round is valued at more than SBD 18 million and covers every province, with work in education, health, water and sanitation, renewable energy, community facilities and disaster recovery.
The round included extra funding for communities whose earlier projects were damaged by Tropical Cyclone Maila, to help restore infrastructure and support recovery.
With the 51 projects funded in the first round earlier this year, Australia has supported 125 Community Partnerships projects in 2026 across every province, the high commission said. More than SBD 30 million has been awarded across the two rounds.
The high commission said the funding would go to local contractors, suppliers, transport providers and workers involved in delivering the projects.
The list for Round 2 includes the Leitongo Water Supply Rehabilitation Project in Ngella, the Calvary Post Aid Clinic in East Central Guadalcanal, a classroom building for the Blind and Visually Impaired People of Solomon Islands in East Honiara, the Ward 33 Sikaiana Islands Classroom Project in the Malaita Outer Islands, the Vonunu Area Health Centre Solar Power project in South Vella La Vella and the Buma Primary School Classroom Project in Temotu Vatud.
It also includes repairs to the Uriaupo Community Multipurpose Hall in South Vella La Vella for damage caused by Cyclone Maila, and the Sube Sube Disaster Recovery and Community Pour-Flush Toilet Sanitation Project in North-West Choiseul.
Australian High Commissioner Jeff Roach said the programme showed Australia's commitment to listening to communities and supporting Solomon Islands-led development, and that it was delivering results in every constituency and every province.
"With around 80% of Solomon Islands' population living in rural areas, I understand how important it is for communities to have quality infrastructure that improves their lives," Roach said. He said the growing number of applications each round showed the programme was more relevant to the country's development priorities than ever.
Roach also acknowledged the co-contributions made by many Members of Parliament, which he said expanded the reach of the projects. He said all the projects were locally led, with local leaders setting the priorities.
Since 2019, the Community Partnerships programme has supported 416 projects across every constituency and province in Solomon Islands, putting more than SBD 94 million into local businesses and communities, according to the high commission.