The Ministry of Rural Development held a series of community awareness sessions on the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) Act 2023 for the Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) Constituency from 3 to 8 October 2026.

More than 100 participants, including community chiefs, community and church leaders and constituents, took part in sessions held at Luaniua community on Luaniua Island and Pelau community on Pelau Island.

The ministry said the sessions were part of its continuing work to inform the public about the new CDF legislation and the reforms it is undertaking, and to help constituents understand their roles and responsibilities under the law.

The sessions covered key provisions of the Act, including the appointment and role of constituency officers, the constituency development plan, signatories to constituency bank accounts, constituency assets and reporting, and offences and penalties.

MRD said the sessions were interactive, with participants able to ask questions and raise areas where they wanted clarification, which helped clear up misunderstandings about the Act and how it is applied.

Willie, a former Malaita Provincial Government Member of the Provincial Assembly for Luaniua Ward and now a community leader, said the awareness was the first of its kind for his community, and that sharing such information is important so constituents understand the legislation and its provisions.

He said the law matters because communities and constituents receiving projects and support under the CDF programme must comply with it and be responsible for their conduct.

Jenny, the nurse in charge at Pelau, thanked the MRD team for reaching the MOI communities and said the awareness had corrected many of their misperceptions about the Act and its application. She said it was important that rural people understand the provisions and how they will be applied.

MRD Deputy Secretary Technical and team leader Noel Matea said sharing accurate information with the people who are the main beneficiaries of the law will help them apply it in their dealings with the CDF in their constituencies.

"We should not be fearful of this law, as it is there to guide our conduct in working with and applying the CDF in our development processes," Matea said.

On behalf of the ministry, Matea thanked the Member of Parliament for the MOI Constituency and the constituency office for their support, as well as the communities and participants.

The CDF Act 2023 was passed by Parliament on 22 December 2023 and came into effect on 5 January 2024. The ministry said its purposes are to strengthen good governance, improve delivery of the Constituency Development Funds, and promote equal and inclusive participation of all Solomon Islanders in development.

MRD said it will hold similar awareness consultations in other constituencies and communities around the country.