The Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT) has signed a partnership agreement with the Pacific Leaders Program (PLP) after extensive exploration, development and work planning activities between PLP and SIDT.

The signing marks the beginning of new working relationships with PLP and its partners of the program.

SIDT works with villages in several provinces to promote community empowerment in the areas of governance, health, education, disaster risk management and national resource management.

Through the new partnership, PLP hopes to support SIDT on a range of core funding and 'growth' initiatives, ranging from staff and organisational development and basic infrastructure.

For PLP, the new partnership with SIDT brings opportunities to support the organisation's core work in promoting active citizenship and self-reliance in communities.

In addition to this, Regional Program Director Angus Macdonald explains, PLP also recognises SIDT "as a strong, credible organisation which plays an important leadership, advocacy and referral role for community members and other civil society organisations in SI".

PLP plans to return to Solomon Islands every two months, to 'check in' with partners and offer additional support.

The Pacific Leadership Program is an AusAID initiative working in partnership with local, national and regional organisations across the Pacific.

Copyright @ 2009. SIDT News. All Rights Reserved.