Guadalcanal Province to Pilot Landmark Mobile Initiative to Digitalise Revenue Collection

(L-R) DPS for Guadalcanal, Mr. Joseph Sua, M-Selen’s Head of Partnerships Ms. Christina Palusi, Head of M-Selen Solomon Islands, Majidul Haque, UNCDF Programme Specialists for LoCAL, Ms. Zoe Tate, and PCDF Coordinator, Mr. Geoffrey Vakolevae

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS – August 6, 2026 — Guadalcanal Province is set to become a national leader in digital governance by piloting a mobile revenue collection system using the M-SELEN platform. On July 22, 2026, the Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) met with technical and development partners to finalise plans for the initiative, which aims to modernize the collection of business license fees and property taxes.

The strategy directly tackles the high transaction and travel costs that currently burden provincial tax collection, where remote geography often means the cost of physically gathering funds outweighs the revenue itself. By using M-SELEN’s USSD and mobile app channels, taxpayers will soon be able to settle their dues instantly from any location, minimizing cash-handling risks and eliminating long-distance travel.

“Guadalcanal represents the first step in a transformative journey toward modernizing revenue administration across Solomon Islands,” said Momodou Lamin Sawaneh, CTA-PGSP/PM-IEDCR. “The successful implementation of the M-SELEN platform here will demonstrate a proven, scalable model for nationwide adoption. Our vision is to enable every provincial government to strengthen revenue collection, enhance transparency and accountability, reduce administrative costs, and deliver efficient, citizen-centered digital services that support sustainable local development”, he added.

The high-level meeting was chaired by GPG Deputy Provincial Secretary Mr. Joseph Sua, alongside the Deputy Provincial Treasurer, Ms. Susie Nama’ahea, Provincial Engineer, Derick Bako, and GP’s Assistant Planning Specialist, Loyd Manuna. They were joined by key technical stakeholders, including the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP) Management Unit, M-SELEN representatives Majdul Haque and Christina Palusi, and Zoe Victoria Tate representing the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

“This pilot positions Guadalcanal Province at the forefront of digital transformation in local governance,” said Mr. Joseph Sua. “By eliminating the logistical challenges associated with physical cash collection, we are establishing a more transparent, efficient, and accountable revenue management system. This initiative will not only improve operational efficiency but also create a more business-friendly environment that supports economic growth and better service delivery for our citizens.”

Key features and benefits of the pilot initiative are:

• Instant Digital Receipts
  The platform generates immediate electronic receipts via SMS, ensuring citizens receive proof of payment in real time, even in areas with limited connectivity. Detailed PDF receipts will continue to be available through provincial offices when required.
• Intelligent Revenue Mapping
  Leveraging M-SELEN’s established merchant and agent network data, Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) will gain enhanced visibility of economic activity across the province, enabling more effective identification, monitoring, and licensing of businesses.
• Business-Friendly Fee Structure
  To encourage adoption and minimize financial impact on businesses, provincial authorities may consider a fee structure that is more acceptable to users to make accessibility more convenient.
• Strengthened Governance and Performance Outcomes
  The implementation of a digital revenue collection system supports national governance and performance assessment objectives. By pioneering digital revenue mobilization, Guadalcanal Province is demonstrating leadership in public sector innovation while positioning itself to achieve key performance and governance milestones.

The platform is explicitly designed to withstand local challenges, such as power supply volatility and network unreliability. To ensure smooth deployment, field champions from M-SELEN will collaborate with provincial staff on joint training operations and public awareness campaigns across radio, SMS, and social media.

The project team will conduct a comprehensive live system demonstration during the second week of August 2026 to customize reporting workflows and ensure strict compliance with the Provincial Government Act and Financial Management Ordinances (FMO). Following regulatory clearance and fee-model finalization, the pilot will launch for business license fees before expanding to property taxation and other revenue streams. END///