Western Province Hosts Ministry of Public Service’s Public Service Reform Awareness Programme

Gizo, Western Province – July 13th to 16th, 2026
The Ministry of Public Service (MPS) has completed another successful provincial outreach programme in Gizo, Western Province, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen awareness and implementation of key public service reforms throughout the Solomon Islands.

Conducted over four days, the programme brought together officers from government ministries, the Western Provincial Government, and other public-sector stakeholders to discuss major legislative and policy reforms shaping the future of the Solomon Islands Public Service. The sessions focused on the Public Service Act 2025, Public Service Transformation Strategy (PSTS) 2023–2033, Public Service Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Framework, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy, together with consultations on the draft Public Service Regulations, Code of Conduct, and Public Service General Orders.

The awareness programme forms part of a nationwide initiative by the Ministry to support the implementation of the Public Service Act 2025, which provides a new legal framework for managing the country’s public service. The legislation is intended to strengthen integrity, transparency, accountability, leadership, merit-based employment, workforce development, and performance across government institutions while promoting a modern public service that delivers quality services to citizens.

Throughout the programme, participants gained a comprehensive understanding of how the Public Service Act 2025 complements the Public Service Transformation Strategy 2023–2033. The strategy provides the long-term direction for improving organisational performance, developing capable public servants, strengthening leadership, embracing innovation, and enhancing service delivery across all government ministries and agencies.

Officers also received presentations on the Public Service MEAL Framework, which has been developed to improve performance monitoring, reporting, evaluation, institutional learning, and accountability within the public service. By promoting the use of reliable performance information, the framework supports informed decision-making and encourages ministries to continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government programmes and services.

Western Province Government Senior Government Officers participating in the discussions over the Public Service Act 2025 and its Reform Programs during the socialisation sessions Ministry

Another important component of the programme centred on the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy. Participants explored the policy’s role in promoting equal access to employment opportunities, encouraging inclusive leadership, eliminating discrimination, supporting persons with disabilities, and creating safe and respectful workplaces where diversity is recognised as a strength. The Ministry reaffirmed that inclusive workplaces contribute to stronger institutions, better decision-making, and improved public service outcomes.

The Gizo programme also served as an important platform for gathering feedback on the draft Public Service Regulations, Code of Conduct, and Public Service General Orders. Public officers participated in open discussions and shared practical recommendations based on their professional experiences to help ensure these supporting instruments are clear, relevant, and responsive to the operational needs of ministries and provincial government offices.

Once approved, these administrative instruments will complement the Public Service Act 2025 by providing practical guidance on matters such as recruitment, employee conduct, ethics, discipline, performance management, workplace responsibilities, staff welfare, and other human resource management procedures. The Ministry remains committed to developing these documents through broad consultation to ensure they reflect the realities and expectations of public servants across the country.

Ministry officials expressed their appreciation to participants from Western Province for their constructive engagement and valuable contributions throughout the programme. They acknowledged that the experiences and perspectives shared by provincial officers will play an important role in strengthening the implementation of the Government’s public service reform agenda.

The completion of the Western Province programme represents another important step towards building a capable, ethical, accountable, and inclusive public service. By ensuring that officers understand the new legislative and policy framework, the Ministry is laying the foundation for consistent implementation of reforms across the Solomon Islands Public Service.

The Ministry of Public Service will continue delivering similar awareness and consultation programmes in other provinces as part of its nationwide reform implementation plan, ensuring that public servants throughout the country are well prepared to support the transformation of the Solomon Islands Public Service and improve service delivery for all Solomon Islanders. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Mr. Luke Cheka, opened the 4 day program.
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