WPG Policy Alignment Assessment Session Concluded in Gizo

Thursday, 24 September 2026 – The Western Provincial Government, together with the Policy Unit and Productive Sector of the Policy Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (PIMEU) at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC), successfully concluded a policy alignment assessment and information-sharing session in Western Province.

Last week, the OPMC team made a courtesy call on the Premier of Western Province, Hon. Billy Veo, to formally introduce the team and explain the purpose of its visit to the Province. The team outlined that the visit was aimed at assessing the alignment of Western Provincial Government policies and priorities with the GREAT Coalition Government’s key policy priorities, particularly those relating to productive-sector development.

The Premier expressed his appreciation for the visit and welcomed the initiative to assess and strengthen alignment between the GREAT Coalition Government’s policies and the development priorities of Western Province. He acknowledged the importance of ensuring that national and provincial policy priorities are coordinated to better address the development needs of the Province.

The policy alignment session subsequently focused on an assessment of Provincial Government policy alignment and information sharing on GREAT Coalition key policy priorities for productive-sector development in Western Province and other provinces.

The exercise was conducted by the Policy Unit as part of its primary role of strengthening coordination and ensuring that policy decisions are effectively implemented by Ministries, Agencies and other stakeholders. Director of Policy and Programs, Mr. Nixon Osiniu, stated that assessing the alignment of Provincial Government policies is important in identifying areas of alignment, recognising policy gaps and considering measures to address challenges faced during government policy implementation.

He emphasised that strong policy alignment and coordination are crucial to ensuring that government policies are effectively translated into positive impacts, effective policy execution and efficient service delivery across all provinces.

The Acting Provincial Secretary for Western Province, Mr. Collin Zamu, thanked officials from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for facilitating the policy assessment and information-sharing workshop. He noted that the session was useful in strengthening the provincial team’s understanding of the importance of policy alignment, while also providing an opportunity to update participants on the GREAT Coalition Government’s policy priorities for the productive sector.

OPMC Policy Secretary for Productive Sector, Mr. Nixon Kua, highlighted the GREAT Coalition Government’s productive-sector policy priorities relevant to Western Province. These included commerce, tourism, infrastructure, agriculture, communication, lands and fisheries, together with enabling areas such as energy as a driver for economic transition.

The discussions provided an opportunity for national and provincial officials to identify areas where existing provincial priorities correspond with national policy objectives, while also considering gaps and opportunities for stronger coordination and implementation.

Participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to engage in discussions on the Government’s policy priorities. They acknowledged that effective policy alignment and coordination are important to translating national and provincial policies into transformative development outcomes, particularly for rural communities across Western Province and the Solomon Islands.

-ENDS-