AGP Executive Report

Research & Resilience: At a Honiara conference, the Central Bank, ADB and regional economists called for research-led policies to help Solomon Islands withstand economic and climate shocks. Geoscience: A fire destroyed valuable mineral-core samples, while a new Solomon Islands–Australia partnership is installing earthquake sensors and strengthening mining checks and laboratory services. Health Technology: Six National Referral Hospital clinicians are training in minimally invasive care in China; a separate project is establishing a breast-care unit and training local doctors at NRH. Wildlife Research: A study found leatherback nesting at four guarded beaches has grown by an average 10.6% a year since community harvesting stopped in 2013. Coral Reefs: Solomon Islands conservation leaders warn that reefs face shrinking recovery time between bleaching events, threatening coastal protection, fisheries and marine life.

Economic Research: At today’s CBSI-ADB-APAEA conference in Honiara, Finance Minister Rexon Ramofafia urged evidence-based research and stronger financial safeguards against economic and climate shocks, including cyclone damage and drought. Earthquake Monitoring: Solomon Islands and Australia have launched a geoscience partnership to install earthquake sensors, train local officers and strengthen mining checks. Geology Records: A fire at the Mines Ministry destroyed valuable mineral core samples used to map the country’s underground geology, a serious loss for research and future exploration. Marine Science: A study found leatherback turtle nests at Haevo beach have risen by 10.6% a year since harvesting stopped in 2013; researchers estimate about 381 leatherbacks nest across four monitored beaches. Health Services: Six NRH clinicians are training in China in minimally invasive surgery and related hospital services, as Solomon Islands works to build local specialist capacity.

Mining Data Loss: A fire at the Mines Ministry compound destroyed valuable rock-core samples used to map underground geology, dealing a major setback to mining research and investment. Earthquake Monitoring: Solomon Islands and Australia are expanding seismic monitoring, with new sensors planned for Honiara and training for local officers; the partnership will also strengthen mineral testing and oversight. Health Technology and Training: NRH is developing a breast-care unit and training local clinicians, while six hospital staff are undertaking specialist training in China to support new minimally invasive surgery services. Climate and Water: Strengthening El Niño conditions are raising drought concerns across the Pacific, with a water source in Gizo already reported dry. Wildlife Research: A study found leatherback turtle nests at Isabel’s Haevo beach have risen by about 10 per cent annually since harvesting stopped in 2013.

Mining Data: A fire at the Mines Ministry destroyed decades of mineral core samples—rock records used to map underground geology—dealing a major blow to research and future exploration. Health Technology: Six NRH clinicians are training in China in minimally invasive surgery and related care, while a visiting specialist is helping establish a breast-care unit and train local doctors at the hospital. Earthquake Monitoring: A Solomon Islands–Australia partnership will install more seismic sensors around Honiara, strengthen earthquake analysis and improve laboratory checks on mineral exports; five local officers are due for seismology training in 2027. Emergency Response: Police have received four thermal-imaging drones to help find missing people and support disaster response. Climate and Conservation: El Niño-linked dry conditions have dried up a Gizo water source, while a new study finds leatherback turtle nests at four guarded beaches are increasing overall since harvesting stopped in 2013.

Health Technology: Six National Referral Hospital clinicians are training in China in minimally invasive surgery, laboratory work, anaesthesia and nursing to help establish new services back home. Cancer Care: A Chinese breast-surgery specialist is helping set up a dedicated unit at NRH and training local doctors; breast cancer is the country’s most common cancer among women. Earth Science: Solomon Islands and Australia have launched a partnership to expand earthquake monitoring, train local seismology officers and strengthen laboratory checks on mineral exports. Emergency Response: Police have received four thermal-imaging drones to aid searches, rescues and disaster response. Conservation Research: A study found leatherback nesting at four protected Solomon Islands beaches has grown by an average 10.6% a year since 2013.

Health Technology: A Chinese breast-surgery specialist is helping the National Referral Hospital establish its first dedicated breast-care unit and train local clinicians. Earthquake and Mining Science: A new Solomon Islands–Australia partnership will install at least six seismic sensors around Honiara, train local analysts and upgrade laboratory checks on mineral exports. Climate Watch: Strengthening El Niño is raising drought concerns, and a water source in Gizo has already dried up. Wildlife Research: Leatherback nests at monitored Solomon Islands beaches have increased by 10.6% a year since communities stopped harvesting turtles and eggs in 2013. Emergency Response: Police have received four thermal-imaging drones to support searches, rescue missions and disaster response.

Health Technology: A Chinese breast-surgery specialist is helping establish a dedicated breast-care unit at Honiara’s National Referral Hospital and train local doctors. Breast cancer is the country’s most common cancer among women, with about 128 diagnoses a year. Earthquake Monitoring: Solomon Islands and Australia have launched a geoscience partnership to install seismic sensors around Honiara, train local specialists and upgrade laboratory checks on mineral exports. Climate Watch: Strengthening El Niño conditions are raising drought concerns across the Pacific; a water source in Gizo has dried up amid prolonged dry weather. Emergency Response: Police have received four thermal-imaging drones to help find missing people and support search-and-rescue missions and disaster response. Wildlife Research: A study found leatherback nesting at Isabel’s Haevo beach has risen 10.6 per cent annually since local communities stopped harvesting turtles and eggs in 2013.

Health Technology: A Chinese breast-surgery specialist is helping establish a dedicated breast-care unit at the National Referral Hospital and train local doctors. The Health Ministry says breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Solomon Islands, with about 128 diagnoses a year. Earthquake Monitoring: A new Solomon Islands–Australia geoscience partnership will install earthquake sensors around Honiara, strengthen seismic analysis and upgrade laboratory checks on mineral exports. Five local officers are due for seismology training in 2027. Climate Data: Solomon Islands data storyteller Mr Orihao won a Pacific award for a visual project tracing the impacts of six major cyclones across the region. Environment Research: A study found leatherback turtle nests at four guarded beaches have risen overall since communities stopped harvesting turtles and eggs in 2013, though trends differ between sites. Emergency Response: Police received four thermal-imaging drones to support searches for missing people, disaster response and other operations. Digital Safety: A regional study including Solomon Islands warns that children face online risks as internet access expands, and calls for stronger safety education and protections.

Earthquake and Mining Monitoring: Solomon Islands and Australia have launched a geoscience partnership to expand Honiara’s earthquake sensor network, train local seismologists and strengthen laboratory checks on mineral exports. Science Scholarships: Indonesia says 26 Solomon Islanders won scholarships in 2026, with many studying engineering, agriculture and health sciences. El Niño and Water: Dry conditions have caused one water source in Gizo to dry up, as Pacific authorities warn of rising drought risks. Wildlife Research: A study found leatherback turtle nests at four guarded beaches in Isabel and Western provinces have risen overall since communities stopped harvesting turtles and eggs. Digital Safety: A regional study including Solomon Islands warns that children need stronger online safety skills as internet access expands. Emergency Technology: Police have received four thermal-imaging drones to help find missing people and support disaster response. Climate Data: Solomon Islands data storyteller won a regional award for a visualisation tracing the impacts of six major cyclones.

Earthquake and Mining Monitoring: Solomon Islands and Australia have launched a geoscience partnership to improve earthquake alerts and mining oversight. New sensors are planned for Honiara by 2028, five local officers will receive seismology training, and laboratory and satellite tools will help check mineral exports. Science Scholarships: Twenty-six Solomon Islands students won Indonesian scholarships this year, including places in engineering, agriculture and health sciences. Climate Watch: Strengthening El Niño conditions are raising drought risks across the Pacific; a water source in Gizo has already dried up. Conservation Research: A study found leatherback turtle nests at four guarded beaches in Isabel and Western provinces rose by 10.6 per cent annually after harvesting stopped in 2013. Emergency and Ocean Tech: Police received four thermal-imaging drones for search and rescue, while the fisheries agency’s Honiara surveillance centre coordinated a regional operation using satellite tools to track vessels and support enforcement. Climate Data: Solomon Islands data storyteller Orihao won a Pacific award for a visualisation tracing the impacts of six major cyclones.

Climate Watch: Strengthening El Niño conditions are raising drought and heat risks across the Pacific. Gizo has already lost a water source as dry conditions bite. Emergency Technology: Police have received four thermal-imaging drones to help find missing people and support disaster response across Solomon Islands. Marine Science: A new study finds leatherback turtle nests at Isabel’s Haevo beach have increased by 10.6% a year since harvesting stopped in 2013; Solomon Islands hosts the world’s second-largest known nesting population of the West Pacific leatherback. Data & Fisheries: Solomon Islands data storyteller Orihao won a Pacific climate-visualisation prize for “Ripple,” tracing six major cyclones. Separately, a Honiara-based regional fisheries operation used satellite monitoring to track vessels across 30.5 million square kilometres of ocean. Health: Yaws remains present in Solomon Islands, with children especially at risk; untreated infection can cause lasting skin and bone damage. Online Safety: A regional study including Solomon Islands warns that children face risks such as cyberbullying and harmful content as internet access expands.

Health: Yaws, a tropical disease still present in Solomon Islands, can be mistaken for syphilis. Health workers warn untreated cases may cause lasting skin and bone damage, especially in children. WHO also says Pacific health services face growing climate, staffing and funding pressures; seven Pacific countries have yet to include health in national climate plans. Marine Science: Leatherback nests at Isabel’s Haevo beach have risen 10.6% a year since harvesting stopped in 2013, a new study finds. Solomon Islands is home to the world’s second-largest known nesting population of West Pacific leatherbacks. Coral reefs face a worsening outlook, with major implications for coastal protection and food supplies. Emergency Technology: Police received four thermal-imaging drones to help find missing people and support rescue missions and disaster response across the country. Data and Fisheries: Solomon Islands data storyteller Simeon Orihao won recognition for a visualisation tracing the impacts of six major cyclones. In Honiara, the FFA coordinated its largest fisheries surveillance operation of 2026, using satellite monitoring to track vessels across 30.5 million square kilometres of ocean.

Marine Science: A new study found leatherback nests at Isabel’s Haevo beach have risen by 10.6% a year since egg and turtle harvesting stopped in 2013. Community rangers counted 941 nests across four monitored beaches, making Solomon Islands home to the West Pacific’s second-largest known nesting population. Reef Outlook: Pacific scientists warn that warming oceans are shortening the time reefs have to recover between bleaching events. Reefs help shield coastlines from waves and support food security for Solomon Islanders. Emergency Technology: Police received four thermal-imaging drones to help find missing people and support rescue and disaster response, including in low-visibility conditions. Fisheries Surveillance: Honiara-based FFA coordinated its largest regional surveillance operation of 2026, using satellite-monitoring tools to track activity across 30.5 million square kilometres of ocean. It recorded more than 27,000 satellite detections and led to one vessel being apprehended. Climate Data: Solomon Islands’ Orihao won a Pacific data-visualisation prize for “Ripple,” a visual story tracing the effects of six major cyclones across four Pacific countries.

Digital Finance: Pacific families need more than cheaper transfers, UNDP and UNCDF say: trusted services, privacy protections, savings and insurance matter too. Remittance fees across the region are 13–15%. Emergency Response: Police have received four thermal-imaging drones to help find missing people and support disaster operations across Solomon Islands. Digital Learning: Australia has provided SINU with more than SBD$2 million in computers, ICT equipment and learning resources, including laptops for students and a new computer lab. Climate Data: Solomon Islands data storyteller Orihao won a Pacific award for a visualisation tracing six major cyclones from 2015 to 2024. Fisheries Surveillance: FFA’s Honiara-based centre coordinated a regional operation covering 30.5 million square kilometres, using satellite technology to track vessels and support enforcement. Geospatial Tools: A Pacific webinar on 29 October will explore how open mapping standards can improve climate resilience and disaster planning. Online Safety: A regional study including Solomon Islands warns that children need stronger digital skills and protection as internet access expands.

Geospatial Resilience: A Pacific GIS and Remote Sensing Council webinar on 29 October will explore how open geospatial standards can improve climate and disaster data-sharing and decision-making. Search-and-Rescue Technology: Police received four thermal-imaging drones to help locate missing people and support emergency response across Solomon Islands. Climate Data: Solomon Islands’ prize-winning entry in the Pacific Dataviz Challenge visualises the impacts of six major cyclones across four Pacific nations from 2015 to 2024. Fisheries Surveillance: The FFA’s Honiara-based centre coordinated its largest regional operation of 2026, using satellite monitoring and remote-sensing tools across 30.5 million square kilometres of ocean. Digital Learning: Australia provided SINU with more than SBD$2 million in computers, laptops and learning resources to strengthen digital access and student support. Cyclone Outlook: Forecasters warn the 2026/27 season could bring seven to 11 named cyclones to the southwest Pacific, with an early start possible.

Geospatial Resilience: A Pacific webinar on 29 October will explore how open mapping standards and shared data can improve disaster preparedness and climate planning. Emergency Response: Police have received four thermal-imaging drones to help find missing people and support rescue operations and disaster response across Solomon Islands. Climate Data: Solomon Islands data storyteller Mr Orihao won a Pacific prize for a visualisation tracing six major cyclones from 2015 to 2024. Fisheries Surveillance: A regional operation coordinated from Honiara used satellite monitoring to track vessels across 30.5 million square kilometres, identifying 13 vessels of interest and leading to one apprehension. Health Science: The Ministry of Health is developing a five-year laboratory plan to strengthen diagnostic services, disease surveillance and responses to public health threats. Digital Learning: Australia has provided SINU with more than SBD$2 million in computers, ICT equipment and learning resources, including laptops for students and a new computer lab.