Despite having one of the lowest connectivity rates globally, most Solomon Islanders spend significant parts of their income and time-sharing their lives on social media. Solomon Islanders would tell you that sharing is an inherent part of their culture. The world is changing, and so is the way people share, which is changing – everything moves online.

Solomon Islands has plenty of selfies and sunsets to offer, but access to the internet is about more – it keeps people connected, well-informed, and as a result – makes them safer. Digital transformation in a country can also bring sustainable growth, improved governance, and make the delivery of services more responsive. Small Island Developing States (SIDS), like the Solomon Islands, often have similar challenges, and UNDP is committed to supporting governments on their way to digitalization.

A Digital Readiness Assessment (DRA) tool created by the UN Development Programme has already helped identify the shape, pace, and types of digital transitions happening. Government officials then looked at how to fast-track the positives while making sure everyone in the Solomon Islands has a share in the benefits.  

Dr Derek Mane, Deputy Secretary to the Prime Minister, says that “digital transformation is about people, and we aim to help our communities transform with inclusive digital solutions.” The country was the first in the Pacific region to complete the DRA exercise, and with that information, the process started.

With more than 900 islands spread over a 1500-kilometer-long swath of the South Pacific, does digital transformation mean remoteness and inaccessibility may become a thing of the past?  

UNDP’s strategies for Solomon Islands use technology to deal with remoteness and create the ability to monitor better and support the work of provincial governments.

“The Digital Readiness Assessment gives us a clear view of how to achieve a future where innovation works for the country’s sustainable development,” Dr Mane continues. The in-depth assessment was completed with support from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Aviation and Communication, the Information Communication Technologies Services (ICT) Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT), officials from Ministries, CSOs representatives, and digital experts from UNDP.

It all started with the wiring work to improve facilities in all nine Provincial Government Headquarters along with the purchase and installation of equipment, the upgrade of internet connections, and training to enhance the digital literacy of the public officials. Local authorities say that digitalization and increased use of technology helped save money during the first year of the pandemic. Money saved was transferred from logistics to COVID-19 response, benefiting all Solomon Islanders.

Now that the digitalization process has begun, the Government is experiencing first-hand the potential for digital channels to improve overall access while addressing the time and cost barriers familiar to in the Solomon Islands. Dr Mane adds that “together with UNDP, we will continue working on accelerating the digital capacities of Solomon Islands. We now can use these findings to develop our first National Digital Strategy so that all citizens and businesses can access the very best the digital world can offer.”

The Digital Transformation Authority was born out of the close partnership of the Government and UNDP in July 2021, along with a joint commitment to working on the first National Digital Strategy. The strategy is expected to connect more citizens with their government and help connect the citizens of Solomon Islands with the rest of the world, opening opportunities for learning, exchange and, of course, for sharing.