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Subject: search.filters.subject.Malaita, Solomon Islands

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    Steps in a long journey : community projects and sustainable development in west Kwaio and central Kwara'ae, Malaita, Solomon Islands : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2001) Roura, Ricardo
    This study attempts to evaluate whether development projects could be means to the end of sustainable development in the Solomon Islands context of a subsistence economy in transition to a cash economy. Literature on development often emphasizes theory over practice, global over local, project design and implementation over project evaluation, and failures over successes. This research intends to reverse these tendencies and determine, in the evaluation of highly participatory, highly local, small-scale community projects, whether development projects could be means to the end of sustainable development. The evaluation is based on the assumption that community projects can only be truly successful if they contribute to maintain and/or improve the condition of both people and the ecosystem. It is proposed here that sustainable development may be realized through the cumulative effect of development activities that may be individually minor—at a local or a higher level—but collectively significant. What is inherently difficult is how the collective result of many disparate local development initiatives in the present may result in a desired state of affairs in the future—not just locally, but at a national or regional level. It is concluded here that community projects may contribute to progress towards sustainable development but are not a sufficient means to this end. Projects may have a tactical role in development, but should be integrated to an overall strategy for sustainable development. Ultimately these needs may lead to a new development practice paradigm that replaces the project. A new paradigm should be inclusive of emerging initiatives at the grassroots level, but also fit in a broader strategy for sustainable development. The search for a long term development strategy, however, should not impede local action to address more immediate needs. On line with research by others in this issue, it argued here that in the Solomon Islands the notion of community is interwoven with the land through present use and history in the notion of fanua kem, "our place". The notion of fanua could provide a cultural foundation to the notion of sustainable development. It is suggested that the value of fanua results not so much a matter of awareness of superior goals but rather, it is in the quotidian quality and ubiquitous use in Solomon Islands villages that the notion of "our place" does provide a sense of identity and belonging to a place, a community, a common past, and a common future.
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    Exploring community-based development : a case study of the Estate and rural community development in North Malaita, Solomon Islands : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Master of International Development at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2013) Faiau, James Kwaimani
    This thesis is concerned with the concept of community development. In particular, the role and contribution of a community-based initiative in development will be explored. Based on the case study of the Estate, which was introduced in North Malaita in the mid-2000s, this thesis seeks to explore how this initiative contributes to positive community development, which is concerned with not only economic aspects, but also social, cultural and spiritual aspects of development. This study also seeks to understand the underling premises and development values, the success stories and positive impacts of the Estate programs and projects on people‟s lives and communities, as well as the constraints and challenges facing the Estate and rural community development in North Malaita of Solomon Islands. This study of the Estate and community development in North Malaita recognises that there is a need for a comprehensive approach to development which should focus on all dimensions of development which is concerned with the goal of improving the total wellbeing of the people, and on building a strong, healthy and functional community. The Estate has shown that this all-compassing development can be based on collective involvement of local people and institutions driving their own development. This study found that partial approaches to development that only focus on service provision, discrete initiatives, information dissemination, and provision of resources to meet perceived needs have failed to bring about tangible and transformative change and positive development in rural communities in North Malaita and Solomon Islands. Thus, a different approach is being suggested, one that is context based and inclusive, with emphasis on the role of local people to organize their own communities and to utilize local resources to drive development. Far more than a concept that is about development in the rural communities, this study embraces the notion that community development is about development of the community, which includes improvement of the total wellbeing – or the „good life‟ and keeps building a strong community.