BLESS- Building Livelihoods, Empowerment and Strategic Sustainability Program
Solomon Islands
Funded by AusAID under the Australian Cooperation Agreement, the Building Livelihoods, Empowerment and Strategic Sustainability (BLESS) program aims to strengthen governance at the local level, focusing on village committees, women and youth groups in 60 villages in three provinces,
Guadalcanal, Malaita and Isabel. Over 10,000 people benefit from more responsive, responsible and accountable decision-making and development activities.
Working through existing social and political structures, the program promotes the participation of women and youth in village political, social and economic decision-making, particularly in community planning and development, with the objective of improving quality of life in the villages.
It also strengthens the capacity of target groups to develop programs that advance the interests of their constituencies and to undertake outreach and advocacy on substantive issues of concern.
It strengthens the institutional capacity of committees and civil society organisations in analysis, planning, proposal development, project management, budgeting and bookkeeping, administration, advocacy and communication.
Increased civic knowledge of target groups, particularly on the relationship between citizens and government and how governments make decisions, is an integral part of the program in the lead up to national elections in early 2006.
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AFAP’s BLESS project builds on our strong working relations with our local partners,
Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT) in the region and their long history of implementing successful development projects over many years.
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