The UNDP Country Office in the Solomon Islands is implementing a range of projects in support of Sustainable Development Goals. At Goal 5 there is commitment to achieving gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls, At Goal 16 there is commitment to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Strengthening access to justice, rule of law and promoting human rights are cornerstones of UNDP’s work to achieve sustainable human development.

The Solomon Islands Access to Justice Project supports the building and strengthening of the capacity of the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) to enhance access to justice for the people of the Solomon Islands at national and provincial levels, including women, youth and marginalized groups in communities outside urban centers. The project is implemented across the provinces of the Solomon Islands through a two-tiered paralegal initiative (provincial paralegals and community legal advocates).

In 2020, the PSO launched a 5-year Strategic Plan which was developed in line with international law, guidelines and best practices and included a review of the annual corporate planning and financial and human resourcing management to support enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of the PSO. The developed of the Strategic plan also included a review of internal statistics, results of access to justice studies, public service rules, institutional mandate, governance, budget, staffing and strategy into the medium terms. The process was consultative with key stakeholders ensuring effective participation and ownership.

The plan sets out strategic objectives and activities to achieve desired outputs with a results framework based on results-based management principles. In addition to a clear mission and vision and implementation and monitoring plan, the plan provides strategic guidance as to how the PSO breath, reach and capacity can be improved by outlining a future direction for the office in line with international standards and outline the resources required to achieve the same. The plan also reviewed how paralegals best integrate with that strategic direction and forecasts the implications of any significant increase in resources for the office and possible impacts this may have on other agencies, stakeholders, NGOs and service providers.

The purpose of this Consultancy is to provide specialized technical support over a six-month period to the development of a workplan for the 5-year PSO Strategic Plan; to conduct a consultative review of the plan with the PSO lawyers, paralegals and staff; and to support the PSO in undertaking conferences, including a women in justice forum, a justice integration conference and regional legal aid conference which further the objectives of the Strategic Plan.