This case study tracks the application of specific approaches to maximise local content in SIIP-supported projects from October 2022 to end 2023.

SIIP introduced a Local Content Strategy in 2022 to ensure its infrastructure projects maximised economic returns to the Solomon Islands labour market and industry from Australia’s infrastructure investments. The Strategy aims to mitigate two critical market constraints impeding local content in Solomon Islands infrastructure projects: 

1. the complexity and scale of infrastructure projects are often beyond the reach of local industry capability
2. industry lacks prior project experience to compete, qualify and win contracts.

As a result of its approach, SIIP has achieved the following to date:

• 133 Solomon Islanders engaged in work on SIIP infrastructure projects
• AUD6.2 million or 71 percent of total procurement to Solomon Island companies across nine SIIP-managed infrastructure projects.
• 421 people trained SIIP’s Workforce Skills Series workshops (287 men, 134 women) across 112 organisations, enabling them to better understand requirements to tender and deliver quality, safe and inclusive projects for DFAT and other development partners.