CAUSE Weekly Wrap-Up: Keeping you informed, one week at a time.

Issue 172 (Digital) 25 February 2024
The weekly wrap-up newsletter is a way to connect and update staff and project stakeholders about the progress of projects implemented by CAUSE in different communities. It includes information about the projects in Honiara, Guadalcanal (areas outside of town boundary), Auki, Gizo, Noro, and Munda. CAUSE is supported by the Australian Government and the World Bank.

Dear CAUSE partners and implementation colleagues,

We are happy to announce that the CAUSE PMU Newsletter is back in circulation, marking the beginning of an exciting journey as we enter the final year of project implementation. The first edition for this year serves as a comprehensive recapitulation of the remarkable achievements we’ve accomplished throughout the years, highlighting our collective efforts and successes in advancing our project goals.
As we reflect on the accomplishments of CY 2023, it’s evident that our dedication and perseverance have yielded another set of tangible results, making a significant impact on the communities we serve. From infrastructure improvements to capacity-building and job generation initiatives, each achievement represents a milestone in our journey towards creating positive change and sustainable development.
This edition of the newsletter serves as more than just a recap; it’s a testament to the hard work, commitment, and collaboration of every member of our team, our partners, and most importantly, our beneficiaries. Together, we’ve overcome challenges, embraced innovation, and remained steadfast in our mission to empower communities and enhance livelihoods.
As we embark on the final year of implementation, let us carry forward the momentum and enthusiasm that have propelled us thus far. Let’s continue to strive for excellence, leverage our strengths, and explore new opportunities for growth and impact. Together, we can build upon the foundation we’ve laid and leave a legacy of positive transformation.
I encourage you to delve into this edition of the newsletter, celebrate our achievements, and draw inspiration from the stories of progress and resilience shared within. Let it serve as a reminder of the difference we can make when we unite behind a common cause and work towards a shared vision.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication and contributions to the success of our project. Together, let’s make this final year of implementation our most impactful yet!

To visualize these gains, we have run a series of metrics related to the impact and effectiveness of the CAUSE Project aimed at improving access to infrastructure, services, or markets in project areas.

**Project Development Objective (PDO) Indicators by Objectives/ Outcomes**

As of December 2023, the project has made significant strides, benefiting 18,100 households, surpassing the targeted number of 18,000 by achieving a 101% result, and even reaching this milestone one year ahead of schedule. Across key areas, the project has demonstrated remarkable success: 83% of individuals, 78% of youth aged 16-29, and 84% of women reported improved access, all exceeding the respective targets. Moreover, 8,223 beneficiaries reached, trained, and provided with short-term jobs out of the targeted 8,400, achieving a rate of 98% by the period. Of this, 4,187 females and 4,198 youth engaged in job-focused interventions, closing in to target with rates of 99.69% and 99.95%, respectively.
The outreach to beneficiaries from the poorest communities stands at 59.19%, exceeding the 50% target. Additionally, an impressive 97% of beneficiaries reported that project investments met their needs, surpassing the 70% target.
Overall, these achievements indicate the project’s significant success in meeting its objectives, with many metrics surpassing their targets, or getting close to it, showcasing the positive impact it has had on the communities it serves.

**Intermediate Results Indicators by Components**

B.1 Component 1: Urban Works and Services

The project has achieved notable success across multiple fronts: 208 out of 212 community access infrastructures have been constructed, reaching a rate of 98.11% completion. Community members overwhelmingly reported improved pedestrian safety, with 95% satisfaction, surpassing the target by a significant margin.

These indicators provide insights into the financial aspects and labor dynamics of the project resulting in the generation of 354,739 labor days out of the targeted 370,000, now achieving a rate of 95.88% compared to 93% in the previous quarter. This suggests that the project has been constantly successful in providing employment opportunities. This translates to total wages paid for Component 1 and Component 2 in the amount of SBD25,411,227.37, indicating a significant investment in labor.
Taking a closer look at these figures, it suggests that SBD3,090.26 is the average compensation received by each worker participating in the project. This equates to an average number of days worked per person of 43.14 days, indicating the average duration of employment or engagement in project-related activities.
Waste management efforts have seen progress, with 62,778 cubic meters of waste collected out of 78,000 targeted, reaching a rate of 80.48%.
Overall, the analysis shows that the project has achieved success in various aspects such as community infrastructure construction, community satisfaction, and labor generation.

**B.2 Component 2: Road Maintenance and Repair**

The project has restored and maintained a cumulative total of 99.566 kilometers of roads annually, surpassing the target by 19.24%. Additionally, 17.879 kilometers of roads have been improved to climate-resilient standards, exceeding the target by 27%.
The investment in road restoration and maintenance totaled USD 2,805,965, slightly below the budgeted amount of USD 3,200,000 (87.69%), indicating effective financial management. Similarly, USD 2,100,474.57 was invested in spot improvement works, achieving a rate of 95.48%. This is likewise lower than the budget of USD 2,200,000.00.
Overall, significant progress has been made in road repair and maintenance, with proactive measures taken to enhance infrastructure climate resilience. The project demonstrates efficient financial management, with positive variations from budgeted expenditures. These insights will guide future planning to optimize project outcomes.

**B.3 Component 3: Training and Support Services**

The ISDT training program has seen remarkable success, with 8,857 individuals trained, surpassing the target by 5.44% with a training success rate higher than the target of 80%. Effective engagement of youth is evident, with 54.74% of trainees being youth, slightly exceeding the target by 9.48%. Similarly, gender-balanced participation is observed, with 54.54% of trainees being women, meeting the target.
Notably, 93% of trainees completed the training, exceeding the target by 16.25%, indicating curriculum relevance and effectiveness. High satisfaction levels among participants are evident, with 97% expressing satisfaction, surpassing the target by 21.25%.
While 1,571 new bank accounts were opened or reactivated, falling short of the target by 58.19%, suggesting the need for reassessing financial inclusion strategies. Additionally, 43.41% of new bank accounts were opened by women.
Overall, the Training and Support Services program has achieved significant milestones, conveniently culminating its operations by December of 2023. Not only that the TSS team surpass most of its targets, it also completed its activities well ahead of schedule.

Trainees accessing post-training support services was overwhelming, totaling 6,074, thus exceeding the target by 142.96%. This indicates a strong demand for ongoing support in future interventions. Additionally, 943 learners acquired Level-I literacy skills, surpassing the target by 10.94%. This showcases the effectiveness of the literacy program, where 83% of participants who acquired Level-I literacy skills were women, exceeding the target by 64.24% and demonstrating the successful empowerment of women through literacy programs.

INSPIRING STORIES

Beryl Sosota, a stay-at-home mother of four teenagers, struggled to support her children’s education. She used to sell cooked food at the market and her husband provided OBM services and repair in Gizo. However, their income was not enough to cover their family’s expenses.

In November 2021, Beryl attended a seven-day ISDT training at Gizo PIU. She learned how to write a CV, an application letter and how to present herself during an interview. She was grateful for this training, as she was able to apply for a job as an office cleaner at the Gizo NPF branch.

Beryl was hired for the job and worked there for six months. She is pleased that NPF also helps pay her children’s school fees. This is a blessing for her family.

Ghorekera Tolipio, a participant from batch 34, is a SINU graduate from the class of 2021, actively seeking job opportunities. One of his aspirations was to join the Labour Mobility Scheme for seasonal employment, but he faced obstacles.

However, after enrolling in the ISDT training on September 19, 2022, Ghorekera utilized the certificate he obtained along with the attached reference to apply for jobs. Through his determination, he successfully secured a position. Additionally, he used his earnings from project work to cover the expenses for his passport. Ghorekera expressed his gratitude to the CAUSE project for their assistance in making his dreams come true.

During our recent encounter with him two weeks ago, he briefly visited for a vacation before returning to Australia. Ghorekera shared that the valuable lessons he acquired during the ISDT training played a significant role in his promotion to the position of works supervisor at the farm where he is currently employed. He is now in Australia, supporting his family financially and working towards establishing his own depot business, specializing in selling and expanding his inventory of drums.

Testimonials