Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock took part in a Disability Inclusive Development Dialogue on Friday, 15 August 2025, aimed at strengthening disability mainstreaming within the agriculture sector.
The dialogue formed part of a wider initiative with government ministries that began in August 2024. The session with MAL marked the final ministry engagement under the initiative, facilitated by the National Rehabilitation and Disability Division of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the government’s disability focal point, with support from the World Health Organization.
MAL participants said the presentation significantly broadened their understanding of disability-inclusive development. It highlighted how the Solomon Islands National Disability Inclusive Development Policy 2023–2031 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities can be practically applied in their work.
The agenda promotes the principle that development must ensure access to basic needs and services, and that lack of access equates to poverty. This broader understanding of poverty, evident across many ministries, underpins the dialogue sessions, which seek to promote inclusivity in national development by addressing attitudinal, institutional, environmental and communication barriers to equal service delivery.
Andrew Melanolu, Director of the Extension Division at MAL, reflected on the definitions of disability and poverty in the SINDID Policy. He remarked that, in many ways, the population faces an “intellectual disability” in terms of mindset, pointing to how limited access to information contributes to poor decision-making. He illustrated this with an example: the widespread habit of improper rubbish disposal, which he attributed to a lack of awareness and understanding.
Frances Vahimana, Human Resources Manageress, speaking on behalf of the MAL Executive and officers, extended thanks for the session. She described the presentation as comprehensive and transformative, saying it had reshaped their perception of disability.
Elwin Taloimatakwa, Disability and Program Coordinator at MHMS, thanked the MAL Executive, HR Manageress and officers for their strong participation and coordination in hosting the session.
He emphasised that the next step following the dialogue is for each ministry to appoint a disability focal point at deputy secretary level. The National Rehabilitation and Disability Division, through MHMS, will then work to establish the National Disability Inclusive Advisory and Coordination Committee, which will serve as the highest-level advisory and decision-making body responsible for coordinating the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the SINDID Policy and the UNCRPD.
