World Vision Solomon Islands partners with ANU on urban research

World Vision Solomon Islands is partnering with the Australian National University (ANU) to carry out research on rapid urbanisation in Honiara.

The ANU study, Urbanisation in Honiara: Managing Change, Creating Opportunities is collecting information on the impact of rapid urbanisation on the lives of men, women, youth and people with disability living in urban and peri-urban settlements

World Vision is working with researchers from the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program, College of Asia and the Pacific at ANU to conduct focus group discussions in three Honiara communities -  Lord Howe, White River and Sun Valley. “We are very pleased to work alongside World Vision to access information from communities where World Vision already has established programs,” said ANU Research Fellow, Dr Jenny Munro.

“This partnership is a great opportunity for our Honiara team and staff in Program Quality to work alongside a credible research organisation such as ANU,” said World Vision’s Program Quality Manager Osborn Cains.

“The findings from this study will not only help fill the information gap on urbanisation. It will also be useful for those formulating national policy, for donors and also help organisations that work directly with communities like World Vision better tailor their programs. ”

The Urbanisation in Honiara: Managing Change, Creating Opportunities study aims to better inform donors and policy makers about community priorities concerning rapid urbanisation in Honiara and to identify opportunities to improve urban living environments and development opportunities.