Small Grant proposal writing workshop empowers Pienuna community

By Chris Alex

The Worldwide Fund (WWF) for Nature Pacific Solomon Islands Programme Office held a small grant proposal writing workshop for the Pienuna Community Association (PCA) on Ranonga island in the Western province.

The two day workshop was supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature Netherlands (WWF NL) Project.

It brought together community groups and local organisations with the aim of strengthening their capacity to access funding opportunities and effectively implement development initiatives.

It also focused on educating participants with practical skills and knowledge to design strong, clear and fundable project proposals.

Facilitating the workshop was Henry Kaniki from the WWF Solomon Islands Conservation. 

Sessions focused on identifying genuine community needs, aligning project ideas with donor priorities, and developing realistic and achievable activities. 

Participants were also encouraged to incorporate sustainability, community ownership and measurable impact into their project designs.

PCA Coordinator Mrs. Varina Toribule expressed appreciation for the opportunity, saying the community felt privileged to receive technical training at the grassroots level.

“We feel very fortunate as a community to receive this kind of technical training here in Pienuna,” she said. 

Mr. Joel Nourong, a former teacher and current Chairperson of the Health Committee, described the training as timely and relevant for community leaders.

“Communities are often asked to develop proposals to access support, but many of us do not fully understand the basic structure and requirements,” he said. 

The workshop marks an important step in building local capacity and empowering the Pienuna community to actively pursue sustainable development opportunities.

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