Carol Offer
Chair - Solomon Islands
Carol Offer is a Nutritionist from Solomon Islands with extensive experience in research and community development. Working within the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning space Carol is a visionary and hardworking individual who have contributed so much in Food Security and Livelihood as well as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Education
Graduated with a Post Graduate Certificate in Nutrition from Bond University in Australia and Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics from Fiji National University. Carol also took short courses in Climate Change and GEDSI.
External Appointments
In 2019, Carol worked as an Associate researcher with the Solomon Islands National University in partnership with Griffith University and International Water Centre and implemented research in rural communities in Solomon Islands collecting data on the Pacific Community Water Management Plus Project.
Professional Experience
Carol have worked in various community development projects in the Solomon Islands focusing on Indigenous Food System as Food Security for Livelihood, Resilience to Climate Change and Adaptation in Emergency. She also has experience in Researches and workshop facilitation in communities that contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Her Experience in The Solomon Islands TVET sector also enables Carol to work with Rural Training Centres and Technical Institutes advocating for woman and young girls to take up non-traditional careers. Carol is also passionate about supporting young people and advocating for Climate Change.
Country Report
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago and the Guadalcanal Campaign (August 1942-February 1943) proved a turning point in the Pacific War, since after the operation the Japanese lost their strategic initiative and remained on the defensive until their final defeat in 1945. Self-government for the Solomon Islands came in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, endemic crime, and a narrow economic base have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemameza sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), which ended in June 2017, was generally effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.
Location
Located in Oceania, the Solomon Islands are an island group in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea.
Land Mass
28,400 km2
Official Languages
English, Bislama, French
Population
652,857
Head of State
Manasseh Sogavare
Capital
Honiara
Status
National Parliament
Economy
The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of its livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Prior to the arrival of The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic violence, the closure of key businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI’s efforts, which concluded in Jun 2017, to restore law and order and economic stability have led to modest growth as the economy rebuilds.