Women and development in Solomon Islands : an alternative approach

The overall aim of this thesis is to stress the inadequacy and inappropriateness of mainstream development models in meeting the needs of Solomon Islands women. A main argument of the thesis is that an alternative development model, one which is gender and culturally specific, is required. The organisations best suited for implementing a decentralised, gender and culturally specific and people-centred approach to development are Non-Government Organisations. The colonial legacy of growth centred development as followed by Solomon Islands government has failed to adequately address women's concerns. It is not a matter of adding Solomon Islands women to development theory or incorporating them 'into' development. Therefore, a fundamental reassessment of the very foundations of development theory and practice is required