Redevelopment of the Gizo town market in Solomon Islands' Western Province has begun with this week's ground breaking ceremony.
The present Gizo market Photo: supplied
The Australian aid programme granted $US2.27 million to the project and partnered with women's agency UN Women to extend the Markets for Change project to Gizo.
This allowed market vendors to voice their opinions on the design of the new market to ensure it met their needs, UN Women said.
The redevelopment would withstand a category five cyclone, significantly increase the number of stalls and provide improved water sanitation and lighting, the agency said.
Earlier this month, the Island Sun newspaper reported market vendors were questioning why the redevelopment had not begun in March as they were promised.