A financing Agreement for 168 community projects funded by the Solomon Islands Government through the Rural Development Program (RDP) has been signed in Honiara yesterday.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC), Jeremiah Manele signed the documents at a brief ceremony in the presence of officials from the Government, World Bank and a number of recipients.
The Solomon Islands Government in its 2013 Development Budget has agreed to contribute a total of SB$30 million to the Rural Development Program.
This contribution will fund 168 community projects for a total of $26 million or 87% of the total projects. The balance of this contribution will meet some activities under component 2 and 4 of the program.
The World Bank and AusAID will also contribute to ensure that the development objective of the RDP is achieved. Their contributions will be announced at a later date.
According to Mr Manele, these projects were identified under Cycle 4 of the RDP.
The respective communities have completed their designs and costs and each project committee had received appropriate training to enable each community to implement their project.
Mr Manele had acknowledged the patience of all current project recipients following a delay in releasing the funds but has assured them that disbursement will commence immediately now that funds are injected into the RDP.
These new projects will bring to 370 the number of community projects funded through the RDP since the beginning of the Program.
“My Ministry through the RDP will provide all the support necessary for the timely implementation of thee projects before the closure of this phase of the RDP,” Mr Manele said.
Mr Manele also acknowledged the support of donor partners in the program which included the World Bank, AusAID, IFAD and the EU who have contributed to the early years of the current phase.
Source: Press Release, Government Communications Unit