MAKIRA ULAWA SIGNS UP FOR COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE
The Minister of Provincial Government Dudley Kopu and Makira Ulawa Premier Thomas Weape with the signed documents. Photo credit: OPMC.
The Makira Ulawa provincial government together with the national government have signed a participation agreement for the province to participate in a pilot programme to strengthen community governance initiated by the World Bank.
Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening Dudley Kopu and Makira Ulawa Premier Thomas Weape signed the agreement last week.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Stanley Pirione said the programme was compiled from 2010-2011 studies on community governance in Solomon Islands.
He said the studies showed that both the national and provincial governments are detached from the communities and that communities lack confidence in government service delivery.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary said though the programme comes in a conflict resolution perspective, it will also deal with general governance issues.
He said the National Government and the World Bank have signed the grant agreement for the programme which will be funded by AusAid and a sum of US$3 million has been made available.
Mr Pirione said Rennell and Bellona will also be covered by the pilot programme.
Premier Weape described the programme as a significant initiative by the World Bank, saying that the Makira-Ulawa Provincial Government accepted its participation in the programme because it is worthwhile.