CDF reform attracts donor interest as UNDP offers USD$80,000 support  

The reform work that is undertaken by the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is attracting interest from international development partners that are keen to support the CDF programme.

Permanent Secretary of MRD Dr Samson Viulu said donor interest was expressed during a number of consultations held in the last quarter of last year and early this year.

PS Viulu said his ministry continue to receive donors and agencies attention and support interest to this CDF reform and the CDF programme itself, with UNDP already indicated funding support of USD$80,000 (Est. SBD$658715.12) to MRD .

This is to support the CDF reform work that will lead to tangible and sustainable development in the rural constituencies.

The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) is supporting this CDF programme since 2007 after the establishment of MRD. The programme is implemented by the 50 constituencies in the country through MRD purposely to improve the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders.

Apart from SIG, only the Government of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) has supported the CDF Program since 2019 until last year.

In the past year until now, the Ministry of Rural Development has held discussions on possible areas of collaborations with various bilateral partners and donor agencies including the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China, Embassy of Japan, the British High Commission Office in Solomon Islands, UNDP, SPC, IMF, World Bank and others.

MRD is one of the 24 ministries within the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) machinery established on the 28^th September, 2007 and its core mandates as contained under Legal Notice 164 in accordance with the Constitution of Solomon Islands is to oversee the effective planning and implementation of Government’s Rural Development Policy.

ENDS//

– MRD PRESS RELEASE