Communities in East New Britain are set to benefit from a 4million kina development grant made available provincial ward planning process through a Rural Service Delivery Project.
This is an initiative of the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Agency (DPLLG) delivered through a world bank credit facility and with the support of Australia Papua New Guinea partnership.
Up to 37 successful wards and women groups in four local level government wards are recipients of this development assistance aimed at improving community life.
In a small yet significant ceremony, Raluana in Kokopo District, Toma-Vunadidir in Gazzelle and Balanamataman LLG in Rabaul District signed the grant agreement between the implementing agency, Department of Provincial and Local Level Government, East New Britain Provincial administrator, and representatives of three local level governments and five women groups. While West Pomio Mamusi LLG signing will take place later.
Five Women’s groups are amongst the beneficiaries and will receive grant funding between K70,000 and K140,000 while the thirty-two wards will be receiving between K80,000 and K110,000 for community projects such as classrooms, resources centres, water and sanitation and other community projects.
Provincial administrator Wilson Matava said the signing is a result of the commitment and engagement set up by leaders of the province.
“There are a lot of programs coming from the national government through different agencies and departments, and we are thankful to previous administrations and political leaders for their oversight in doing this groundwork,” said Mr Matava
He said the provincial government will continue to embrace the reforms to enhances service delivery to the people through partnerships with development partners and key government institutions.
Acting Secretary of Department of Provincial and Local level government Joe Warus reaffirmed the importance of collaborating with stakeholders to improve lives of Papua New Guineans in rural often remote communities.
‘’East New Britain has met funding requirement commitment. Today is an important occasion in witnessing the signing of ward agreement for 37 grants. This paves way for forward development in our wards. We must be happy that the projects are of not the districts or LLGs but right down to the wards. We need to help ourselves start at the ward level first and these funding assistances will do just that.’’
This program runs in line with the province’s development plans and the National Government’s focus for a bottom-up planning where communities members had the opportunity to decide and prioritise necessary services and infrastructure and apply for a grant funding.