GOVERNMENT Officers responsible for implementing the annual Development Budget programmes and projects and achieving the vision of the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-35 began their Certificate IV in Project Management Practice this week.
The course was officially launched in Honiara by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Co-ordination (MDPAC) Mr Shadrach Fanega.
PS Fanega warmly welcomed course tutor Mr Neil Sharma from USP Pacific TAFE and assistant from IPAM, Mr Steven Amasia along with students enrolled in the Project Management in Practice Certificate IV course.
PS Fanega reminded officers of the launch of the 20 year National Development Strategy (NDS) (2016-35) in April last year and the importance of the project management training as providing a step closer to achieving the vision of the NDS and implementation of its strategies.
“The NDS includes 15 medium term strategies, to achieve five long term objectives and these in turn are translated into a rolling five year Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) comprising development programmes and projects, the first year of which forms the Annual Development Budget.
“The Government recognises that the implementation of the National Development Strategy, the Medium Term Development Plan and the Annual Development Budget is very challenging and that one of the attributing factors is the limited capacity of government ministries in terms of capital and human resources.”
PS Fanega said that providing comprehensive project management training shows the Government’s strong commitment to the capacity development needs of Solomon Island public sector officers to help them improve the implementation of development programmes and projects, that in turn, will grow the economy and benefit the nation.
“It is no co-incidence that you were selected to attend this course. You were selected because of the role you play and the responsibility you have, to ensure the successful implementation of development budget programmes and projects. Make the best of this opportunity and take full advantage of the course and apply it when you return to your posts,” he said.
Mr Fanega said that following the success of the training programme run last year, the Certificate Four in Project Management Practice was again being delivered, co-funded by SIG with funding support from the European Union.
–OPMC PRESS
