THE Australian Government, through the Direct Aid Program (DAP), has funded 12 additional community-led projects, taking the total number of DAP-funded projects to 19 for the 2021 calendar year.
On 12 November, Counsellor (Political) Kevin Playford and DAP Manager Laura Wilson congratulated the successful project applicants during a handover ceremony at the Australian High Commission.
The 12 projects in this round will support communities across Solomon Islands, including in Isabel, Western, Choiseul, Malaita and Central Provinces and in Honiara.
President of the Central Province Council of Women Naomi Selo and AHC Political Counsellor Kevin Playford signing a DAP project agreement to upgrade and complete a conference and training block at the Central Province Council of Women office in Tulagi.
In line with Australia’s COVID-19 Development Response, the DAP team encouraged project applications which helped build COVID-19 resilience, particularly in the education, health and sanitation sectors.
“We also prioritised projects which benefitted disadvantaged groups such as women, youth and people with disability, as well as those from remote communities, including projects that build climate change resilience.
The approved projects include classroom building refurbishments, water supply and restoration works, installation of a school dormitory fence and support to build a seawall.
AHC Political Counsellor Kevin Playford and DAP/CPP Manager Laura Wilson with Rhoda Sikilabu, MPA for Sigana Ward, discussing Sikilabu’s sea wall project in Isabel.
Counsellor (Political) Kevin Playford urged the Project Coordinators to complete the projects in a comprehensive and timely manner.
He advised the Project Coordinators to build awareness about their projects in their communities and to ensure the projects benefit as many community members as possible.
“We wish the project coordinators all the best with the implementation of their projects and look forward to visiting their projects and communities in due course,” Playford said.
DAP is a small grants-based program, which supports community-led projects.
Applications are available free of charge on our website or can be picked up from the Australian High Commission in Honiara.
