By EDDIE OSIFELO
MINISTER of National Planning and Development Coordination, Rexon Ramofafia has welcomed the implementation of the European Union projects through the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) mechanism.
Speaking at the launching of the $78 million EU projects in Honiara yesterday, Ramofafia said the projects modality of implementation by utilizing the existing PCDF grant mechanism is also very much welcomed.
“The PCDF grant mechanism is a longstanding modality of delivery in the provinces which has shown positive results and contributed a lot to improving capacity of provincial governments to deliver services.
“The PCDF modality also builds national ownership by allowing the national and provincial governments to be in the driver’s seat,” he said.
Ramofafia said this is the kind of inclusive engagement and partnership that the government encourages.
“As the Minister responsible for National Planning and Aid Coordination, I continue to urge our development partners to align to the priorities as set out in the National Development Strategy,” he said.
Moreover, Ramofafia said at such a time as this development, effectiveness remains critical.
“We must ensure national ownership, a focus on results, having inclusive partnerships and mutual transparency and accountability,” he said.
In a similar connection to ensuring development effectiveness, he stressed the importance of monitoring and evaluation.
“Improving governance is a means to an end.
“Whilst improving governance is a key vehicle and means to ensuring effective service delivery, the ultimate end that we strive for is effective service delivery to our rural people,” he said.
“In that regard, we must also monitor for development results, such that we are able to ascertain progress in service delivery in the targeted sectors of health and education,” he added.
Ramofafia encouraged all to work together in the spirit of genuine partnership, to ensure successful delivery of the project activities in a timely manner that will see tangible outcomes for our rural people.
