K300,000 deal to boost settlements

A LANDMARK deal worth about K300,000 to improve settlements in Port Moresby was signed between the National Capital District Commission, the Department of Community Development and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently.
Under this treaty, JICA has committed to support the extension of 11 integrated community development projects in Port Moresby settlements.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Community Development secretary Joseph Klapat said: “This is a real vote of confidence by JICA in the integrated approach we are taking to address social and economic disadvantage in our settlement communities.”
He said it was also a task that was essential given the continuing growth of urban communities to nearly 4% each year from 1980-2000 in NCDC.
The projects rely on a set of unique partnerships between the department, NCDC, JICA, non-governmental organisations, residents of the settlements and customary landowners.
According to Mr Klapat, the projects are all in the final stages of construction. The projects are a police post at Tete, a bore water project at Morata 4, a mini-market at Nine-Mile, a sanitation system at Joyce Bay, a community hall and micro-credit scheme at Vada Vada and expansion of the water supply at Savaka-Sabama settlements.
“These are all due for completion by the end of April,” Mr Klapat said.
The funding extension will enable local settlement residents to benefit from detailed training that will ensure they can effectively manage the projects on a day-to-day level into the future, as well as to establish quality monitoring systems.
“That’s what makes these projects so exciting.
“The projects are all about working with local communities to build on their strengths and give them the tools they need to develop, implement and manage projects that relate to needs within their own communities,” he said.

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