Chimbu signs deal with development partners

 THE Simbu provincial government has signed an agreement with two development partners to assist development in Gumine district.

The ward development plan was initiated by the Community Development Agency (CDA) and funded by CARE International in PNG.

The memorandum of agreement was signed between CARE International, the CDA, Chimbu Governor Noah Kool and deputy provincial administrator Alphonse Kee.

It was one of the highlights of the Simbu provincial executive council meeting in Goroka last month.

Kool acknowledged the need to explore the public-private partnership arrangement. 

“Care International being an international development organisation brings wealth of international development experience, capacity building expertise with funding resources to the table,” he said.

“CDA, a local NGO, focuses on working with people at the community level and makes a good combination for the effective service delivery to the people. 

“My government, both at the political and administrative level, will support where necessary,” Kool said.

Yanny Guman from CDA said the initiative was a bottom-up process to develop rural council wards. 

The plans would then be integrated into the local level government plans which would them be consolidated into district plans.

Assistant country director for CARE International (PNG) Daniel Cowley said they would continue to provide general capacity building including technical skills and funding through to the completion of the ward development plan for the district.

He said CARE International as a development partner reached an understanding with the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government to facilitate ward development plans in PNG.