Kokopo first to provide counterpart funding for programme

KOKOPO in East New Britain has given its counterpart funding for the World Bank-funded Rural Services Delivery Project (RSDP).
The RSDP will be implemented by the Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Department in partnership with the World Bank, Australian Aid, ENB government and the four districts.
Kokopo MP Emil Tammur gave a cheque for K70,000 for implementation to RSDP representatives and World Bank officials on Friday.
During the presentation at the Kokopo City Authority conference room, Tammur, who is also the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said the province was one of five in the country selected to pilot the RSDP. The project aims to improve services in the health and education sectors as well as help community development and economic oriented services.
The other four provinces are Chimbu, West Sepik, Central and Western.
Tammur said Raluana was the first local level government in Kokopo to receive the RSDP funding.
He called on the World Bank to start implementing the projects as the initiative fell within the national government’s Vision 2050 and Medium Term Development Strategies.
Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Department senior financial controller Tobona Dalele received the district’s counterpart funding for the RSDP.
Dalele said out of the five provinces selected, ENB was taking the lead in bringing project to the people.
Dalele said the payment showed that Tammur and the Kokopo development authority (DDA) was committed.