Project makes progress

 By ADAM MERA

A PROGRAMME co-funded by the PNG Government, the United Nations Development Programme and AusAID to build capacity is reaping results.

Sam Erepan, the national programme coordinator of the Provincial Capacity Building and Enhancement Programme or PCab E, said the programme was created to provide support to the government by building capacity in terms of public financial management at sub-national levels.

Erepan said the implementation of the programme was guided by the PCab E committee headed by Finance Secretary Dr Ken Ngangan.

“It (PCab E) focuses on capacity-building in sub-national (province and district) treasury functions,” he said.

“It puts particular emphasis in the context of financial reporting to improve service delivery and effectiveness of public service programmes.”

Erepan said an example of the success of the programme was the timely presentation of financial reports by the Gulf provincial treasury.

“They (Gulf provincial treasury) not only submitted reports for the 2013 financial year, but annual reports that have been backlogged since 2006. 

“That shows that capacity is being built.”

Erepan said the programme had implemented its activities in Western, Central, Milne Bay, Morobe, Eastern Highlands and the East New Britain since its inception in 2008.

He said the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Gulf, West Sepik and Western Highlands were recently included.

The programme has been extended and by the end of 2018, it aims to cover all 22 provinces, he said.

Erepan said PCab E had an adviser on-site in each of the province providing on-the-job training, mentoring and coaching.