Minister Waneoroa Opens CDF Governance Workshop For Constituency Officers In Honiara

The Minister for the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Honourable Member of Parliament Daniel Waneoroa this morning officially opens the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) Governance Training workshop and Program Implementation, welcoming 150 Constituency officers and 50 Constituency Development Committee (CDC) Secretaries members to the 4-days sessions in Honiara.

The workshop is one of the key priority activities under MRD annual work plan for this year with the sole objective to; capacitate constituency officers with foundational knowledge on the CDF Act 2023 and the CDF Governance Framework.

In his official remarks, Hon. Minister Waneoroa said, that, as the Minister responsible for the Ministry, he has the biggest task of overseeing and ensuring the delivery of the SIG largest development budget and its projects under the Constituency Program.

“This is a task that I will ensure we all work together to achieve. You all present here today play a major role to achieving and successfully deliver this program.

“As I alluded to in my response to the Speech from the Throne in the current Parliament meeting, this workshop and other activities related to the national Government’s policy will guide the MRD’s work program for this year and the coming ones,” Hon. Minister Waneoroa emphasized.

The minister outlined that under the GNUT Policy Statement and specific to the Section 8.3 on the Resource Sector, MRD is mandated to work on the following policy areas:

• Strengthen processes to improve accountability and transparency in administering CDF funds to ensure compliance with CDF Act 2023 and Public Finance Management Act and Regulations;

• Promote and utilize constituency funds to decentralize development activities and improve rural livelihood and services;

• Review and implement policies and legislation to strengthen constituency development and services;

• Prioritize the establishments of Constituency Development Growth Centers (CDGC) in constituencies to decentralize development activities and provide government services to rural areas; and

• Implement relevant organizational and functional restructuring within the ministry to align with relevant provisions of the CDF Act 2023.

Hon. Minister Waneoroa told the participating officers that the introduction of the CDF Act 2023 necessitates the importance of building our capacities to work on and familiarise ourselves with the changes brought about both in the legislative and administrative aspects of our program.

“Being strategic within this new legal framework as a Ministry and making ourselves relevant in the whole of the government system is important. Thus, everything that we do today either through this workshop or other community-based trainings and administrative guidelines provided by MRD is important for our area of work and to achieving the policy directions of the national government.”

Hon. Minister Waneoroa said that “capacity development for all constituency officers in the critical areas required to improve effective and efficient service delivery in the rural communities will be prioritised for all constituency officers.”

The training workshop is purposely designed to achieve the following key outcomes:

• Participants will be able to explain the key provisions of the CDF Act 2023 and how it governs constituency development, ensuring compliance with legal and accountability requirements.

• participate in the review of the draft of the CDF Act 2023 Regulations and provide informed feedback to ensure that constituency perspectives are incorporated into the final document.

• broaden the understanding in the structure, roles, and responsibilities of the Constituency Development Committee (CDC) under the CDF Act 2023 and apply this knowledge in constituency governance.

• Participants will be able to identify and use the mandatory templates and the development of constituency plans and reports.

• Briefed on the implementation guidelines for PRC RSDP Phase Two and other related future matters on this funding.

• Be able to design and implement effective civic-awareness initiatives and communications guideline and methods to improve public understanding of the CDF program and its regulatory framework.

“My good officers, as you go through the various topics of training over the next 4 days, I appeal to you to make good use of this opportunity to learn as much as you can.

“I hope that through this workshop you will develop skills and acquire knowledge which will support you to deliver your work more productively with our constituents and for our rural people,” Hon. Minister Waneoroa said.

He thanked everyone for making all efforts to attend this important training and also conveyed well wishes to everyone for a successful training.

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