Project to Strengthen Participation in Local Governance Gets $6.5 Million

A sum of $6.5 million has been allocated to the Enhancing Civil Society Participation in Local Government for Community Development Safety Project, which seeks to strengthen civil society’s participation in local governance.

           It also seeks  to establish a co-ordinated local civil society and State response to crime and violence.

           This is contained in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives for its consideration.

             Activities completed under the project thus far include: the terms of reference for  parish security safety management; drafting a parish safety and security handbook and toolkit; the staging of a two-day technical workshop for participants from parish councils; and enhanced capacity building in the area of parish safety plan development.

            Anticipated physical targets for 2013/14 include the development of local authorities’ and civil society organisations’ capacity to promote and secure participatory local governance; and developing local authority level mechanisms under the community renewal programme and the crime prevention and community safety strategy.

            The project also seeks to fully establish parish safety committees in targeted parishes; engage design supervision engineers for the construction of drainage structures in four targeted communities; and facilitate additional workshops.

            The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development with funding support from the United Nations Development Programme. It is expected to be completed by December 2013.