As the Provincial Governance strengthening Programme (PGSP) of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) enters the 10th year of its operations as a governance programme of the Solomon Islands Government, the MPGIS is serialising infrastructure projects delivered by the programme since 2008 through the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF).

The PGSP was initiated by the Solomon Island Government with the support of the donors (UNDP, UCDF, EU and RAMSI) in July 2008 to strengthen the capacities of the nine provincial governments in Solomon Islands but focusing initially on public expenditure management systems that would enable provinces to plan, procure and implement small scale infrastructures in needed areas. The PCDF, which is component two of PGSP had initial funding of SBD10.8m per annum from 2008 to 2011. With the SIG gaining confidence in the performance-based grant PCDF, and the accountability conditions of the fund, it up-scaled the fund from 2012 onwards. With the closure of phase I of the programme, the SIG is now funding PCDF 100%.

The PCDF has the following objectives:

1. Promote and stimulate provincial PFM/PEM systems, procedures and practices by enhancing the provincial incentives to improve performance and provision of funds to make the local planning and budgeting process meaningful, efficient and participatory;
2. Provide funds for small scale investments in needed infrastructure and service delivery within the core mandatory provincial functions in accordance with the local prioritized needs and in a sustainable manner with sufficient considerations for maintenance of the structures;
3. Improve the provincial capacity in PFM/PEM and good governance and accountability areas through combined funding for investments, significant capacity building support and stronger incentives. The Annual Performance Assessments (APAs) are useful tools to target and address the most needed PGs/thematic areas in the Capacity Building support.

Since its inception, the programme under the leadership of MPGIS has implemented more than 1,000 solid infrastructure projects and created more than 5,000 jobs by efficient use of the meagre resources being provided to the provinces based on their performance. The performance is assessed annually to determine eligibility to the fund.

For the next couple of weeks, the MPGIS shall be publishing complete list of projects delivered by respective provinces including the expenditure incurred on individual projects. The report will be on sector basis to give the readers the opportunity to know what the provincial governments are spending in subsidising mainstream line ministries in terms of infrastructure provision considered as felt needs of the rural communities.

This week the Ministry starts with Malaita Province where the provincial government has delivered more than 100 solid projects.