Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas launched the Aid Management Policy and Implementation Strategy at the Melanesian Hotel in Port Vila Wednesday.
The Aid Management Policy and Policy Implementation Strategy is the first of a kind for the government of Vanuatu and it is based on the international framework principles of effective development cooperation.
These include the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005), the Accra Agenda for Action (2008), and the Busan Global Partnership for Effective Development (2011).
PM Salwai said that the policy document is also a respond to the Pacific Island Forum Compact for Effective Development Cooperation (2009).
He said the Policy provides direction to the Development Partners, so there is a true partnership for development planning, management and evaluation of programs and activities.
“For almost four decades after independence, The Government of Vanuatu has been in operating without a proper aid policy that would provide direction to the government in delivering its aid programs.
In absence of such framework, collaborations amongst government agencies (central and line ministries) has not been effective in aligning Government- Development Partner priorities to achieve better outcomes,” Mr Salwai stressed.
The aid management policy, will strengthen leadership of development cooperation, improve planning and predictability of development resources, increase efficiency and effectiveness of how development assistance is delivered, improve reporting of external resources and gradually decrease the amount of off budget support the government is receiving externally.
“This aid management policy, will also guide the government of Vanuatu in delivering an effective, efficient and more result-oriented aid program to the people of Vanuatu.
The policy would also provide a common platform for collaborative effort between government central agencies in reducing duplication, improve oversight and better communication of Government priorities to Development Partners”, Mr Salwai said.
Photo supplied Caption: Vanuatu PM Charlot Salwai and stakeholders at the launch