Sheka Bangura the Monitoring and Evaluation officer of the Development Assistance Coordinating Office (DACO) has told MPs that $1.9 Billion was needed to implement the agenda for change factored in the 2nd generation of the PRSP.
Mr. Bangura was speaking at the just concluded three days engagement of MPs by the donor communities on development assistance issues and aid effectiveness.
He said the money was needed within 2008 to 2012.
Explaining the PRSP journey in Sierra Leone, he stated that the post-conflict phase referred to as the interim PRSP was in 2001-2004 and the recovery transition phase known as the PRSP-1 was in 2005-2007 and the growth and development called the PRSP-2 which has the agenda for change began in 2008 and should end in 2012.
Explaining further, Mr. Bangura said the second generation of the PRSP was development based stating that in drawing up the poverty and growth diagnostic study, a nationwide consultation on the preparation of the second generation of the PRSP was done.
He said the strategic priorities for the agenda for change have to do with energy, agriculture, health and education but that the pre-conditions in achieving the priorities are based on promoting sound macroeconomic environment.
He also stated that the pre-conditions in achieving that has to do with the sustenance of a responsive financial sector coupled with enhancing the capacity of the security sector, supporting local governance through improved decentralization, strengthen the Anti Corruption, rule of law and improved access to justice and service delivery.
The monitoring and evaluation officer told the MPs that their role in the implementation of the agenda for change was to pass legislations and policies to support implementation of development programmes and to participate in the periodic reviews of progress in programme implementation.
He also called on the MPs to participate in the monitoring of aid resources and to effectively deliver statutory functions towards enhancing the optimal utilization of public resources.
By Ishmael Bayoh
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