Japan’s International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development have ended a one day Joint Coordination Committee meeting at the Ministry’s conference hall on the 19th July 2016.
The Capacity Development for Comprehensive District Developments (CDCD) project concentrated in the Northern Region, covers Kambia and Port Loko Districts.
Senior Representative JICA Ghana, Yonebayashi Northito said the joint coordination committee meeting was important that it drives the CDCD project into right direction with an effort to accelerate recovery from Ebola crisis.
He added that the CDCD project started in November 2009, with the purpose of strengthening the structure and function of District Councils and Ward Committees to manage the district and rural development in Kambia and Port Loko.
He reminded all that the CDCD project is supported by JICA but owned by Sierra Leoneans – the Ministry and Local Councils, requesting them to integrate the CDCD project into their activity plan and do arrangements to secure budget for the implementation for the sake of sustainability.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Maya Moiwo Kaikai said the decision of JICA to work through his Ministry in support of Local Councils is a step in the right direction and is in line with his determination to ensure that his Ministry is fully aware of, and provides the required policy oversight, technical and monitoring support to all development initiatives implemented by the Local Councils and other interested parties working in support of the decentralization program.
Rural Development, the Minster said, is not cheap, but Sierra Leone is lucky in having Development Partners like JICA helping to improve the quality of life and economic well-being of people living in relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas.
Rural Development is about targeting broadband expansion into remote areas where well-being services are non-existent or inadequate.
“The conduct of village diagnoses, planning and needs assessment sessions always reveal litany of development challenges that need to be addressed, denoting actions and initiatives to be taken by development partners like JICA to improve the standard of living in non- urban neighborhoods, countryside, and remote villages,” the minister said.
Friday July 22, 2016
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