Regions and Countries

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p. 17 of 21 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment II. Country Operational Strategy III. Sector Strategies IV. Regional Cooperation V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination VI. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources VII. ADB’s Operational Program VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Kiribati

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V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination

32. Donor coordination is important in Kiribati as in most small Pacific island countries. Main bilateral assistance agencies to Kiribati are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and People's Republic of China (see Appendix 3). In 1999, Australia had an assistance budget to Kiribati of A$6.8 million. Main beneficiaries were the Ministries of Education (A$2m) and Home Affairs and Rural Development (A$1m), as well as water and sanitation projects in Kiritimati (A$1.8m). Japan is assisting Kiribati with the construction of the new Betio wharf. New Zealand had an assistance budget in 1999 of NZ$2.8 million, mainly for education (NZ$2.2m), and, to a minor extent, to assist the Development Bank of Kiribati (NZ$200,000), the Marine Training Center (NZ$225,000), and for GAD projects (NZ$150,000). People's Republic of China assistance has completed the runway upgrading and it is now assisting Kiribati with a new sports stadium.

33. The European Union (EU) is re-directing its assistance from telecommunication to support the outer islands. It is financing a $4 million project to provide solar energy to 1,500 households and it is considering assisting Kiribati in enhancing the medical and health clinics on all inhabited islands of Kiribati. UNDP is assisting Kiribati with the Village Bank project in the outer islands and through regional work, as the regional capacity building program for Parliamentarians and the Parliaments of the Pacific.

34. The ongoing FEM TA is implemented in cooperation with AusAID which is financing a complementary assistance for Management Information Systems (MIS) in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. Bi-annual joint FEM-MIS review meetings are held in Tarawa with the Government, AusAID and ADB to promote coordination and cross-fertilization between the two teams of consultants. Similarly, the SAPHE loan and associated TAs have been developed through considerable consultation with major donors in the sector. AusAID is currently assisting the PUB in building up operation and maintenance capacity for the PUB's Power Division and meetings are held periodically with AusAID in Tarawa to ensure proper coordination of strengthening activities for the PUB.

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