Countries and Regions

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p. 20 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 - Papua New Guinea

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VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program

57. A key focus of policy dialogue will be poverty reduction. Assistance will be provided through regional TA as well as thorough PNG-specific modalities. ADB envisages assisting in updating and refining the analysis of poverty in PNG, and working with Government and other parties to develop a poverty reduction strategy.

58. During the 2001-2003 programming period, capacity building will concentrate on (i) improving public sector financial and services management at national and lower levels, with special emphasis on the planning function; (ii) strengthening urban water supply management institutions; (iii) reforming the management structures for road and sea transport; and (iv) strengthening training infrastructures. Rebuilding information systems will be a significant priority, where ADB assistance will be closely coordinated with other interventions. As well as poverty reduction, policy dialogue is expected to cover (i) resources mobilization, especially for road and sea transport; (ii) maintenance allocations generally; and (iii) the need for improving economic efficiency. Gender issues, and the need to redress the appalling status of women will be a particular focus of dialogue.

59. Poverty analyses will form a central part of ADB's economic sector work. Economic sector work will include continuing investigation of road sector cost recovery and management options, examination of constraints to informal sector activity, road sector policy studies, and policy frameworks and institutional options for road and sea transport. Financial sector work is taking place through PNG participation in the regional TA to develop a financial sector strategy for Pacific Developing Member Countries.

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