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What's New Archive - 2007
| Date |
Events |
| 16 October |
ADB signs a 5-way Joint Declaration on the Aid Effectiveness Between the Government of Tonga and Development Partners
At the 38th Pacific Leaders' meeting in Tonga, ADB Pacific Department's Director General, Philip Erquiaga, signed a 5-way Joint Declaration on the Aid Effectiveness Between the Government of Tonga and Development Partners with Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Bill Tangi; AusAid's Deputy Director General Pacific and PNG Division, Scott Dawson; NZAid's Executive Director, Dr. Peter Adams; and World Bank's Country Director for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, Nigel Roberts. The Declaration harnesses the commitment of key development partners in Tonga to the practical application of the 5 Paris principles at country level, focusing on country ownership, alignment with the national plan, harmonization of aid to avoid duplication and gaps, managing for results, and mutual accountability for aid delivery. |
| 3-7 September |
Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) Mission to Tonga
Fernando Garcia, Principal Country Programs Specialist, led a mission to Tonga and presented the final draft of the CPS 2007-2012 to Government officials, development partners, private sector and civil society representatives. The Government confirmed its endorsement and ownership of the draft CPS 2007-2012, noted that it is strongly aligned with its Strategic Development Plan Eight 2006/7-2008/9 and that it effectively addresses Tonga’s binding constraints for growth. |
| 27 August |
Fiji Red Cross Society's "Together We Can" Project Peer Education Training.
 SPSO Regional Director, Sirpa Jarvenpaa (seated third from right), opened the 10 day workshop funded by ADB's 'Fighting HIV/AIDs in Asia & Pacific' RETA. The Fiji Red Cross Society is the only Pacific Non-Governmental Organisation to receive the Grant which aims to increase NGOs initiatives in contributing to halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDs in the region. The 20 participants, from around the Fiji Islands, will implement community workshops to help vulnerable people take control of their environment and help control the spread of sexually transmitted disease and HIV in the country. |
| 6-14 August |
Country Performance Assessment (CPA) Confirmation Consultations undertaken in Samoa and Tonga.
 SPSO Regional Director, Sirpa Jarvenpaa (seated right) and Country Economist, Anqian Huang conducted detailed reviews on the CPA narratives in the 2 countries. In Samoa, the mission met with the Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Finance and stakeholders from other ministries. In Tonga, the mission met with the Prime Minister (Hon. Feleti Sevele, seated left), the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Reserve Bank. The missions concluded fruitful dialogues on the CPA and will follow up the policy consultations with the relevant stakeholders. |
| 30 July - 3 August |
CPS Formulation Mission and Country Performance Assessment Mission to the Cook Islands
SPSO fielded a CPS Formulation Mission and a CPA Mission to the Cook Islands from 30 July to 3 August. The team met with the Prime Minister (Mr. Jim Marurai, seated middle), the Deputy Prime Minister and the Financial Secretary as well as other government officials, development partners and members of civil society. It was agreed that the focus for the CPS (2008-2012) would be on strategic economic infrastructure, to support continued private sector development and support efficiency improvements and reforms in basic service deliveries in water, sanitation and power. The draft CPA findings were recorded in an aide memoire. |
| 21-30 May |
 ADB team reviews Fiji's road upgrading project
Richard Phelps, Infrastructure Specialist, led a team to review Fiji's Third Road Upgrading Project. Progress on the final component of the project, upgrading of Kings and Lodoni road, is improving and is expected to be completed by the end of 2009. Extensive discussions were held with key Government officials and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Mr. Peceli Vocea, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Sugar Industry. |
| 12 April - 31 May |
Country Performance Assessment (CPA) Consultation Missions conducted by ADB
 ADB conducted Country Performance Assessment (CPA) Consultation Missions in Tuvalu (12–19 April), Cook Islands (20–26 April), Tonga (30 April–4 May), Kiribati (15–24 May) and Samoa (28–31 May 2007). Country Economist Anqian Huang led the missions which covered 16 categories under 4 major sectors of (i) Economic Management; (ii) Structural Policies; (iii) Policies for Social Inclusion/Equity; and, (iv) Public Sector Management and Institutions. Chris Miller assisted the Missions in Kiribati and Samoa. The consultations included several meetings with representatives from Ministries of Finance, Commerce, Social Affairs, Environment and Natural Resources; offices of Auditor General, Attorney General, Revenue and Customs, Police, Public Service Commissions, Provident Funds, Central Banks, private financial institutions, local chambers of commerce, and non-governmental organizations in the respective countries. |
| 19-27 April |
Pre-programming mission undertaken in the Cook Islands
 Richard Phelps, Infrastructure Specialist, led a pre-programming mission to the Cook Islands. Meetings were held with senior Government officials which included the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Economic Management, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Development partners including representatives of the European Union and New Zealand Agency for International Development Agency and with representatives of the civil society also met with the ADB team. Discussions focused on the next Results-based Country Partnership and Strategy (2007-2010) and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Mr. Sholan Ivaiti, Financial Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. |
| 19-22 March |
ADB team conducts loan review and fact-finding missions in Tuvalu
 Thomas Gloerfelt-Tarp, Head Project Administration Unit conducted a Review Mission of L1921/2088-TUV: Maritime Training Project. The project is progressing well and the objective to rehabilitate and construct to achieve much reduced maintenance later, is being implemented. Extensive discussions were held with key Government officials and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Mr. Solofa Uota, Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports on 22 March.
A Fact-Finding Mission for a cluster-Technical Assistance in support of a Public Expenditure and Financial Management was undertaken by Maria Melei, SPSO Senior Project Implementation Officer. It was agreed that a cluster-technical assistance program would be the most appropriate approach to improve the public financial management system which will assist the Government in achieving its fiscal management priorities and strategies as articulated in its National Development Plan. Discussions were held with Office of the Auditor General and other key Government officials and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Mr. Aunese Simati, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Industries on 22 March. |
| 26 March – 3 April |
ADB team visits Tonga on a country partnership and strategy formulation mission
 Fernando Garcia, Principal Country Programs Specialist, led a Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) Formulation Mission to Tonga in preparation for the next Results-based CPS for 2007-2011. This was a joint mission with the Australian Agency for International Development, New Zealand's International Aid and Development Agency and the World Bank. Extensive discussions were held with the Tongan Government, the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, private sector and civil society representatives. An agreement was reached with the Tongan Government on the principles of a new results-based 5-year CPS and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Honorable Siosiua ‘Utoikamanu, Minister of Finance. |
| 12-16 March |
Technical assistance fact-finding and project review mission in the Cook Islands
 Richard Phelps, ADB Infrastructure Specialist, visited Rarotonga and met with key Government officials including the Honourable Prime Minister, private sector stakeholders and key donor agencies. The visit included discussions on the preparations for the next Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2008-2012 and a Project Preparatory Technical Assistance for the implementation of the Cook Islands Infrastructure Development Project. A review of the L2174-COO: Cyclone Emergency Assistance Loan was undertaken. |
| 10-16 February |
ADB team visits Samoa on a pre-programming and portfolio review mission
 Fernando Garcia, ADB Principal Country Programs Specialist, led a Country Pre-Programming Mission to Samoa in preparation of the next Results-based Country Partnership Strategy (2007-2011). ADB Pacific Department's Director General, Philip Erquiaga (pictured, seated left) also participated in the meeting. Representatives from the Australian Agency for International Development, European Union, New Zealand's International Aid and Development Agency and Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre participated as observers. ADB and the Samoan government, reprsented by Minister of Finance Hon Niko Lee Hang (pictured, seated center) agreed on the principles of a new results-based 5-year CPS. Ms. Hinauri Petana, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance signed a memorandum of understanding.
The Country Pre-Programming Mission coincided with a Portfolio Review Mission, which conducted a results-based performance assessment on SPSO's technical assistances and loans in the country. Thomas Gleorfelt-Tarp, Head of SPSO's Project Administration Unit, led the team and met with key Government officials. |
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