THE US Embassy Office Director Russel Comeau has shared information relating to USAID SCALE-NRM operation in the country during the launching of the Forest Development Grant this week.
Speaking during the launching of the FDF which also comes under the SCALE-NRM project US Embassy Office Director Mr.Comeau said the project was launched after exchange of letters between Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and US Vice President Mike Pence back in 2019.
He said this leads to the arrival of a team of reps from the US Trade and Development Agency and two engineers in Solomon Islands to do scoping study.
He said the team found out that Malaita Province was struggling to meet development goals 20 years after the civil unrest ended in 2000.
He said they developed the scheme project to support the Solomon Islands national development strategy which is inclusive of the recommendation of the UN Security Council towards Townsville peace agreement.
He said SCALE is working in Malaita where aid is needed most to aid its development.
“SCALE NRM-part of the USA government broader funded scale initiative to work with foreign governments seeks to address and strengthen agribusiness and trade and enhance infrastructure.”
“The SCALE- NRM project seeks to address unmet development priorities in Malaita Province as pilot province for SCALE which will hope to expand in the future.”
“With your support, we are pleased to launch the forest development fund which aims to support critical activities by contributing to forest conservation and climate change mitigation.”
“It also looks to pilot innovative NRM livelihood initiatives in building the capacity of civil society organization.”
“These activities promote better use of land management of agriculture and forest lands increasing economic benefits by promoting community based forest enterprises or alternative livelihood and strengthening linkages between communities and public sector stakeholders.”
With that, he said, “United States will always promote partnership and not rivalry, Prosperity, not dependence, security, not domination, opportunity, not threats.”
By WILSON SAENI
In Auki
