MNPDC officials at the CBA training program
MNPDC and Australia strengthen project assessments
MNPDC Permanent Secretary, Brian Lenga, and training facilitator, Taha Chaiechi, Professor and Dean (Academic) at International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS).
The Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC), in partnership with the Australian Government, is strengthening the assessment of development projects to support more robust prioritisation of the Development Budget.
As part of this broader effort, the Australian High Commission supported 10 MNPDC officials to attend a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) training program at the International College of Management in Sydney, Australia, last month.
The seven-day training was delivered to Principal Planning Officers from MNPDC who play a central role in reviewing and assessing project submissions.
Participating MNPDC planning officers anticipated that the training will strengthen their capacity to review development proposals by thoroughly considering their social, environmental and economic costs and benefits.
The training program complemented MNPDC’s ongoing efforts to ensuring that development budget proposals are reviewed consistently and transparently.
The training covered foundational cost benefit analysis concepts, including non-market valuation, risk and uncertainty analysis and effective communication of analytical results to policy-makers.
MNPDC officials used the practical session to apply what they learned on select national projects currently under consideration, including the Kilu’ufi Hospital Improvement Project, the Choiseul Bay International Port Project and the Bina Harbour Fisheries Processing and Port Development Project.
Building on the training, MNPDC intends to integrate costs and benefits into its current project proposal bidding and appraisal templates and will develop a manual to support consistent and transparent project assessment and analysis across government.
Officials who completed the program will apply what they learned through ongoing on-the-job training, helping to embed practical appraisal skills across all government line Ministries and manage staff turnover.
MNPDC Permanent Secretary, Mr Brian Lenga, acknowledged the support of the Australian High Commission and said the initiative reflected a shared commitment to strengthening how development projects are assessed and prioritised.
“I believe this training will increase the knowledge and technical capabilities of our officials to review and appraise development proposals submitted by government agencies which will result in the effective delivery of service to all Solomon Islanders,” Mr. Lenga said.
Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Jeff Roach, said “the CBA training formed part of the ongoing partnership between the Solomon Islands and demonstrates Australia’s commitment to capacity building and supporting robust, evidence‑based investment decisions”.
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MNPDC officials at the CBA training program.