Two remaining Districts sign Funding Agreement for $1million Project

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 14 February 2024: The last two districts today signed the funding agreements to release the first portion of the $1 million assigned for each of the 51 Districts Development Project.

The districts are Faasaleleaga 5 and A’ana Alofi 2 who have been through some tough internal problems for over two years that delayed the release of funds for their district based development projects.

The Minister for Women, Social Development & Community (MWSDC) Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o commended the districts Chairpersons and Council members for their perseverance and faith in the project.

“It was not an easy journey for both districts given the internal issues you have to face which also challenges your faith, but the challenges and the lessons learnt from it will guide us for the next $1 million,” said Mulipola.

The $150,000 signed today is the first portion of the $1m tala assigned to each district under the project to fund the operation of the districts council offices, salaries of the three permanent staff and sitting allowance for the council members.

This will be followed by the release of the first $425,000 for projects once the audited reports are submitted for the $150,000 expenditure.

Both districts however, initially received $200,000 to build their offices, but were stuck with internal issues after the funds were expended and some are under investigation by Treasury.

After two years of internal disagreements, the Minister for Women, Community & Social Development, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o (seated 2nd from right) joins a smiling Aana Alofi 2 Member of Parliament, Aiono Tile Gafa (3rd from right) and district council members.

Member of Parliament for A’ana Alofi 2 and is also the Chairperson for the district Aiono Tile, spoke on behalf on both districts.

He acknowledged the challenges and hurdles both districts have to overcome but said that they will not look back on the past but will focus on moving forward with their development projects for the benefit of their constituents.

“Thank you to the Government and the Committee for the advice, patience and faith and not giving up on us,” said Aiono.

According to the Ministry, close to $49 million has already been paid out to 51 districts under the first $51million tala allocated under the 2022/2023 Budget.

Signing for Faasaleleaga 5 is the Deputy Chairman, Matafeo George Latu & Sala Anna Ah Him as the the Minister for Women, Community & Social Development, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o and Project Manager Unasa Viane look on.

22 districts to sign second million of the project tomorrow
Mulipola confirmed that 22 districts are now eligible for the second million of the $1M Tala District Development Project and the funding agreements for this phase will be signed tomorrow.

The second $51m for the project were passed under the 2023/2024 budget.

The majority of the districts are from Savaii having completed and satisfied the projects requirements such as providing audited accounts for the funds paid and expended under the project so far.

Mulipola said the project faced numerous challenges since it was a new initiative put in place by the FAST Government to decentralise the development focus and management to the villages.

The FAST Government was delayed for four months getting into office after the April 2021 general elections and also delayed the new government’s first budget to align with its manifesto and policies including the $1m tala village development project.

Moreover, there had been a lot of political opposition and misinformation that created doubt in the villages whether the project was going to materialize or not.

After the last two districts signed today, Mulipola said now that the issues have been identified and guidelines and systems are in place, it should be easier for the next $51million to flow through for the benefit of the village communities.