World Bank Impressed with $1m District Development Project

Staff Reporters/

Apia, Samoa – 23 December 2024 – The World Bank has been impressed with the development and rapid rollout of the Governments’ $1M District Development Program (DDP) now in its third year.

This is according to the latest reports by a World Bank Scoping and Technical Mission on the request of the Ministry of Finance to specifically provide advice on the Monitoring and Evaluation and the Management Information Systems for the DDP, and refinement of the Program Operations Manual.

“After only one round of grants, the program has shown strong potential to deliver relevant and responsive community-led development interventions, with high levels of enthusiasm
and ownership,” the World Bank report says.

“The DDP is an ambitious undertaking by the Samoan Government,” says the World Bank Report.

“The DDP has the potential to become a key vehicle in supporting locally led development, consistent with the Pathway for the Development of Samoa FY2021/22 – FY2025/26.

Funding a Toamua village young artist business venture of hand painted fabric for sale.

The $1M District Development Project was identified and promoted by the FAST Government in its 2021 election Manifesto and targeted direct village involvement in decentralized planning and execution of identified and approved development projects.

The project aimed to empower and provide support to the Fono Faavae – District Development Centres, to take charge and lead the development initiatives at the district level in the key areas of development and ensuring the projects align with the national “Pathway for the Development of Samoa FY2021/22 – FY2025/26” Plan.

An adapted drinking water system for  school children at the Vailele village primary school funded under the project.

World Bank long term support for DDP
The Report recommends a longer-term program of support to the Samoan Government aimed to enhance the capacity of District Development Committees to support local development as prioritized by communities, including in response to climate change.

The Report recommends a 5-year program of support at an estimated US$19.5 million. This investment would both complement the Government’s own substantial resources dedicated to the DDP and be expected to leverage at additional resources from other development partners and climate funds.

Such a program would prioritize institutional capacity building of the 51 new DDCs created under the DDP, as well as the MWCSD departments with key responsibilities for supporting the DDP. This could include a grant financing component that would enhance Government’s own financing of the DDP and facilitate leveraging of additional co-financing resources (e.g., global climate funding).

Utualii village Primary school children enjoying a tiled classroom floor funded under the project.

Funds Roll-Out so far
As of December 2024, funds expended under the DDP from the 2022/23 Financial year, $50,294,611 has been paid out on projects while $705,388 is withheld due to ineligible spending.

For the 2023/24 Financial Year, $37, 500,288 has been paid out on projects with remaining funds of $13,499,712.

Projects range from funding farm tools, vegetable gardens to the renovation of school buildings, health and community centres, paying school fees for low income families and improving water supply through the purchase of water tanks.