BY LIONEL TAORAO – ISLES FREELANCHER
The Makira-Ulawa Provincial Government (MUPG) has successfully wrapped up a one week training program for Ward Development Committee (WDC) members from Ulawa, aimed at strengthening local governance and improving service delivery at the ward level.
The training, which began last Thursday and concluded today, brought together more than 30 WDC members from the three wards on Ulawa Island. Led by Mrs. Daisy Zazariko of the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government Planning Team, the sessions focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of their roles and responsibilities within the provincial development framework.
Mrs. Zazariko emphasized the importance of the training stating, the program is designed to strengthen the capacity of WDC members so they can effectively carry out their work as expected of them. When ward leaders are empowered, communities benefit.
“The trainings covered areas on how to do planning and prioritization, developing budgets and annual work plans, procurement-how to procure goods and services, Gender and social inclusion, grievance and Climate change- how to incorporate climate change issues during project identification and implementation,” she says.
She adds that they also have successfully facilitated a Ward Forum in North Ulawa Ward, a very important forum.
“We also conducted the first ever ward forum with the WDC in North Ulawa as part of social accountability, transparency and ward participation in ward level. During the forum, the provincial government and WDC be able inform the ward residents on how they managed and delivered PCDF and WDG projects to the ward. And this forum provided an avenue where information is shared and discussed important activity in social accountability and transparency in the Ward level,” she adds.
Throughout the multi-day workshop, participants engaged in practical exercises and discussions covering governance principles, planning processes, accountability mechanisms, and community engagement strategies. The initiative is part of MUPG’s broader commitment to decentralize development and ensure that ward-level leadership is equipped to drive change from the ground up.
Participants expressed appreciation for the training, noting that it clarified their duties and gave them tools to better serve their communities. One participant Mr. Manasseh Poro’oa , a WDC member for South Ulawa Ward shared, “We now feel more confident in our roles and are ready to take action.”
With the conclusion of the Ulawa training, MUPG officials say similar programs will be rolled out across other wards in the province in the coming months, reinforcing the government’s push for inclusive and effective local development.
