By Loretta B Manele
The CAUSE 2 (the Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement) project represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to urban development, job creation and climate resilient infrastructure.
Cris Afable, project manager for CAUSE 2 expressed this whilst speaking at the launch of the CAUSE 2 project at their office compound yesterday.
Initially, acknowledging government officials, donor partners and government representatives, he said it is a great privilege to host them as they officially launch the CAUSE 2 project.
Moreover, Afable stressed that the CAUSE project now in entering its second phase, thus represents a significant milestone in their ongoing commitment to urban development, job creation and climate resilient infrastructure.
Recalling early days of the project when it was in its first phase, he said the journey to CAUSE2 has been one of learning adaptation and expansion.
“This initiative builds upon the Rapid Employment Project which was implemented from 2010 to 2017.
Which first demonstrated the impact of short-term employment, skills training and urban services improvements in Honiara around that time”
He expressed that building on the success CAUSE1 from 2018 to 2024 expanded the model beyond Honiara to the provinces.
Afable said this success included introducing climate resilient infrastructure, waste management improvements and workforce development programs with a strong emphasis on women and youth and of course, the vulnerable groups.
He added that with success of CAUSE 1, the demand for expanded urban services, better infrastructure and sustainable job creation has grown.
Henceforth, Afable said the CAUSE 2 project is designed to address the above needs by scaling up investments, strengthening institutional support and integrating climate resilience into urban infrastructure planning.
He emphasized that he would like to go straight into their initial activities starting this year.
In this regard, Afable said with CAUSE 2 officially underway, their focus now is on operationalising the project framework and ensuring effective implementation.
He said this year will be the first year of implementation for the project so setting up necessary systems, engaging stakeholders and mobilising resources is crucial.
Afable pointed out that this is a priority and they expect to be able to get everyone on board by the end of February.
He mentioned that they are also doing refurbishment of the office and procurement of additional vehicles and equipment on top of what they already have.
“I am proud to say to you that these vehicles, some of those remnants from RAPID and the CAUSE1 vehicles are still in very good condition, so we don’t need too many vehicles to purchase under the second CAUSE”
He stated that they are also enhancing their IT capability and infrastructure to ensure smooth operations and mobility across the implementation side.
“Our IT system has been one of our robust institutions under the CAUSE that enables us to manage our workforce and any type of activity as efficiently as possible”
The CAUSE 2 project manager furthered that they have been doing a lot of work on this in order to enhance this is so that they should be ready to implement these enhancements by March.
This project is funded by the World Bank which has contributed US 20.2 million dollars and the Australian government which has provided US 17.3 million dollars.
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