Ascension : Press Release - Visit of the Development Aid Planning Mission
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 22.02.2007 (Article Archived on 08.03.2007)

The Development Aid Planning Mission will visit St Helena from 25 February to 5 March 2007 to negotiate a three-year framework of assistance for St Helena.

The Development Aid Planning Mission will visit St Helena from 25 February to 5 March 2007 to negotiate a three-year framework of assistance for St Helena.

This visit is particularly important for St Helena as it will see us return to a 3 year planning cycle and determine the parameters of  support the Island is to receive from the Department for International Development (DfID) up until 31 March 2010.

The team is to comprise Malcolm Geere, Programme Manager for the South Atlantic, Caterina Alari, Governance Advisor and Nirosha Gaminiratne, Economic Advisor all from DFID, and Amanda McDowell newly appointed Desk Officer for St Helena and its Dependencies from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The team will be assisted by the on-island DFID Representative, Eddie Palmer.

Financial Secretary, Linda Clemett said “The purpose of the Development Aid Planning Mission will be to review the use of budgetary aid over the last year and to establish SHG’s reasonable assistance needs for the next three years. This will be assessed on the basis of national and departmental planning documents accompanied by Draft Estimates which have been prepared by the Government Departments with input from the Finance Department.”

While it is still to be finalised, St Helena’s strategic plan for growth and investment  the Draft Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) will be used during the mission as a framework for agreeing  what St Helena intends to do over the next three years. Apart from helping DFID and SHG to plan ahead and agree costs, the SDP will help in monitoring and evaluating progress against agreed outcomes.

While the mission is on Island, they will meet with government officials, civil society representatives, politicians and the private sector to discuss both the current budgetary and economic situation and the outlook for St Helena. The mission will also consider the progress St Helena has made during the last financial year and agree new targets for the Island.

Following discussions they will agree a package of development assistance for the Island including budgetary aid, development aid, technical co-operation and shipping subsidy.

Public Relations/Information Office

Office of the Chief Secretary, 14 February 2007