Rural Service Delivery Project-- Phase 2

pipeline

Prospective

The RSDP-2 will build on the experiences and lessons learned from the Rural Service Delivery Project that closed on May 31, 2025. The design of the RSDP is based on a community driven development (CDD) model that seeks to empower communities to take the lead in their own development. This is accomplished through the application of participatory planning and implementation procedures, and direct management of investment resources that support basic community services and infrastructure such as water, sanitation, education, health and electrification. The project will be implemented by the Department of Provincial and Local-level Government Affairs (DPLGA) and will serve as a model for DPLGA’s Ward Development Strategy in its efforts to strengthen Ward and LLG structures and help build systems that would be applicable for Government use nation-wide. The overall goal of the project is to improve local level governance (at ward and LLG levels) and the delivery of basic services.Component 1: Preparation and implementation of community sub-projects. This component will support (a) sub-grants to wards and special interest groups (women and youth) to implement their prioritized basic community infrastructure (water, sanitation, electrification, education, health, etc.), services and livelihood sub-projects through a participatory CDD approach; (b) financing of LLG administrations to provide support to wards in preparing and implementing subprojects; and (c) technical assistance to develop and pilot interventions, which could include benefit sharing, conflict prevention and climate resilience amongst others. Sub-grants to wards may finance shared inter-ward infrastructure such as basic access roads, shared social structures such as school dormitories, or DRM or climate-related investments. Sub-project planning and designs will integrate climate/disaster resilient considerations and design standards and comply with the government’s building codes. Component 2: Strengthening community and local government capacity. This component will provide capacity building and facilitation support to communities in the process of planning and managing sub-grant resources under component 1 and help to improve the systems and capacities of local authorities in delivering public investment programs in accordance with the 1995 Organic Law. This component will specifically finance: (a) intensive hands-on training and facilitation support of community groups (including members of the Ward Development Committee and project established CDD and operation and maintenance (O&M) sub-committees); (b) capacity building of local authorities at LLG level in project planning, procurement and financial management; (c) intensive training of project staff, particularly the project field team (CDWs, TFs and FFs); and (d) training relevant staff of other provincial or district offices or departments closely involved in the RSDP-2. The project will work closely with DPLGA’s LLG Service Division in the design and delivery of support to ward councilors and LLG staff. Component 2 would also support training of village court magistrates in selected project LLGs to enhance knowledge of the Family Protection Act in response to gender-based violence risks and will support the Government's National Prevention Strategy task force (for conflict and violence) through technical assistance, training and communications activities.Component 3: Project Management, Monitoring and Learning. DPLGA will be responsible for the overall management of the RSDP-2, which will be accomplished through a Project Management Unit (PMU) in Port Moresby, Provincial Project Offices (PPOs) and LLG teams in all participating provinces. Specifically, the third component will finance staffing, incremental investment and operational costs to carry out project financial management, procurement, training, monitoring, evaluation and communications, and to ensure the project’s environmental and social standards are met, annual audits are prepared, and progress is regularly reported on, among other responsibilities. This component would also support analytical work, advisory services and learning activities to assist DPLGA research, review other country experiences, formulate relevant policies and develop related procedures to support its sub-national governance objectives. Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response Component. A zero-cost Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) will allow the GoPNG to quickly access and reallocate uncommitted project funds in response to an eligible disaster or emergency. A declaration of emergency by either the Provincial Administrator (for a provincial level emergency) or the National Executive Council (for a national emergency), in accordance with applicable laws, would serve to activate this component. Government will prepare an Operations Manual (CERC Manual) that outlines the procedures and criteria for the activation and implementation of the component, including any additional environmental or social risk mitigation procedures or requirements, acceptable to the World Bank as a condition of disbursement under the component.

World Bank Group

Project

Road, Water Supply and Storage, Biomass, Commercial, Raw Materials, Waste Processing and Treatment, Government, Education