Presidential Reconstruction Plan : Implementation Level Reviewed, Prospects Outlined

Stakeholders of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Region (PPRD-NW/SW) have reviewed the path covered in the implementation of the three pillars of the Plan. This was during a Steering Committee of April 13, 2023 chaired by its President, Balungeli Confiance Ebune, who doubles as the Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office. In attendance were the National Coordinator and Deputy of the Plan, the United Nations Development Programme (implementing partner of the Plan), members of the diplomatic corps and authorities of the two regions. Three items featured on the agenda; presentation of a progress report, action plan for 2023 and the budget. 
The Plan has three main pillars; restoring social cohesion, reconstructing destroyed infrastructure and revamping the local economy. As concerns social cohesion, a total of 800 lost documents have been reinstituted to the populations of the North West and South West Region, 11 women centres reconstructed and equipped, 13 socio-cultural events organised and eight support programmes given to media houses. On reconstructing destroyed infrastructure, some 50 schools, 19 health centres and 19 solar-powered water points have been reconstructed and rehabilitated in the two regions. In the context of revitalizing the local economy, two markets and 400 farmlands have been rehabilitated, support offered to some 2,097 farmers, 20 greenhouses constructed, 80 youth startups established with 63 Cooperatives having equally received support, amongst others. The Plan is generally executed under the theme “Building Back Better Innovatively,” with the local population considered the main actors. 
Balungeli Confiance Ebune in his opening remarks said the meeting comes after a field visit, he carried out in the two regions to evaluate what has been done so far. He appreciated the dynamism of the population, who from his observation, have pledged their total support for the programme. The President of the Steering Committee also expressed gratitude for the participation of UNDP and other donors who believe in the initiative. He reiterated that the Plan has been a priority of the government for the past th...