A validation workshop is currently underway in Taro to gather information to reflect the real needs, aspiration and priorities of the people at the ward level.
The workshop is also important for the province’s planning into the future.
Choisel Premier Harison Pitakaka opened the workshop on Monday 27th October and will concluded this Friday 31st October 2025.
In his opening remarks he emphasized that the validation workshop is not just a technical exercise.
“It ensures that our planning reflects the real needs, aspiration and priorities of our people at the ward level.
“By doing this, we are strengthening the legitimacy and accuracy of the information that will inform decisions on infrastructure, education, health, livelihoods, environment and other key areas,” he said.
A total of 71 participants attended the validation workshop including 16 Ward Support Officers (WSO), 16 Ward Development Committee (WDC) Chairpersons, 16 MPAs of the province and provincial government officers in Taro.
The validation workshop support is fully supported by UNICEF/EU, UNCDF and IEDCR of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).
The workshop is conducted by IECDR monitoring and evaluation specialist Mr. Adrian Toni, Mr. Alan Agassi, ward profiling and 10 years strategic plan consultant of IEDCR and Dr. Morgan Wairiu, UNCDF LoCAL Project consultant for the preparation of provincial climate change strategy that will form part of the provincial 10 years strategic plan.
A challenge noted in the validation is in relation to population distribution, census data reflected population across only 14 wards without considering the expansion to 16 wards and the shifting boundaries.
Apart from the ward profile validation, the workshop also validates the draft 10 years provincial strategic plan 2026-2036.
The plan identifies 6 provincial strategic goals with 29 objectives.
