Koror, Palau- From December 4 to 8, 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Social Protection team conducted its Midterm Evaluation review in Palau. Ninebeth S. Carandang led the mission team with Ronah Lynn T. Hernandez, project analyst, and Malika Shagazatova an ADB Gender Specialist from the Pacific Department at ADB. During the week-long review, the team met with implementing agencies, service providers, contractors, and other key stakeholders implementing the “Covid-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups”.
The project is co-financed by the Ireland Trust Fund, the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, and the ADB Thematic Pool on Gender. The project delivers support to the elderly and persons with disabilities, enhances food security for small-scale producers, and addresses family and gender-based violence. At Midterm, the project is on track with the delivery of its activities reaching the intended output targets. The mission found that there is still room for improvement in monitoring progress, enhancing communication between project implementers, and reporting with sex-disaggregated data. Women who have participated in the food security component have shared that they appreciate the training on dryland farming and are eager to work on their farm for the additional income and for the opportunity to share the remaining taro to the community.
The mission concluded with a soft opening of the newly built Food Processing Center-Taro Mill, funded through The Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and Pacific (JFPR) at the Bureau of Agriculture compound in Ngchesar. To learn more about the project, visit https://www.palaugov.pw/covidresponse/ and follow the Facebook page for updates and activities: Palau Response for Affected Poor & Vulnerable Groups https://www.facebook.com/pmuconsultants/.
Photo Caption: Minister Kaleb Udui Jr. (MOF), Chargé d’affaires, Mayu Hagiwara,-Japan Government; PVA MD Kadoi Ruluked, BOA Director Collin Joseph, with partnering agencies (SBDC, PCC CRE, Taiwan Technical Mission, and Amber Johnson-USNRCS) and some cheldebechel leaders at the Food Processing Center opening 12/8/23.