The Asian Development Bank is providing a 24 million US dollars grant package which will expand the existing Solomon Islands Road Improvement Project.
Sourced from its Asian Development Fund, the ADB is contributing 15 million US dollars to the grant package. The grant will rebuild or upgrade about 20 kilometres of roads and about 30 bridges in rural areas.The Regional Director of ADB's office in Australia, Eugene Zhukov says climate change adaptation is a key feature of the expanded road project which also encourages women's participation in economic activity by improving their access to markets.
Mr Zhukov says the Project also offers job and income-earning opportunities for rural communities, enabling them to participate in basic road maintenance for a fee. This labor-based road maintenance aims to help develop a vibrant private sector.
ADB's office in Australia is administrating the expanded Solomon Islands Road Improvement Project.