ͳͷm ceiling in community ’”oŒects fund

MBABANE – The maximum cost for each community project shall not exceed E15 million per year, according to the revised Administration of the Community Development Special Fund Regulations 2023, which were tabled in Parliament last week.

7he purpose and objectives of the fund is to finance approved community projects in terms of the regulations and give grants or assistance to a group of persons who shall not be less than 10 in number and the community shall contribute 10 per cent of the investment cost, whether in cash or in kind.

7he regulations were issued by the minister of )inance in the e[ercise of the powers conferred by Section 11 of the Administration of the )inance 0anagement Act, 2017.

)unds of the fund shall comprise monies from the consolidated fund, donors, grants from any other sources and interest accruing from bank deposits.

A local community shall take full responsibility for the maintenance and operating costs of a community project and shall maintain a bank account in the name of the project as revealed in the revised regulations.

Stated

It was stated in the report that to qualify for consideration for funding for a community project, applications should be endorsed by a chief, indvuna yenkhundla, head of local authority and the regional secretary where possible.

According to the regulations, the fund shall be in the name of the *overnment of (swatini and shall be operated by the accountant general, with an account kept with the Central %ank of (swatini and all interest shall be kept there.

All approved e[penditure related to community projects shall be charged to the fund in accordance with government accounting procedures and proper books of accounts shall be kept.

7he principal secretary (PS), minister of (conomic Planning and 'evelopment shall be responsible for the general administration of the fund.

7he fund will have a project approval committee which shall comprise of the PS in the ministry of (conomic Planning and 'evelopment or a representative who shall be the chairperson and the PSA in the ministry of )inance or a representative who shall be a deputy chairperson.

2ther PS¶ who would form part of the committee will come from the 0inistry of 7inkhundla Administration and 'evelopment, 0inistry of Agriculture, 0inistry of Public :orks and 7ransport, 0inistry of Health, 0inistry of (ducation and 7raining, 0inistry of 1atural 5esources and (nergy as well as director of 0icroprojects Programme Coordination 8nit or a representative.

(ach region of the country will also have a committee to be known as the 5egional 'evelopment 7echnical Committee, whose members shall comprise of the regional secretary, in each region who shall be the chairperson.

2ther members of the committee in each region will be the regional planning officer, community development officer in the 0inistry of 7inkhundla Administration and 'evelopment, regional veterinary officer in the 0inistry of Agriculture, clerks of works in the 0inistry of Public :orks and 7ransport, regional health administration officer, regional education officer in the 0inistry of (ducation and 7raining, clerks of works in the 0inistry of 1atural 5esources and (nergy, among others.

Approval

7he 5egional 'evelopment 7echnical Committee shall provide technical support to the project approval committee, appraise submitted applications to ascertain project viability and sustainability and vet applications to ensure community contribution and elimination of community disputes that may affect the implementation of a project among other duties.

7he report depicts that the 0icroprojects Programme Coordinating 8nit will have a role in the fund and it entails facilitating access to the monies of the fund, manage procurement contracts with suppliers, contractors and service providers, relating to projects and give technical support to the technical committee in ensuring quality design, implementation, supervision and evaluation of all projects proposed or funded through the fund.

7he minister may make regulations or issue instructions to give effect to the objects of this Act including but not limited to the roles and responsibilities in relation to the management of public finances, the classifications and other information requirements for budgeting, accounting and reporting. It also includes the requirements for making reallocations of e[penditure, management and control of public property, as well as requirements relating the management of commitments and the release of cash.