A virtual inception meeting on the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme III (PSUP III) was convened on the 10^th February, 2021 at MIA Boardroom and was attended by representatives from various relevant sectors. The virtual meeting was joined by the UN-Habitat team and facilitated by MIA-LGD through the Urban Management Unit.

The purpose of this virtual inception meeting is to introduce the overview of the project particularly on the overall expectation or outcome of the project. In this meeting, various sectors are also given the opportunity to make suggestions, comments and to raise issues that must be taken into account prior the implementation of the project.  

The Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme III (PSUP) is one of the projects/programme initiated by the African, Carribean and Pacific Secretariat (ACP) and financed by the EU Commission. The UN-Habitat acts as an implementing agency to the project whereas MIA plays an important role in executing the project at the national level. The PSUP III was launched in 2008 and implemented by 40 ACP countries including Kiribati with the focus is on upgrading informal settlements through soft measures (formulation of policies/strategic plans/studies…) in two pilot areas of South Tarawa which are Ueen te Rooti and Kaawan Bairiki.

The project is housed within the Ministry of Internal Affairs through the Local Government Division. In this project, Secretary-MIA is an authorized focal point and is also a liaison person/officer to the UN agency which is in this case is the UNHabitat.

The project was signed in August,2020 and will be implemented for a duration of 1.5 years. However, the project has delayed by few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic and so there is a possibility for the project extension for another few months.

However, the meeting was opened by Secretary-MIA, Mr Toani Takirua and Chaired by a Senior Urban Management Officer, Ms Regina Rotitaake.

Sectors which were presenting in this virtual inception meeting are: MIA-Secretary, MIA-LGD (UMU), MIA-IT Specialist, Kiribati Housing Cooperation, MELAD-ECD, MELAD-LMD, MISE-Civil Engineering, MFAT, Child-Fund, Media organization – BPA, Ueen te Rooti – Tia babaire, Kiribati Red Cross, PUB Water&Sanitation project, TUC Clerk, KiLGA and UN-Habitat team (Benhard, Emrah and Lydia).

The outcome of the meeting and deliberations was very productive and have contributed a lot to the implementation of the PSUP III.