ADB and AusAID finance Nuku'alofa development [1]
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 - 22:22. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Australia, through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), are assisting the Government of Tonga to improve living conditions in the Tongan capital Nukualofa through better service delivery.
ADBs Board of Directors has approved a $6.06 million grant for the $14.59 million Nukualofa Urban Development Sector Project. The grant is sourced from ADBs Special Funds resources. The Australian government will provide grant co-financing of about $6.44 million equivalent. The Government of Tonga is providing the remaining $2.09 million.
The capital is home to 40% of Tongas population, where development is increasing due to rapid population growth. Migration to Tongas capital is also increasing, putting undue pressure on service delivery. As a result, living conditions for many residents are deteriorating fast.
The project targets six different components of Nukualofas urban services, including water supply and solid waste services. It will also bolster community awareness of urban services such as planning, household management of solid waste, and the public health benefits of safe waste disposal.
Effective, efficient, and sustainable delivery of water supply and solid waste management services in Nukualofa are the ultimate aims of this project, said Steve Blaik, Senior Urban Development Specialist from ADBs Pacific Department. ADB, 18/10/11.