SPC Geoscience Division

‘In country training is just what we need’

‘Cost benefit analysis is essential to make sure we do not waste government and donors' money,’ said Mr Terieta Mwemwenikeaki, Deputy Secretary of Office of the President, at a national workshop today.

The workshop, which is being delivered by SPC, SPREP and GIZ, is intended to guide government officers in how to do and use cost benefit analysis (CBA) in projects affected by climate change.

‘The workshop was originally requested by Fisheries to help guide which projects they should support,’ observed Mr Mwemwenikeaki. ‘However, this tool is useful to provide an evidence base to make the most of all our policies and projects.’

Mrs Kurinati Robuti from the office of National Economic Planning Office (NEPO) said, ‘NEPO is supposed to carry out a detailed CBA where necessary but often this does not happen since we have limited know-how about to undertake this.  We are grateful for this initiative.’

Marita Manley, Technical Adviser, Climate Change (GIZ) said that staff attending the workshop have been very enthusiastic. ‘The Government of Kiribati already has a national project appraisal template with a section on describing the costs and benefits of projects but it faces constraints in applying it. During the training, participants have already been discussing how to apply cost benefit analysis as a framework to help improve decision making and the quality of projects.’