OREANDA-NEWS. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to provide an additional $2.4 million grant to support the Kiribati Road Rehabilitation Project which is upgrading and rehabilitating the road network in South Tarawa. The project is also being supported by the World Bank and the Government of Australia through the Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility.

The grant will be used to cover civil works costs needed to complete the project.

“The project is providing smoother and safer travel to clinics, markets and schools in the administrative capital of Tarawa for over 48% of the country’s population,” said Jude Kohlhase, project team leader in ADB’s Pacific Department. “The strong development coordination between the cofinanciers and the government is also a key feature of the project.”

The civil works include the rehabilitation of 32.5 kilometers of paved roads and 8 kilometers of unpaved roads on South Tarawa atoll, and improvements to the road link from the seaport of Betio and the airport on Tarawa.  Training and jobs are being provided for women and men participating in road maintenance microenterprises, resulting in a boost in incomes for local communities.  

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2014, ADB assistance totaled $22.9 billion, including co-financing of $9.2 billion.