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21 February 2008
During a ceremony at the Canadian High Commission in Canberra
today, Mr Robert Knott, Manager, GHD Canberra, presented His
Excellency Michael Leir, Canadian High Commissioner, with
duplicates of the awards it received for managing the Canada Fund
for Local Initiatives, a Canadian overseas aid program for the
South Pacific.
"The Canada Fund is one of Canada’s ongoing commitments to
support small-scale, low cost and ‘bottom-up’ initiatives," said Mr
Leir. "The program can help fund projects that have an immediate
impact on reducing poverty and contributing to a more secure,
equitable, and prosperous world, such as a new school building or a
water supply system."
For almost 20 years the Canada Fund has been helping hundreds of
communities by providing funding to local organisations for
small-scale development projects throughout Papua New Guinea, the
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau
and Nauru.
"GHD Canberra has been responsible for managing the Canada Fund
since 2005," explains Mr Knott. "This includes identifying,
monitoring and evaluating Canada Fund proposals and projects, often
through site visits to some of the most remote locations in the
world."
Late last year, the Australian Institute for Project Management
(AIPM) awarded GHD Canberra both the State and National 2007
Project Management Achievement Awards (PMAA) for Community Service
and/or Development.
"GHD Canberra is proud to be managing a program that helps improve
the basic living conditions of communities in developing
countries," Mr Knott said. “If it were not for the Canada Fund,
most of these communities would be unable to afford the basic taps,
pipes or water tanks for a new water supply system or sewing
machines for an income-generation project for women."
Mr Knott and Mr Leir were delighted to see the AIPM recognise the
Canada Fund as it highlights the difference that a small group of
dedicated people in Canberra can make to help the lives of
thousands of people in developing countries.
Mr Leir added, "Such recognition showcases the ongoing cooperative
relationship between Australia and Canada and further demonstrates
our commitment to assisting developing countries in the Pacific
region."
GHD employs over 6,000 people in a network of offices throughout
Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, United
Kingdom & Europe.