The Fijian Government today signed two Grant Agreements with the Government of Indonesia that will see much needed funding and support towards efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and rehabilitation works for Queen Victoria School (QVS).
The Humanitarian Grant Agreement on the COVID-19 pandemic which was proposed by the Government of Indonesia in July this year, is worth USD$200,000 and will assist in Fiji’s COVID recovery phase.
The Grant Agreement for the rehabilitation of QVS is the second phase of the school’s rehabilitation works which will constitute a grant worth USD1.5M. The Grant Agreement for the first phase was signed during the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2019 and was utilised for the renovation of existing dormitory structures and construction of classroom blocks. The funding now allocated through Phase II is additional to the funding needed to complete the school’s rehabilitation.
This is a continuation of the Indonesian Government’s earlier commitment where direct assistance was provided to QVS in the form of labour and building materials through the ‘Adopt a School’ program following the aftermath of TC Winston in 2016.
Fiji and Indonesia have an established Framework for Development Cooperation that was signed in 2011 to identify mutual areas of cooperation in which both countries can assist each other in promoting bilateral and regional cooperation.
The Acting Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yogesh Karan signed the Grant Agreement for the rehabilitation of QVS while the Permanent Secretary for Economy Ms. Makereta Konrote signed the Humanitarian Grant Agreement on the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Agreements will be valid for one year.