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Background
In January 2008, with the incoming Administration of President Manny Mori and Vice President Alik Alik, a Division of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) was established at the National Government. The goal for the establishment of this division was and remains to:
1) facilitate improvement in the overall coordination of external assistance into the nation;
2) expand bilateral ODA opportunities across a range of sectors;
3) increase both the human resource and the monetary absorption capacity in mobilizing outside revenue streams into the federation; and
4) to utilize increased and enhanced ODA to the maximum benefit of all of the citizens of the FSM, especially those most in need of such assistance.
Internally, the ODA Division works closely and in concert with the other key divisions of Statistics, Budget & Economic Management and Compact Management toward the overall development of the national macroeconomic policy and performance-linked budgeting. Externally, it plays a key role in coordination, facilitation and technical support to the other national line departments and agencies, the state governments and development partners based in the capital of Pohnpei.
Current Status
The ODA Division is staffed with one Assistant Director. The Assistant Director of ODA works closely with all of the other divsions within the Office of SBOC, and with the various support staff to accomplish tasks and objectives, with a close working relationship with the Office of the Director of the organization. The Division assists with much of the formulation, review and editing of proposals arising from this core office of the National Government. The Division of ODA also temporarily serves as the Secretariat for the National Authorising Officer (NAO) and by extension the National Authorising Committee (NAC), with the NAO being the official focal point for all European programs within the FSM. Beyond this, the ODA Division liases with the Department of Foreign Affairs in assisting the states - government, NGO and private sectors - with proposal requests and priority needs. The division also works with and responds to information requests and drafts and reviews proposals and concept briefs from the other national government departments and offices.
Future Outlook
The ODA Division may be strengthened through the hiring of additional staff. This will allow the Assistant Director to focus on the broad but essential areas of communication, public relations and fund raising, while delegating data compilation and dissemination, information collection and other administrative duties of the effective day to day operation in reaching the ODA FY10 Workplan objectives and goals. The Division of ODA will also continue to solidify the relationship and communication link with the various donors based within FSM. Also, in early 2010, the division will undertake its first annual trip to the states whereby it will hold grant writing workshops, disseminate pertinent ODA information and solicit proposals and priority needs from the states for fundraising.
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