Transformational World Bank funded PASO Reform Project concludes
VANUATU: The World Bank funded Pacific Aviation Safety Office Reform Project was hailed as an outstanding success story at a completion workshop with the PASO Council and World Bank in Vanuatu on Wednesday, 30 November 2022.
During its eight years of implementation, the PASO Reform Project has seen the transformation of PASO to a high functioning and truly regional organisation spanning the Pacific.
The PASO Council unanimously acknowledged the successful delivery and completion of the PASO Reform Project and thanked the World Bank for its financial investment in PASO at the recent completion workshop.
The World Bank funded Pacific Aviation Safety Office Reform Project was hailed as an outstanding success story at a completion workshop with the PASO Council and World Bank in Vanuatu on Wednesday, 30 November 2022. Credit: paso.aero
“In recognising the progress PASO has made, we thank the World Bank for their support and collaboration to strengthen aviation across the Pacific,” said Mr. Fui Mau Tupai Simanu, PASO Council Chairperson.
“Our partnership with the World Bank has enabled many positive actions which has increased PASO’s ability to be a robust, trusted, and effective regional aviation organisation.”
“Through financial and technical support from the World Bank, the PASO Reform Project provided the PASO Council with the necessary resources and expertise to reform and effectively govern our organisation.”
“We are indebted to the World Bank for their efforts and we look forward to continuing our partnership into the future,” said Mr. Simanu.
The PASO Reform Project achievements were showcased in a specially produced short video presentation to highlight PASO’s transformational journey via the catalytic World Bank funded project.
PASO Council Chairperson Mr. Fui Mau Tupai Simanu at the World Bank PASO Reform Project completion workshop in Vanuatu on Wednesday, 30 November 2022. Credit: paso.aero
PASO Reform Project journey
At the project’s inception in 2013, PASO was a very small organisation with limited capacity to support Member States with regulatory safety and security oversight due to limited resources, a lack of strategic direction, and unsustainable revenue to support operational activities.
Initial stages of the Project focussed on changes to management, improved policies, systems and procedures, preparation of business plans, and the introduction of models and frameworks to improve the financial sustainability of PASO.
As the Project gained momentum, confidence in PASO grew through project funded stakeholder engagement, updates to the PASO brand, vision and purpose, and Pacific States capacity development.
Now PASO has increased capability to deliver quality inspectorate services to Member States to effectively support State compliance with international aviation regulations to enable vital air transport connectivity for Pacific peoples.
More recently PASO’s regional leadership has been integral to establishing annual Regional Aviation Ministers Meetings, amending the Pacific Islands Civil Aviation Safety and Security Treaty (PICASST), and the introduction of the Pacific Regional Aviation Strategy 2022-32.
Throughout the project, the PASO Council were actively involved in the project’s implementation with key stakeholders taking part in assignments and planning to provide direction, feedback, and inputs.
PASO Council Chairperson Mr. Fui Mau Tupai Simanu, PASO General Manager Mr. Andrew Valentine and the World Bank Senior Transport Specialist Dung Anh Hoang at the World Bank PASO Reform Project completion workshop in Vanuatu on Wednesday, 30 November 2022. Credit: paso.aero
“In a way, the last eight years could be described as a great case study in what a successful project looks like. Without the World Bank’s support, we would not be in the position we are in today. We thank the World Bank for supporting us,” said Mr. Andrew Valentine, PASO’s General Manager.
“At its core, the World Bank funded Reform Project gave PASO the opportunity to be a successful and high-performing organisation with the tools, systems, and expertise that our Members have sought after for a long time.”
“Success breeds success, and the investments made by the World Bank into PASO and our Member States have allowed us to have much more credibility, not only in a region for our Members, but also with our partners,” concluded Mr. Valentine.
Watch the World Bank PASO Reform Project short video presentation.
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Media Contacts
Ms. Lisa Macalister, PASO Communications Specialist
lmacalister@paso.aero +678 550 5500 (mobile/WhatsApp) (Vanuatu)
See also www.paso.aero/media-centre