New Zealand and Papua New Guinea aid and development programme

NZAID snapshot

 NZAID is the name of the Government's international aid and development programme

 New Zealand will provide $500 million on overseas development assistance in FY2009/10.

 Over half of New Zealand's funds are spent in the Pacific.

 New Zealand's aid programme has a core focus on sustainable economic development and a sharpened focus on development effectiveness (outcomes) and aid efficiency (eg; delivery mechanisms)

 Assistance to Papua New Guinea totalled PGK40 million (NZD23.75m) for the 12 months to June 2009. This year's target is PGK46million (NZD27m).

 Papua New Guinea is NZAID's second largest country programme (Solomon Islands is the largest).

 

New Zealand's assistance to Papua New Guinea

The New Zealand Government signed a joint strategy with the Government of Papua New Guinea in July 2008.

This strategy will guide the aid programme in PNG for the next 10 years, and addresses some of the key development priorities of the country.

The strategy is aimed at:

 improving social services in education and health

 improving livelihood opportunities for rural people

In July 2009, the New Zealand Government announced a revised commitment to Papua New Guinea totalling NZD85 million (approximately PGK146.6million) for the next three financial years to June 2012.

 

Health

New Zealand will continue its long-term commitment to the Health Sector Improvement Programme, a joint approach between the PNG Government and development partners to improve the delivery of health services nationwide and build capacity in the National Health department.

 In 2009, the New Zealand Government agreed to provide PGK16 million for health over the next four years to support local groups delivering health services targeting reproductive health, community health and HIV and AIDS prevention.

Programmes such as the Bougainville Healthy Communities Programme train villagers to be primary health care providers and contribute to the growing pool of volunteers, mostly women, who help their communities.

To contribute to a just society, free of poverty, through equitable and sustainable social and economic development of PNG and all its people

 

Education

New Zealand supports PNG as it works towards a major new initiative to improve access to basic primary education. New Zealand is developing a comprehensive approach to human resource development in PNG that expands its existing tertiary and technical scholarship schemes and will better link training to improving rural livelihoods.

 New Zealand offers around 250 scholarships per year for study in NZ and PNG.

 

Improving livelihoods opportunities

New Zealand is continuing its support for the Fresh Produce Development Agency and Bris Kanda Rural Enterprise Development Programme.

The Fresh Produce Development Agency is a Government extension agency linking farmers and consumers of fresh fruit and vegetables.

 Bris Kanda aims to build commercially-productive partnerships between rural communities and service providers in the Huon Gulf, Morobe province.

New Zealand will explore ways to improve rural people's income from the agricultural sector by supporting government and civil society groups who can improve small-holder farmer productivity and access to markets.

 

Bougainville

New Zealand's engagement in Bougainville supports the governance of the Autonomous Region and strengthening its law and justice system.

 This includes the Governance and Implementation Fund; a joint initiative of Government of PNG, the Autonomous Bougainville Government, AusAID and NZAID to improve government administration and service delivery.

The Bougainville Community Policing Project provides training and support to the Bougainville Police Service and Community Auxiliary Police who help local communities deal with law and order and social problems in partnership with traditional leaders.

Over 300 community police have been deployed throughout Bougainville.

 

Civil society

New Zealand recognises the role and potential of civil society organisations in addressing poverty and promoting sustainable development in PNG.

 New Zealand supports organisations that deliver key services, empower communities to address their development needs, and take a strategic approach to advocating for improved services and greater economic prosperity for rural communities.

New Zealand supports Oxfam NZ which focuses on peacebuilding in the Highlands Region, working alongside local organisations such as Kup Women for Peace and Community Development Agency.

New Zealand has long term relationships with a number of organisations in Bougainville, such as Leitana Nehan, Osi Tanata, and Arawa Carpentry and Social Development Agency.

These groups provide counselling, training and rehabilitation for people affected by the conflict in Bougainville.

 

Gender equity and the empowerment of women

New Zealand continues to strengthen the contribution of all its programmes and projects to gender equity and the political and economic empowerment of women.

New initiatives focused on gender issues are under consideration.

 

Papua New Guinea Girl Guides receive Kiwi VIP

On a typically hot and sunny day in Port Moresby last October the Girl Guides at their Headquarters in Hanuabada received a less than typical visitor – Her Excellency Lady Susan Satyanand, the wife of New Zealand’s Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand (pictured).

Lady Satyanand, who is also the Patron of Girl Guiding New Zealand, was accompanying her husband Hon Sir Anand Satyanand on his week-long visit to Papua New Guinea.

 She was warmly welcomed by Chief Commissioner Hon Keke Reva and National Director Mrs Emily David, along with rows of Guides, Brownies, Rangers and Leaders, who sung songs of greeting.              

Her Excellency was shown an innovative solar cooking project developed by the Girl Guides and allowed her time to inspect the training and conference hall.

 Following the formal part of the visit Lady Satyanand stopped to greet the Girl Guides, and shake hands with members.

Background

The Guide movement was established in PNG in 1927 by members of the London Missionary Society (now United Church).

 Two years ago it had celebrated its 80^th anniversary.

 Guiding is now active in 10 of PNG’s 20 provinces, with about 3,000 Guides on the roll. 

 

 

 

Kiwi alumni network brings people together

 

 

What do famous Papua New Guinea artist Daniel Waswas and PNG’s Minister of Justice Hon Allan Marat have in common? 

They both spent time studying in New Zealand, and are members of the Kiwi Alumni Network (formerly called the PNG-NZ Alumni Network).

From the arts to law and from education to forestry, Papua New Guinean graduates of New Zealand education come from almost every discipline.  

Recently around 50 members with about 25 of their children gathered for a Bung Kaikai at the New Zealand High Commission. 

A volleyball net was string between the trees and families spread themselves out on blankets around the grounds.

 Staff and members spent time reminiscing about old times in New Zealand.

Only a few weeks later a number of avid All Blacks supporters, with family, friends and staff from the NZHC met to watch the All Blacks grab victory from the Wallabies in the second 2009 Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies.

Members and kind volunteers also helped recently to assist the weekly Cheshire Home hot dog stand at Boroko Foodworld. 

The Kiwi Alumni Network gives graduates of a New Zealand education a chance to meet socially and reminisce, mix and mingle professionally and contribute something positive to the wider PNG community. 

There are over 200 members of the Network.  Most studied in New Zealand on New Zealand Government scholarships.

Membership is free and open to anyone who has spent time studying in New Zealand and anyone interested should contact the New Zealand High Commission. 

 

 

About Port Moresby Kiwi Club

By JULIE HARTSHORN - President

The Port Moresby Kiwi Club has been operating in Port Moresby for over 25 years.

The Kiwi Club’s main objective is to promote the culture, lifestyle and country of New Zealand in Papua New Guinea and to facilitate the social and charitable contribution of New Zealander’s to PNG.

It is also a means for New Zealander’s living in PNG to come together to enjoy various social occasions, a few of which are as follows:

·        The annual Waitangi day Hangi at the NZHC grounds. This year it will be held on the 7^th February.

·        Rugby events for the Bledisloe Cup/Tri Nations and World Cup games.

·        Trivia nights

·        The bi-annual Kiwi Club Ball which is acknowledged as one of the highlights of the social season. The 2010 ball will be held on Oct 23.

The above events, other than being fun, are also fund raising events for various charities in PNG. The main charities to which the Kiwi Club has contributed funds include:

·       Cheshire Homes.

·        Professional Business Women – sponsorship of a woman’s education.

·        Friends Foundation.

·        Hope Worldwide.

·        City Mission.

The Kiwi Club has been fortunate in having a strong volunteer committee, a number of whom have been involved for over fifteen years.

New members and committee members are always welcome.

For Hangi tickets or membership enquiries please contact Catherine Doyle blackcat@blackcatpng.com or for other enquiries Rhonda-Marie Anderson on phone (675) 3249444 Ext 202.

New Zealand supports YWCA

The YWCA (Young Women Christian Association) Port Moresby Branch has much reason to celebrate this week, thanks to the New Zealand Government coming to their assistance with K47, 914 under the New Zealand international aid and development programme Small Projects Scheme.

The executive director of YWCA Ms Okera Amini expressed her delight at the funding this week.

She thanked the New Zealand High Commission for the financial support and commended New Zealand for its ongoing contribution to the social and economic well being of disadvantaged groups in PNG.

Ms Amini said that the YWCA was one of the oldest NGOs established in PNG, and had been providing important services in the areas of adult literacy and other livelihood skills on a non profit basis, targeting disadvantaged mothers and men in the settlement areas of Port Moresby.

Ms Amini noted that the NZAID funds would be used to renovate three training rooms which have been in a rundown state since the 1990s.

This is a major renovation exercise for YWCA.

 The end result should provide a good learning environment for the training programmes, as well as boost the capacity of the management to network with other partners to address the issue of illiteracy in Port Moresby.

She said that literacy was an important development issue in PNG.

Without being able to read and write, people find it difficult to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.

YWCA Port Moresby hopes to empower the participants in a small way to make a difference in their own families and communities.

 

Papua New Guinea's new kid on the blog

My longtime journalist mate Makalai Bel, based with the National Broadcasting Commission in Goroka, has just up his own blog http://berlmlinksall.blogspot.com/ which should add to news and views from that part of the country.

“Having graduated from UPNG as a journalist in 1980, I covered Gulf, Madang, National Capital District and took short weeks to months assignments of Fly, Simbu and Western Highlands province on news coverage duties,” he writes.

“Eastern Highlands is the longest coverage area since 1985.

“It is here that I really developed my skills in news writing, news production and publishing, moving from a manual type-writer in the 80's.

“By 90's bought my own electric typewriter and a word processor, and upward on to a computer to write and publish a community newsletter in 1992.

“Fascinated by computers, have taught myself almost everything about computers, desk-top publishing, internet and email and now having hands-on try on opening my own blog.”

Welcome to the fast-growing PNG Blogosphere, Makalai, which is having a big impact as an alternate and independent source of news and views from the country.

 

 

Knowledge boost for Fresh Produce Development Agency

(From left) Paul Browne, ISP executive management advisor, John Pono, FPDA HR advisor, Barry Greville-Eyres, ISP project director and Mewie Launa, FPDA corporate services manager display resource materials donated to FPDA by Brisbane-based firms

Co-op Bookshop and UniQuest International Projects, through the New Zealand AID-funded Institutional Strengthening Project for PNG’s Fresh Produce Development Agency, partnered recently to provide the agency with a valuable donation of publications and reference materials.

Both Brisbane-based organisations are committed to the provision of teaching and learning materials that are relevant and important in an otherwise resource limited environment.

FPDA corporate services manager, Mewie Launa was on hand to accept the first delivery of human resource and organisational management oriented resources from ISP’s Barry Greville-Eyres.

“The books will take pride of place in our recently established library and provide our agency with greater understanding into wide-ranging management challenges that confront us on a daily basis, “Mr Launa said.

Mr Greville-Eyres said: “The opportunity for self-study and critical reflection by FPDA management and staff, through direct access to resource materials, is one of many approaches to developing individual and institutional capacities and it’s important that the ISP caters for a blend of such approaches.”

The ISP will continue to build FPDA’s knowledge and information resource base throughout 2010 with targeted contributions.

Greg Liripu, FPDA general manager, also took this opportunity to welcome Paul Browne, the ISP’s recently-appointed executive management adviser who will support the endeavours of FPDA management and the board, in strategic and operational areas, for the remainder of the project.

"It is a real pleasure to be working with the FPDA as it has a long history of positively contributing to the PNG horticulture industry and I am really looking forward to working with FPDA's staff, directors and stakeholders,” Mr Browne said.