THE Madang Provincial Government Last week launched the Province Wide Ward and Local Level Government Planning initiative that seeks, with the support of the Australian aid program, to assist local communities in Madang plan for improved services.
The Australian Government support was made through the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen program through a K1.5 million grant funding to the Madang Provincial Government. This partnership also sees the support and involvement of Key Government agencies such as Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, Office of Rural Development and Department of National Planning.
The occasion was marked by the signing of the Funding Deed by the Madang Provincial Government and the unveiling of the Kalibobo lighthouse replica on March 7, 2012.
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Madang Provincial Administrator Bernard Lange signing the Funding
Deed while AusAID Governance Counsellor Robert Brink and SPSN Program Director Jeremy Syme look on. Picture By LYDIA KAIA, SPSN PNG |
MP Sir Arnold Amet lead the event at the Madang Provincial Government Headquarters, which was also attended by Provincial Administrator Mr Bernard Lange, the Secretary of the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs, Mr Russell Ikosi, Director Implementation Mr Badira Vira from the Department of Implemenation and Rural Development, AusAID Governance Counsellor Mr Robert Brink and and SPSN Program Director Mr Jeremy Syme .
The province wide Ward Planning Process is scaling up from the AusAID-funded pilot of ward planning in the Bogia district of Madang in 2008, to cover the entire Province by 2012.
This makes Madang the first Province in Papua New Guinea to conduct a ward planning process throughout the whole province from the process tested in Bogia. This planning process will also complement the Madang Provincial Government Corporate Plan and Kalibobo Vision 2020.
Ward planning is a planning tool, used by the people to identify a list of ward development needs to be addressed and encourages ‘bottom up planning’ where communities are involved during the planning and decision making level; in this case, at ward level.
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| Madang Regional MP Sir Arnold Amet and AusAID Governance Counsellor Robert Brink unveiling Kalibobo replica to officially launch the Ward and LLG planning in Madang Province. Picture By LYDIA KAIA, SPSN PNG |
Speaking at today’s launch, AusAID’s Counsellor Governance Rob Brink stated that ‘for Australia and PNG, today’s signing ceremony will mark another milestone in our development efforts. Through Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen, AusAID is supporting the first ever province-wide ward planning exercise in PNG’.
Mr Brink outlined that the SPSN program was designed to support civil society, the private sector and government to work together in partnership to meet locally identified development priorities. He outlined that ‘this program [SPSN] recognises that if you strengthen people in communities to meet their own goals – such as better health and education outcomes - you strengthen the entire nation’.
The Bogia pilot has resulted in the development of a Ward Planning Training Manual; a revised Village Record Book now renamed the Ward Record Book and pool of local trainers in the Ward and LLG Planning Process.
Over 100 government and civil society personnel have been trained and gained field experience in the ward planning process between 2008- 2011.
This is part of SPSN initiatives aimed at improving local governance in selected geographic areas by supporting Local governance initiatives in a Province, District or Local Level Governments.
A series of training workshops for Ward Development Committees will take place simultaneously throughout the five other Madang districts of Usino Bundi, Middle Ramu, Rai Coast, Madang Urban and Sumkar during March 19-24, 2012.
The training will prepare Ward Development Committee members to be able to facilitate the Ward Planning Process in their own wards from March 26-April 7. All Ward Plans would then be aggregated into the provincial and national planning and budget cycle in May.
The experiences gained in the Madang province-wide roll out will inform a national strategy for promoting Ward, Local Level Government and District Planning across PNG because of its potential linkage to other government funding mechanism such as the District Services Improvement Program and other district development funds.
For Media Enquiries contact Lydia Kaia, SPSN Communication Officer on phone: 3235643 or
Simon Simoi, Director - Planning at Madang Provincial Government on phone: 4221372 or mobile: 71655006
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