Ward Planning in Madang

Rowen Nim of DPLGA working with locals from the Danib community
of Madang during a community mapping exercise in February.

THE Madang Province Wide Ward and Local Level Government Planning process will commence in early May after a Grant Funding Deed between the Madang Provincial Administration and URS Australia was signed on March 7.

The Ward Planning initiative aims to assist local communities in Madang to plan for improved services in areas listed as priorities and ward development needs identified by the people. This Planning tool encourages communities to be involved in decision making at the ward level.

The process will involve working with the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs, the Department of Implementation and Rural Development and the Department of National Planning and Monitoring.

URS Australia, the managing contractor for the AusAID funded Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen Program is releasing the first payment of K500, 000 by mid April which will enable the Madang Provincial Administration to train Ward Development Committees in the 5 districts of Madang. 

The training will prepare Ward Development Committee members to be able to facilitate the Ward Planning Process in their wards. This is one of SPSN’s initiatives aimed at improving local governance in selected geographic areas by supporting local governance initiatives.  

A province wide Ward Planning Process is scheduled is expected to cover the whole of Madang province by end of 2012, making it the first Province in Papua New Guinea to conduct a ward planning process throughout the whole province.. This planning process will also complement the Madang Provincial Administration Corporate Plan and Kalibobo Vision 2020.

For more information on Ward Planning, contact: Patricia Sawanga, SPSN Component 3 Coordinator on email: info(AT)spsnpng.com or Simon Simoi, Madang Provincial Administration- Director of Planning on telephone:  422 1372.