Australia – PNG Program Kicks Off SPSN Grant Funding

Australia and PNG today announced the release of the first four community development grants under the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen (SPSN) program. SPSN will award K50 million in small, medium and large grants over the next two years.

The grants will enable civil society and Non Government Organisations to improve lives of Papua New Guineans at the village level.

The SPSN grants are unique in Papua New Guinea.  Applicants can apply for a small, medium or large grant and a community development worker will help the recipient turn the idea into reality.

Grants are approved through Local or National Grants Committees which includes representatives from PNG’s provincial administrations. One of the strengths of this program is that it aims to deliver immediate results for the participating communities and organisations, whilst also bringing about longer term behavioural and attitudinal changes.

Four organisations, World Vision (water, sanitation and hygiene project), Oxfam Australia (prevention of gender based violence), Child Fund (improved health outcomes) and Salvation Army (children and adult literacy) are the first to receive SPSN grant funding. Another 47 projects are soon to be approved.

Head of the Australian aid program in PNG, Stuart Schaefer officially handed over approved Funding Deeds to four successful Port Moresby-based organisations to mark the commencement of SPSN’s Grant funding phase.

“With SPSN grants it is the quality of the idea, not the quality of the grant application that counts.  With SPSN communities may be applying for grants funding for the very first time, and SPSN will help them develop their proposal over time,” Mr Schaefer said.

“These projects demonstrate Australia’s commitment to fostering partnerships between the PNG Government, civil society and communities to improve services at the village and district level,” Mr Schaefer said.

“This is an exciting strategy to decentralize decision making and bring the responsibility for decision making close to the people which is important,” said Mr Syme, SPSN’s Program Director.

For Media Enquiries, Contact SPSN Communications officer, Lydia Kaia on telephone: 323 5643 or email: Lydia.Kaia(AT)spsnpng.com