The Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) has called on development partners to place people at the heart of all development initiatives in Western Province.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Andrew Mari made the call during the recent signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) aimed at improving the Flexible Open and Distance Education (FODE) Program currently managed by OTDF in the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (MCA) region . The program operates across eleven satellite study centres in the province’s four districts with the registered facility based in OTDF FODE Centre at Samagos, Kiunga, Western Province.
“It’s not about the service providers—it’s about the people whose lives are impacted,” Mr. Mari said, emphasising the need for people-centered development. The MoA brings together OTDF, the Sustainable Development Program Limited (SDPL), and the Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) to strengthen education delivery and expand access to second-chance learning opportunities for students in remote communities.
While addressing the executives from PNGSDP, KTF and the staff and media present, Mr. Mari described the partnership as a “significant milestone” in the shared effort to reinforce education outcomes in Western Province.
Mr. Andrew Mari addressing the audience during the program
“The integration of the FODE program into the SDPL and KTF model represents a strategic step forward — one that enhances coordination, avoids duplication, and most importantly, improves the quality and delivery of second-chance education for our young people,” he said.
He reaffirmed OTDF’s commitment to working closely with SDPL and KTF to ensure the program’s successful implementation. Mr. Mari also emphasised that the partnership goes beyond education, paving the way for stronger collaboration in other key development sectors.
While acknowledging the challenges of working in one of Papua New Guinea’s most remote and logistically difficult regions, Mr. Mari expressed confidence in the partnership’s potential to bring lasting change.
“Development in Western Province is never easy — our geography, isolation, and high logistics costs make it one of the most challenging regions in Papua New Guinea. Yet it is not impossible. With partners like SDPL, KTF, and others who share the same vision and passion for our people, we can overcome these challenges and bring about lasting, positive change,”
he said.
He concluded by stressing that education is the foundation of empowerment and progress, and that this collaboration will give young people the opportunity to learn, dream, and build a better future for themselves and their communities.
