Achieving selfreliance, health and quality of life in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province communities
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Promising Rice Cultivation Offers Food Security Solutions for South Fly Villagers
The cultivation of paddy rice in the South Fly CMCA (Community Mine Continuation Agreement) area has emerged as a beacon of hope for addressing food scarcity during dry weather periods in Western Province. Villages in the Pukaduka 1 region of the Suki Fly Gogo Trust have achieved significant success in growing paddy rice, employing ingenious irrigation techniques that involve diverting water from the nearby Suki creek into their 20 x 30 rice paddy demonstration plots.
Mr. Sawiam Marei, the OTDF Regional Development Coordinator based in Nakaku, spearheaded this initiative. He received invaluable support from the field base and Livelihood Development team in raising awareness about the Food Security Program during the drought season, aimed at tackling long-term food security challenges.
According to Mr. Marei, the program has distributed an impressive 200 kilograms of paddy rice seeds to a total of 630 farmers residing in nine villages located in the Suki Lagoon area. He emphasized the promising outcomes of the rice cultivation trials, stating, “Both upland rice and paddy-grown rice have been tested, with paddy rice showing higher yields.”
For local farmers like John Dadi, the journey of rice cultivation has been a lesson in patience and diligence. From sowing the seeds to harvesting the rice, it demands time and effort, but the rewards are substantial. Mr. Dadi, speaking on behalf of the community, expressed their enthusiasm for expanding their rice cultivation efforts, thanks to the support they are receiving from OTDF and the valuable knowledge gained through food security awareness programs.
This successful rice cultivation venture not only provides a source of starchy food during dry weather but also signifies a step towards long-term food security for the residents of the South Fly CMCA area. With promising yields and a growing interest among local farmers, this initiative holds the potential to make a significant impact on the region’s agricultural landscape and food availability.
Appreciating Mr. Eric Kuman: A Legacy of Excellence
L-R: Mr. Kuman receives a gift from an OTDF colleague and good friend Ismael Kamisi during the farewell function at the Cassowary Hotel in Kiunga
Eric Kuman though from the Simbu Province, embraces Western Province dearly. Before joining OTDF in 2015, Eric had a total of 23 years of work experience in the Food Industry, Mining and Development.
His passion for education and developing youth to improve the quality of life for marginalised rural people across Western Province has been the reason for his long stay in Western Province.
Mr Kuman has held numerous positions as a human resource professional and held leadership roles in OTML from 2001- 2013. He later joined OTDF in 2015 as the Manger Programs Services Sustainable Development (PSSD). He was promoted to Executive Manager Program Services in 2020.
Jonathan Kerekere (R) shows appreciation to Mr. Kuman on behalf of his team
His leadership has raised the profile of the CMCA Women & Children Associations with the development and roll out of their revised Action Plan in 2019.
He has been instrumental as an Executive Manager in reviving the food security program, the WaSH program and strengthening reporting across all development programs.
It is with mixed emotions we bid farewell to a remarkable individual who has been an inspiring force within OTDF. As we celebrate his time with us, we cannot help but feel a tinge of sadness knowing that his departure marks the end of an era filled with many accomplishments and unwavering dedication.
One of Mr. Kuman’s greatest strengths lies in his ability to bring people together and foster a spirit of collaboration. He possesses a rare talent for finding common ground among diverse stakeholders, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and valued. Through his leadership, he has been instrumental in creating a strong network of partnerships, both nationally and internationally, which have provided invaluable support to our programs and initiatives.
A special Abip bilum from the Star Mountains , North Fly presented to Mr. Kuman
But what truly sets Mr. Kuman apart is his unwavering dedication to service. He approaches every task with a genuine desire to make a difference, working tirelessly to ensure that our programs and services meet the needs of those they aim to serve. His empathetic nature and genuine concern for others have gained him the admiration and respect of colleagues, partners, and community members alike.
As we bid farewell to Mr. Eric Kuman, we do so with heartfelt gratitude for the immense contributions he has made during his time with us. His legacy of excellence will endure, and his influence will continue to shape the work we do moving forward. While we will undoubtedly miss his presence, we take solace in knowing that his next journey will be filled with success and fulfilment.
L-R: Havini Vira OTDF CEO and Jesse Pile OTDF Board Chairman present Mr. Kuman (middle) the organisation’s gift
On behalf of the entire OK Tedi Development Foundation family, we extend our deepest appreciation to Mr. Kuman for his unwavering dedication, exceptional leadership, and his commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours, confident that he will bring the same passion, excellence, and integrity that have defined his time with us.
Katamono, yawo and farewell, dear Mr. Eric Kuman. May your path be paved with continued success, and may the impact you have made inspire others to carry the torch as we move forward on this noble journey of service.
Enhancing Scholarship Support in CMCA and Western Province: A Public-Private Partnership Approach
FODE & Adult Matriculation registration at Samagos Study Center, Kiunga
OTDF participated in discussions with development partners regarding the enhancement of their approach to bolster scholarship programs in the CMCA and Western Province. This collaborative effort aimed to leverage the potential of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mechanism for greater effectiveness was held in Kiunga on September 4.
The workshop, organised by the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) Scholarship Team, brought together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, all actively engaged in supporting scholarship programs.
Sharing information to streamline and improve the scholarship system
Mrs. Bonnie Yakumani, leading the MRDC team, commenced the event by extending her appreciation to all participants for their active engagement and willingness to share insights aimed at enhancing the support provided to scholarship recipients. During her address, she highlighted the significance of the ongoing dialogue and its potential to pave the way for meaningful change in addressing the challenges faced by both sponsors and recipients of scholarships. Mrs. Yakumani emphasized the importance of mutual support among sponsors and the sharing of valuable information to streamline and improve the scholarship system.
Stakeholders who attended the workshop in Kiunga
Because of these discussions, it was proposed that a dedicated committee would be established to collaboratively develop a robust system designed to address the existing issues. This system aims to facilitate better communication and cooperation among all parties, ultimately leading to more effective scholarship programs that benefit both sponsors and recipients alike. Mrs. Yakumani encouraged all sponsors to work together toward this common goal of advancing educational opportunities and outcomes for the community.
OTDF Program Services Sustainable Development (PSSD) Manager Andrew Mari acknowledged MRDC Scholarship team for reaching out to partners in the province. He said: “OTDF has been providing education scholarship to Western Province and PAD students for over 10 years and has reliable systems and processes in place which can be used to improve the scholarship mechanism currently monitored by the responsible agencies both in the government and private sector. He added that MRDC scholarship team can learn from OTDF and urged that both parties must work together to support the students from the CMCA communities in so doing avoid students doubling dipping into the scholarship funds.
Who We Are
Each executive and board member, team and individual involved with OTDF is an essential part of achieving the goal of allowing the residents of Western Province to have greater choices in mapping out their own direction to live better lives.
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Executive Management
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Board Members
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Our Partners
What We Do
Operating independently of OTML since 2009, we are proud to have 50 full-time staff, 60 part-time staff, and committed volunteers throughout Western Province dedicated to ensuring our objectives and goals are aligned with those of the communities for which we serve.
To date, we have achieved significant outcomes across our investment portfolio and all five pillars of CMCA community development.
Economic Development
From inception as an independent organisation in 2010, OTDF has worked tirelessly with the CMCA communities to establish family and village-based economic and food production options.
Women's & Youth Development
Developing women and youth aspirations following the intensive consultative community engagement in the communities and mine villages.
Infrastructure Development
OTDF continues to focus on infrastructure delivery for communities to gain easier access to regional centres and government services, and to get produce to markets.
Community Health
The OTDF Strategic 5-year plan goal for the Health Sector is the CMCA primary health care service delivery strengthened and in line with the Western Province & National Health Plans.
Community Education
The OTDF Education Sector goals are to improve to quality education services, improve teacher education and training.
Our Communities
Western Province
North Fly District
Middle Fly District
South Fly District
Annual Reports
Our latest Annual Report is a comprehensive report of what OTDF has achieved and defines/outlines our ongoing priorities and goals going forward.
Newsletters
Each month, our OTDF media team creates a PDF newsletter that encapsulates the many activities and achievements by OTDF, partners and communities.
Contact Us
OTDF is committed to cooperation and integration of ideas from our community, therefore, we are always interested in what you have to say.