Achieving selfreliance, health and quality of life in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province communities

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Inclusive partnerships strengthen Community Development for special needs community

South Fly, Training, Women & Youth Development

Manawete Women & Children Association in partnership with Callan Services Kiunga & OTDF provide assessment for villagers with special needs

A two-day partners and stakeholders workshop hosted by the Western Province Organisation of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) with funding from Australian Doctors International and the Australian Government APLJ Program from 9–10 April in Kiunga has strengthened collaboration toward inclusive development and service delivery across North Fly District and Western Province.

The workshop brought together key partners including the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF), Australian Doctors International (ADI), Australian Government – APLJ Program, district and provincial government agencies, and the media. Facilitated by national trainer Mr Ross Tito, Program Manager for the PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons (PNGADP), the sessions focused on disability-inclusive planning and shared responsibility in development.

For OTDF, participation aligns strongly with its commitment to inclusive, people-centred development. The Foundation’s Community Development (CD) Program works across education, health, livelihoods, governance, and social development—sectors that directly affect persons with disabilities in remote North Fly communities. Workshop discussions provided practical guidance to strengthen disability inclusion across program design, implementation, and monitoring.

OTDF Community Development Program Team Leader Mr. Polang Tommy noted to bridge the missing link in development outcomes it would be appropriate to have an OPD representative included in the CMCA Women and Children Association working committees

“Persons with disabilities must be represented in the CMCA Women and Children Association executive level,” Mr Tommy said. “Having a representative to work with the association and the CD team to propose projects that genuinely reflect their needs.”

The workshop outcomes are also relevant to OTDF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) Program, where accessibility remains a challenge. OTDF in its development work through WaSH aims to apply disability inclusion principles to promote universal design, strengthen inclusive WaSH committees, and improve collaboration with OPD during project planning going forward.

The workshop reaffirmed that inclusive development is a shared responsibility. For OTDF, it has reinforced ongoing commitment to ensuring no one is left behind as the Foundation supports sustainable development in mine-impacted communities across Western Province.

The Woman and Children Association have gone a step ahead and partnered with Callan Services to provide much neede service to people with special needs. Thus in partnership with the Manawete Women and Children (W&C) Association Callan Services successfully conducted a joint patrol in Doumori and Kawiapo villages as part of ongoing efforts to support people with disabilities in remote communities.

The patrol focused on identifying individuals living with disabilities, engaging with families and community leaders, and assessing immediate needs for assistive devices. The joint initiative reflects a strong commitment to inclusive development and community-based collaboration in the Manawete region.

During the patrol, the team held discussions with village leaders and community members to raise awareness about disability inclusion and available support services. Residents welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of outreach programs that reach isolated areas where access to health and social services remains limited.

The arrangement was made through consultations with the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF CD) Community Development Team and the Manawete Women and Children’s Association executive team from the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) region. The combined assessment program is part of the nine Women & Children Association’s revised Five Year Action Plan (2026-2030) implemented with funding from OK Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) CMCA agreement.

OTDF and PNG University of Technology Renew DODL Partnership in Western Province

Education, Middle Fly, North Fly, South Fly

L-R: Paul Umbe – Team Leader OTDF Education Program Paul Umbe, PNG UoT Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Garry Sali, OTDF acting CEO Andrew Mari, Vice Chancellor PNG UoT Professor Ora Renagi, and PNG UniTech’s DODL Director/Head of Department & Online Education Associate Professor Fred Ssemugenyi

The Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) has renewed its partnership agreement with the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNG UniTech) in Lae, reaffirming OTDF’s role as an affiliated Distance and Open Learning (DODL) Education Service Provider for communities in mine impact communities and Western Province.

Speaking at the signing on Thursday 2 April at the Council PNGUoT Chamber, representatives from both institutions highlighted the importance of education as a catalyst for sustainable development. The renewed agreement aligns with OTDF’s broader mandate to invest in human capital development and empower local communities through education, skills development, and lifelong learning.

Professor Ora Renagi, Vice Chancellor of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) Lae in his welcome remarks said the renewed agreement, signed with PNG UniTech’s DODL Department, strengthens a long-standing collaboration aimed at expanding access to quality tertiary education for students who are unable to pursue on-campus studies. He said: “Through this partnership, learners in remote and rural areas of Western Province will continue to benefit from flexible, technology-supported learning opportunities delivered closer to home”. He added that after students upgrade their marks, the partnership should not be limited to distance education but give opportunity for students to also expand their options given more scholarship by partners and companies to sponsor students to reach their potential, and what more better place to development this but at the PNGUOT.

Associate Professor Garry Sali Deputy Vice Chancellor in support of Professor Renagi said, we have all felt the feeling of accomplishing a goal in life and here we sit. “Through this agreement renewal lets create opportunities for students to complete their studies, graduate and feel that they have fulfilled a lifelong goal in education.”

This continued collaboration is expected to strengthen educational pathways and create new opportunities for students across the province in the years ahead.

According to the Acting OTDF CEO Andrew Mari under the renewed arrangement, OTDF will support the coordination and delivery of UniTech’s accredited DODL programs, including academic administration, student support services, tutorial coordination, and learning facilities. The partnership also reinforces joint commitments to quality assurance, academic integrity, and continuous improvement in distance education delivery.

Mr. Mari said:” At OTDF we recognised that education remains one of the most powerful drivers of sustainable development. Through our Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) commitments, we are focused on infrastructure, service delivery and investing in people by improving individuals through life skills. The DODL/Adult Matriculation Program is a critical component of this vision. As it provides flexible and inclusive learning opportunities, particularly for rural populations, women and out of school youths, this agreement gives OTDF credibility and strengthening the Organisation presence in Western Province education system.” He said and encourages students that there are opportunities after formal education is completed giving a second chance in education through the OTDF program.

PNG UniTech’s DODL Director/Head of Department & Online Education Associate Professor Fred Ssemugenyi emphasised that the partnership enables the University to reach learners beyond traditional campus boundaries, particularly in geographically challenging regions such as Western Province. “ By working with OTDF as an affiliated service provider, UniTech can ensure that its programs remain accessible, relevant, and responsive to local development needs”.

The renewal of the agreement marks a significant milestone in advancing inclusive education in Western Province. Both OTDF and PNG UniTech reaffirmed their shared vision to nurture a skilled, knowledgeable workforce that can contribute meaningfully to community development and Papua New Guinea’s broader national growth agenda.

Farming for Food Security and Income generation

Economic Development, North Fly, Training

Jimmy and his mum selling their garden produce at Kiunga Town market

Ending hunger and poverty begins at the community level, where families are empowered to grow their own food and earn a reliable income. This effort aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 2: Zero Hunger, which emphasise increasing small-scale food production, improving nutrition, and building sustainable livelihoods. In rural Papua New Guinea, where access to cash income and diverse food crops remains a challenge, agriculture continues to play a critical role in achieving these goals.

One such example is Jimmy Mathew, a young farmer from Somoekwankia Village in the North Fly District, who is supporting his family through farming with assistance from the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) Food Security Program. On 27 March, Jimmy and his mother brought 69 taro combs to sell at the Kiunga Town Market, following months of hard work in their family garden.

Jimmy said the support from OTDF has made a significant difference for his family. Starting with taro planting material provided through the program, they planted a total of 575 taro plants, with 69 reaching maturity and ready for harvest.

At the Kiunga market, the taro combs were sold at prices ranging between K2 and K4 each. However, Jimmy noted that market access remains a challenge, as transport costs from the village to Kiunga average K50 one way. “Our transport costs are high, so whether we come to town depends on how successful our sales will be,” Jimmy said.

Despite the challenges, Jimmy expressed pride and optimism. “I am very happy that my family now has another source of income,” he said.

He added that in the North Fly District, sago is traditionally the main staple food grown for consumption and surplus sale, limiting income diversification. Through the OTDF Food Security Program, farmers are now being encouraged and supported to plant a wider range of crops such as taro, banana, cassava, and vegetables. “Thanks to OTDF for providing planting materials and extension support, this harvest shows the results of hard work and strong partnerships,” Jimmy said.

OTDF Food Security Officer Mr Jethro Robert explained that the core objective of the Food Security Program (FSP) is to ensure farmers develop secure and sustainable livelihoods beyond the life of the mine, enabling families to consistently put food on the table and earn income through agriculture.

Mr Robert also highlighted the importance of ongoing monitoring and pest management, noting early signs of taro beetle (borer) infestation, which poses a serious biosecurity threat if left uncontrolled. “Our role is not only to help farmers grow their crops, but also to work with them to prevent the spread of pests like the taro borer beetle,” he said.

Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Mari, said initiatives such as the Food Security Program are critical to building resilient and self-reliant communities across the CMCA region.

“Agriculture remains one of the most practical and sustainable pathways for our communities to improve household food security while generating income. Through the OTDF Food Security Program, we are empowering families with the knowledge, planting materials, and support they need to move beyond subsistence and develop productive, income-generating farms,” Mr Mari said.

Mr Mari emphasised that strengthening local food production is a key component of OTDF’s long-term development strategy.

“Our vision is to see communities in Western Province become economically resilient and food secure well beyond the life of the mine. By supporting farmers like Jimmy and encouraging crop diversification, we are laying the foundation for sustainable livelihoods that will continue to support families for generations,” he added.

Across the Western Province, particularly within the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) region, OTDF continues to play a vital role in strengthening agriculture as a pathway to food security and income generation. Through the provision of planting materials, farmer training, extension services, and market linkage support, OTDF is helping communities build resilient livelihoods, reduce poverty, and contribute meaningfully to long-term development well beyond the mining era.