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

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Western students receive education support from OTDF

The Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) continues to manage and administer scholarship funding from partners including Ok Tedi Mining Limited and Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) Trusts to support students from Western Province in accessing tertiary education and building human resource capacity for the future.

Through its Education Scholarship Program, OTDF provides annual assistance to eligible students, ensuring they commence studies on time at various tertiary institutions across Papua New Guinea.

This year, a total of 231 students from the North Fly and Middle Fly districts attended the 2026 Orientation Program for new scholarship recipients. Students were encouraged to prioritise their studies and make effective use of the support provided.

The orientation program, held at the Kiunga TVET Centre on Friday, 23 January 2026, was designed to guide both new and returning students on the expectations, policies, and processes of the OTDF Scholarship Program, which supports educational opportunities for young people across the province.

Speaking at the event, OTDF Community Education Program Scholarship Officer Ms Shemila Kasi urged students to use the skills and knowledge gained through higher education to contribute to the development of Western Province.

“OTDF is committed to supporting students from CMCA regions, non-CMCA areas, Middle Fly, and Preferred Area Development regions,” Ms Kasi said. “Students from Western Province have demonstrated strong academic performance, and I encourage you all to maintain this standard throughout the 2026 academic year.”

Ms Kasi added that continued support under the scholarship program is based on academic performance, with students required to maintain a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5.

Mrs Philomina Lucas, a parent from Kiunga whose child is also a scholarship recipient, thanked OTDF’s education officers and management for their timely assistance.

“As parents, we often struggle to support our children financially,” Mrs Lucas said. “This continuous support is a great relief and ensures our children are able to attend school on time. Through funding from Ok Tedi Mining Limited and management by OTDF, our children have the opportunity to become future leaders.”

The OTDF Education Scholarship Program provides targeted support to students from Preferred Area Development (PAD) regions, Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) areas, the Middle Fly District, and maritime cadet programs, reflecting OTDF’s broad and inclusive approach to human capital development.

OTDF remains firmly committed to supporting students from Western Province as a core pillar of its long-term strategy for sustainable development and future prosperity.

The Manawete Women and Children’s Association has successfully expanded its community based sewing training program across Damera, Kenedibi, and Urio villages.

South Fly, Training, Women & Youth Development

Damera Village participants

The training forms part of a longer‑term capacity‑building process that began in 2024, when Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) worked with Kiunga Vocational Center (KVC) to train community Trainers of Trainers (TOTs). These community TOTs were equipped with sewing and facilitation skills by KVC instructors, enabling them to deliver practical, hands‑on training directly within their own villages.

Building on this foundation, the November 2025 sewing trainings were arranged by OTDF and delivered by the trained community TOTs, in collaboration with the Manawete Women and Children’s Association. Conducted between 4–14 November 2025, the program aimed to strengthen Women Social Issues Concern Group (WSICG) members, support sustainable livelihood activities, and encourage the local production of school uniforms and other essential garments.

Participation across all three villages was strong, demonstrating growing interest in skills‑based economic opportunities. In Damera Village, 27 women completed the full training program, while more than 50 additional women attended as observers. In Kenedibi Village, 24 women—comprising 15 adults and 9 youth—completed the program, with over 50 women observing the sessions. Similarly, in Urio Village, 24 women actively participated in the training, supported by both adult and youth trainees, alongside more than 50 consistent observers.

Urio village training highlight

Although the trainings were originally planned as week‑long activities, all three communities completed the program within an accelerated three‑day period. This reflected the strong commitment, cooperation, and motivation of participants, as well as the effectiveness of the community‑led training approach. Throughout the sessions, trainees gained practical experience in fabric cutting, machine sewing, and garment finishing, and successfully produced WSICG uniform blouses as part of their hands‑on learning.

As participants’ skills improved, early signs of economic activity began to emerge, with women exploring opportunities for home‑based sewing services, uniform production, and small‑scale microbusiness initiatives. These developments highlight the potential for sewing skills to contribute to household income and longer‑term community resilience.

Despite the positive outcomes, several challenges were identified across all three villages, including limited access to sewing machines and materials, varying skill levels among participants, and the need for more time to practise and reinforce newly acquired skills. These lessons underscore the importance of sustained support, adequate resources, and continued mentorship to ensure skills are retained and translated into sustainable livelihoods.

In response, the Manawete Women and Children’s Association recommends increasing access to sewing machines, expanding training to include a wider range of garment types, and providing structured follow‑up support focused on small business development. Strengthening collaboration among WSICG groups in neighbouring communities is also seen as a key strategy for sustaining momentum and shared learning.

Through this community‑driven and skills‑focused approach, the Manawete Women and Children’s Association reaffirms its commitment to advancing women’s empowerment and strengthening economic resilience across Western Province by scaling up locally led initiatives that respond directly to community needs.

OTDF Renews Three-Year Vehicle Lease with Local Company

Economic Development, North Fly

The Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) has renewed its three-year vehicle lease agreement with GRE Village Business Group a local company from Tutuwe region, for the continued use of an Isuzu Dyna vehicle.

The lease agreement was formally signed on 31 December at the OTDF Conference Room in Kiunga, marking the continuation of a long-standing working relationship between the two organisations.

The new agreement follows the successful completion and expiry of the previous lease arrangement in November 2025 and reflects OTDF’s ongoing commitment to ensuring uninterrupted logistical support for its operations while strengthening partnerships with locally owned businesses from mine-impacted communities.

Under the agreement, the Isuzu Dyna will be used to support a range of OTDF’s logistical and operational requirements. These include the transportation of equipment, and materials necessary for program delivery, community engagement activities, and other operational functions across OTDF’s areas of responsibility.

The lease arrangement is critical to maintaining operational efficiency, particularly in supporting field-based activities along the Kiunga Tabubil Highway and villages in and around Kiunga.

“The conclusion of the previous lease in November 2025 required a timely replacement to ensure continuity of transport support,” said OTDF Acting CEO Mr. Andrew Mari. “This new three-year agreement enables OTDF to sustainably meet its logistics requirements while reinforcing its commitment to engaging local landowner companies as trusted service providers”. Engaging such local companies aligns with OTDF’s broader mandate to promote local business participation, create economic opportunities for local communities and landowner groups, and ensure benefits flow back to mine-impacted communities.

The lease agreement includes clearly defined terms and conditions covering vehicle use, maintenance responsibilities, and operational requirements. The vehicle will be operated strictly in accordance with OTDF’s internal policies, safety standards, and compliance requirements to ensure reliability and safe usage throughout the lease period.

GRE Village Business Group welcomed the agreement, stating that the lease provides a stable and ongoing commercial opportunity for the company as a community-owned business, while strengthening its partnership with OTDF.

The lease will run for a period of three years, providing certainty for both parties and supporting long-term planning and operational continuity.

OTDF continues to engage CMCA local companies through a range of service arrangements, including transport, logistics, and other operational support services. These engagements form part of the Foundation’s broader strategy to support effective program delivery while promoting sustainable local business development and participation in the mine-affected regions.