THE PNG-Australia partnership program has been a success story over the years in delivering vital services to the people.
And it is still going that extra mile every year to do so.
One of the services supported by the PNG-Australia partnership (PNGAP) is the church partnership program (CPP), which aims to improve effectiveness of service delivery and advocacy by churches in PNG through improved services delivered by PNG churches to local communities, strengthened institutional capacity of PNG churches for development and enhanced PNG church involvement in improving public sector governance.
The PNGAP yesterday confirmed it will hold its biannual forum from today and tomorrow in Lae, Morobe Province with the theme ‘gutpela sindaun’ (abundant life).
The opening of the forum will be held at the Cross Road Hotel at Nine-Mile today and the launch of the Guna Goreku stretim hauslain association case study will be held on Wednesday. According to organisers, Anglican Church Archbishop Allan Migi is expected to welcome participants on behalf of the host church and Australian High Commission Counsellor Geoff King, among other dignitaries, will deliver remarks at the opening of the forum.
The discussion on the forum theme will cover the role of churches in enabling gutpela sindaun will continue with the launch of the Guna-Goreku stretim hauslain association case study.
This case study will be showcasing how a remote community torn by tribal warfare has used the CPP’s Gender Equality theology to drive peace and change for the better in their community.
The CPP was introduced to the floor of parliament in a bid to allow the Government’s plan to work more closely with the churches in providing services to the people.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Treasury Charles Abel who was the former National Planning minister in 2014, during the launch of the CPP program also said the government was going to further support the churches.
This is not only for those benefitting from the program but others as well including a partnership with the Australia government.
CPP has been in the country for several years and since its establishment it has proven to be successful with continuous support from the Australian government.
The push for CPP Phase 2-3 of CPP was launched in Port Moresby with focus on enhanced collaboration to improve service delivery.
This includes building community resilience and strengthening the institutional capacity of the Papua New Guinea Council of Churches and its members.
Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Bruce Davis, when launching the new phase of CPP presented that the role of churches is to bring positive influence on public debate and building momentum for social change.
Mr Davis said the forum is a significant for future development of CPP within in PNG in the years to come.
