DFAT

Indian High Com Announces Financial Support

India’s High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Inbasekar Sundaramurthi made the announcement yesterday, 17 August to DFAT.

H.E Sundaramurthi emphasized that their administration focuses on capacity building especially within the department.

The Commissioner was Deputy Chief of Protocol 11 years before, thus understands the work of the department.

He encouraged DFAT’s Acting Chief Protocol, James Noglai, Acting Deputy Secretary of Policy Magdalene Moi-he to draft a proposal for the K400,000 funding support.

Youth Voter Festival Port Moresby

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and other donors have shown their support for the PNGEC in ensuring there is maximum participation of eligible youth, women and persons with disabilities in the 2022 National Election.
This is the second Youth Voter Festival hosted by IFES in the country, the first was held in Goroka early this month.

75 graduate in Financial Literacy

Seventy-five participants graduated from this training with certificates in recognition of being equipped with knowledge on budgeting and savings, as small business owners.

The workshop was funded and supported by AusAID and facilitated by trainers from wards within Talasea LLG and who had prior training with BPNG.

The participants businesses comprised of canteens, village trade stores and roadside table markets. Before the program, these individuals did not have the required tools on hand to perform better savings and budgeting for their businesses.

HIV Investment Program Launched

With the ongoing fight against HIV and other related diseases and COVID-19, it is investments like that of UNAIDS collaboration with National Department Health (NDOH) that ensures ones well-being is an integral part of humanity.

The investment launch was held in Port Moresby by UNAIDS and PNG-AUSTRALIA government representatives.

Film On Family Planning Launched

The department, UNFPA and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia and other partners launched the filmed called “Wan Boi, Wan Gel” that seeks to promote Family Planning with the sub-theme “By Choice, Not by Chance – One Small Family”, a film idea by former Technical advisor and medical health, the Late Dr Geita Lahui.

DFAT through the Pacific women program was pleased to have contributed to this partnership led by the Department of Health, UNFPA, FHI360 as well as contributions from a range of other partners and NGOs into this production.

Babara Age appointed as DFAT Secretary

Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, made the announcement recently saying Cabinet has recognized the wealth of experience, commitment and merit of Ms Age, both within the Department and in other regional agencies.

“The decision to appoint Ms Age as the DFAT Secretary was recently decided by the Ministerial Executive Appointments Committee and approved by Cabinet, given her occupying the position as the Acting Secretary since January.”

“Our government aims to promote gender equality in the public service and this is yet another instance of our objective,” O’Neill said.

DFAT coy on PNG mission head's withdrawal

Deborah Stokes was appointed high commissioner in March 2013 and finished up last week.

It’s believed she still had about eight months to go on her Port Moresby posting.

“Today I farewell PNG taking with me many fond memories of this remarkable country. Lukim yu bihain,” she tweeted late last week.

The timing of her departure, so close to PNG's 40th anniversary of independence celebrations in September, has raised eyebrows in Port Moresby.

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