The Papua New Guinea Institute of Public Administration (PNGIPA) launched the District Training Roll-out in Ialibu-Pangia District, Southern Highlands, last week (20 February).
The launch of the district training roll-out coincided with the commencement of two PNGIPA short courses for district-level public servants.
More than 30 public servants from District Development Authorities will attend the courses over two weeks, including participants from the districts of Ialibu-Pangia, Nawaeb (Morobe), Nuku (West Sepik), Sohe (Northern) and Talasea (West New Britain).
The courses, which cover project management and financial management, are supported by the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct, a partnership between the governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia to support the development of ethical, capable public-sector leaders.
Public Service Minister Elias Kapavore said the PNGIPA and Precinct programs reach out to public servants across Papua New Guinea to provide them with tools to be more efficient and effective in their work.
“To meet our objectives as a nation we must have a culture of excellence and inspirational leadership in the public sector,” Kapavore said.
“We are focused, as a Government, on providing more opportunities for the personal and professional growth of public servants.
“We need public sector leaders who are ethical, capable and inclusive, and this is being achieved by PNGIPA, the Precinct and the partnership between Papua New Guinea and Australia.”
Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis said providing regional public servants with opportunities to develop their technical capabilities and leadership skills was a priority of the PNG-Australia partnership.
“Public servants take responsibility for the delivery of vital services in every corner of the country,” Davis said.
“These training programs support provincial, district and local government authorities to be better equipped to respond to citizens, promote business, and develop local solutions to local challenges.”
The course is being co-delivered by Papua New Guinean and Australian trainers, as part of PNGIPA’s Precinct partnership with the Australian Public Service Commission.
In 2017, more than 200 public servants from the provinces and districts took part in Precinct courses.
(Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis with Pila Niningi, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology; and Public Service Minister Elias Kapavore at the launching in Southern Highlands)