Ward governance training aims to empower ward leadership in remote New Ireland communities

In an effort to revitalize local governance in remote New Ireland communities, a training program is empowering ward leadership. Many ward-level governance structures, including Village Planning Committees (VPCs) and Ward Development Committees (WDCs), have become inactive or ineffective. This decline is attributed to a combination of factors such as party politics, inadequate training, and diminishing community participation over the years.

These committees are designed to be the bedrock of Papua New Guinea's decentralized system, meant to represent community priorities and serve as a direct link between villages and higher government levels. However, development practitioners note that limited support and increasing political interference have hampered their ability to function effectively. Community leaders from Danu and Dampet villages in Ward 17 of Sentral Niu Ailan LLG highlighted how these challenges have weakened local decision-making and reduced communities' capacity to coordinate development projects and advocate for their needs.

To address these issues, representatives from the VPC and WDC in both villages have completed governance and development planning training facilitated by the West Coast Development Foundation (WCDF). The program, led by WCDF founder Jonathan Mesulam with support from Caritas PNG Kavieng Coordinator John Momori, focused on rebuilding the capacity of these committees. The training equipped leaders to better identify priorities, plan development initiatives, and strengthen overall community leadership.

Mesulam emphasized that sustainable development starts with a clear understanding of how local governance systems should operate. "The aim is to equip ward leaders with the skills to identify what can be achieved through their own initiatives and what requires support from government, churches, development partners or other stakeholders," he stated. Participants engaged in practical exercises to identify community priorities, optimize the use of local resources, and develop realistic plans before seeking external assistance. John Momori highlighted the importance of strengthening local leadership, especially in isolated areas like Danu and Dampet, where access to government services is limited, and communities often rely on self-initiative.

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The aim is to equip ward leaders with the skills to identify what can be achieved through their own initiatives and what requires support from government, churches, development partners or other stakeholders.