Building Leadership and Democratic
Governance in Local Communities
Across PNG : Part 2- Lessons from
SPSN
Dr. Naihuwo Ahai (PhD)
Deputy Program Director – Strongim
Pipol Strongim Nesen Program
What is Strongim Pipol Strongim
Nesen Program
• Collaboration between the GoPNG and
Australia
• Community Development as an entry point for
cultivating partnership between communities
and government to better meet needs and
priorities of men, women and children across
communities
Theory of Change
Strengthen
Civil Society,
Govt &
Private
Sector
Greater
participation
in govt
decision
makiing
To enable
good
governance
To incresae
access & use
of quality
services
For improved
human
development
Key Changes
Capacity
Building
Democratic
Governance
Services
Delivery
Six Principles of DG
•
•
•
•
•
•
Transparency
Accountability
Legitimacy
Equality/Participation
Responsiveness
Social Inclusion - Gender/Disability/HivAIDS
What does SPSN do and who does it work with?
Examples of the work SPSN does
Key National Partners - TIPNG
Women’s Networks
Ward/LLG/District planning Madang
Peace Building
Geographic spread – 243 grants
Types of Training Provided
Gender by training type
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Finance
Training
FSV
GESI Training
IBGA
Training
Female
91
371
812
322
57
Male
88
642
2115
562
55
M&E
(and/or
Database)
Training
MCH
146
169
255
219
JOA Training KPP Training
Others
Peace
Building
training
Provincial
Grants
Training
Training
Providers
Training
Ward
Developmen
t Committee
Training
51
2736
22
183
58
359
8
4714
65
590
145
871
Trainees by Organization
Lessons and Challenges
• Very high services delivery uptake by small
communities
• Partnership b/t communities & govt remains
oriented towards services delivery
(advocacy??)
• As a consequence, Training also remains
oriented around project management, org
development & services delivery
Lessons Cont’d
• Demand for democratic governance and
accountability type training remains low –
impact of patronage type leadership???
• Dialogue and active CS engagement in govt
decision making - sharing of political and
administrative space - likely to cause
discomfort and strained relations
• Risks are simply too high while incentives are
too limited
Lessons and Challenges
• Democratic Governance is also a new concept
and needs extensive civic education for increased
uptake and an enabling environment.
• However, trend of leadership and governance
practice in PNG is pointing to the continued
relevance of DG principles and practices across
society – but how should this be done???
• Anchoring such programs within govt structures
& systems – more then policy alignment