Fifteen individuals from Daru in the South Fly District, Western Province, have completed a week-long training on the Child Nutrition and Social Protection (CNSP) Project.
The participants, made up of three representatives from each of the five council wards in Daru Urban, were trained in beneficiary registration, the Management Information System (MIS), and other skills vital for project implementation.
Following the training from 5 – 8 May, all 15 trainees signed employment contracts with Project Component Management Unit Two (CMU 2) under the Department for Community Development and Religion.
They will now serve in their respective wards as Community Development Workers (CDWs), tasked with identifying and registering project beneficiaries and conducting community awareness on the CNSP Project.
During phase one of the project, around 1,800 pregnant mothers and children under the age of two were registered across 11 wards in the four pilot provinces. Over K250,000 in grants was disbursed.
Led by CMU2 Manager Mr. Joseph Klapat, the project is now expanding into the South Fly District as part of its second phase rollout.
Mr. Klapat thanked the Provincial and District Administrations for supporting the project’s implementation in both North and South Fly Districts.
“We completed phase one in the four pilot provinces: Simbu, Madang, East New Britain, and Western.
“In phase two, we’ll expand to more Districts, LLGs, and Wards, including new provinces,” Klapat said.
He added that the project aims to register 60,000 beneficiaries, with CDWs playing a critical role in achieving this target.
South Fly Youth Council President, Donald Lance Kila, said the training was simple and easy to follow.
He believes that the project would support young people, especially those facing challenges like early pregnancy in Daru.
“I feel privileged to be part of this nutrition project and look forward to the challenges ahead,” said Kila.
Jenny Iakoe from Texas Ward 5 also acknowledged the initiative of the government, where key government departments are working in collaboration to implement the nutrition-sensitive project.
“This is a new concept; for many, even using tablets is a first. I’m excited to be part of the implementation team,” she said.
The trained CDWs will be doing a field test on Friday and will continue to register beneficiaries.
Next week Tuesday, the three implementing agencies, the Department of Health, the Department of Justice and Attorney General, and the Department for Community Development and Religion, will meet with the Provincial Administration for the Provincial Project Coordination Committee Meeting after the Project Launching on Monday.