By ORCHY REX
SP Brewery has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance (SILAG) and the Department for Community Development and Religion to roll out a gender-based violence (GBV) training program.
The training program aims to strengthen public sector capacity and drive behavioral change across Papua New Guinea.
A signing ceremony took place at the SILAG campus, bringing together key stakeholders to formalize a partnership that focuses on leadership training, monitoring, evaluation, and community engagement to address GBV in the country.
Speaking at the event, SP Brewery Managing Director Ed Weggemans said the partnership marks a significant milestone for the company’s social responsibility programs.
“As we approach PNG’s milestone 50th Independence Celebrations, SP Brewery is genuinely concerned with the impact of violence on Papua New Guinean society,” Mr. Weggemans said.
“We believe by taking an explicit stand against violence through this MoU partnership, SPB is demonstrating leadership by raising awareness and advocating for behavioral change in PNG through our brand and partnerships.”
Mr. Weggemans highlighted that SP Brewery would utilize its iconic SP Lager brand as a platform to speak out against violence and support government initiatives through targeted training programs. He added that the company is proud to build on its long-standing relationship with SILAG, which has already trained more than 200 public servants in leadership and governance since 2017.
SILAG Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Barobe said the agreement reflects a collective commitment to building a competent and ethical public service workforce while addressing GBV at the same time.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank the GBV Secretariat, the Department of Community Development, and SP Brewery for recognizing SILAG as one of the premier public sector training providers in this country,” Mr Barobe said.
“We will work together to ensure that this problem of gender-based violence is also removed or erased from this country through the training program.”
Mr Barobe commended SP Brewery’s continuous support, noting that the company had already invested about K1.7 million in leadership training for public servants since the partnership began seven years ago.
He said the new initiative built on that success and would provide tangible solutions to a long-standing social issue.
Department Secretary Jerry Ubase described the MoU as an important step in fulfilling the National GBV Strategy 2016–2025.
“This MoU is significant as it represents our shared interest in bringing visibility and anti-violence campaigns in PNG,” Mr Ubase said.
“It enables an opportunity to explore and develop potential leadership training for public servants in middle management and above, to be equipped with essential knowledge and skills related to addressing GBV effectively.”
He added that the government was committed to working with corporate and civil society partners to remove barriers and strengthen interventions at both national and provincial levels. He urged all stakeholders, including CSOs and GBV experts, to support the initiative.
The partnership will see the three organizations develop a comprehensive GBV training program tailored to national policies, with a strong focus on prevention, awareness, and capacity building across the public service.