The Department for Community Development and Religion (DFCDR) has signed a Functional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gazelle District Administration to operationalise the District Community Development Centre (DCDC).
The MoU was signed by DFCDR Secretary Mr. Jerry Ubase and District Administrator Mr. Hubert Wangun during the Child Nutrition and Social Protection (CNSP) Project Component Management Unit 2 (CMU 2) 2026 Plenary Workshop in Port Moresby.
The agreement provides a formal framework for implementing the Policy on Integrated Community Development and other national policies and programmes through the DCDC at the district level.
Secretary Ubase said the MoU paves the way for stronger collaboration between the national department and the district, ensuring that national policies and programmes are translated into practical actions that directly benefit communities.
“This MoU allows us to work together in partnership so that national policies and programmes are properly understood, planned, and implemented at the district and ward levels,” Mr. Ubase said.
“As a national department, our reach ends at the provincial and district levels. From there, it is the responsibility of the district to take ownership. This agreement now enables us to support capacity building, planning, and effective implementation at the local level,” he said.
Mr. Ubase also highlighted that the MoU establishes referral pathways, allowing the district to access support from other government agencies where programmes fall outside DFCDR’s mandate.
He added that Gazelle is one of the participating districts under the CNSP Project, and that Component 2 will utilise the DCDC office complex to roll out the project.
Gazelle District Administrator Mr. Hubert Wangun thanked Secretary Ubase for his foresight in implementing the DCDC project in the district.
“This is one of the first DCDC projects implemented in the country, and we are privileged to have it in Gazelle,” Mr. Wangun said.
The MoU signing was witnessed by participants of the CNSP CMU 2 Plenary Workshop last week.