By DALCY LULUA
A partnership between the National Volunteer Service (NVS) and the Central Provincial Government (CPG) is set to strengthen service delivery across Central Province, particularly in remote communities.
The partnership, formalised through a K2.5 million Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed in April last year, was officially launched this week during a two-day sensitisation workshop held in Port Moresby.
The workshop, facilitated by NVS, is being attended by presidents from all sixteen (16) Local Level Governments (LLGs) in Central Province, along with key provincial administrators and stakeholders. It aims to familiarise LLG leaders with the functions and technical aspects of NVS volunteers, while also deepening understanding of the MoA, its objectives and intended outcomes.
Opening the workshop, Acting Executive Director of NVS, Mr Jerry Sonk David, urged participants to work closely with NVS to ensure improved and equitable service delivery for the people of Central Province.
Mr David said NVS is currently undergoing a reset and is focused on delivering outcomes aligned with the Strategic Priority Areas under the Medium-Term Development Plan 4 (MTDP 4).
“These include Strategic Economic Investment; Quality and Affordable Health Care; Quality Education and Skilled Human Capital; and Population, Youth and Women Empowerment,” Mr David said.
“This agreement with the Central Provincial Government aligns well with these priorities, and we look forward to working together to ensure essential services reach our people.”
He added that the MoA represents a strong partnership with the potential to significantly boost service delivery across the province.
Under the agreement, sixteen NVS volunteers from various professional sectors will be deployed across the province’s LLGs to support the delivery of essential government services, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
Deputy Governor of Central Province, Mr Desmond Baira, welcomed the partnership, saying it would help drive economic growth and boost revenue for the province.
“The NVS–CPG partnership will strengthen service delivery at the local level and support sustainable development outcomes for Central Province,” Mr Baira said.
The workshop is also being attended by Central Province Administrator Mr Bala Kapa, Deputy Provincial Administrator for Social Services Mr Philip Alu, divisional heads and LLG managers.
The two-day workshop is being held at Enchi Haus and will conclude on 19 February.
The National Volunteer Service is a state agency under the Ministry of Defence, responsible for recruiting, training and placing professional volunteers in remote communities across Papua New Guinea.