The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Enga Provincial Government and Sakarip Ward stakeholders, has taken another important step towards developing what is expected to be the first pilot Ward Development Plan in Enga Province.
The process began with a Ward Development Validation Workshop held on 20 August 2026 for Sakarip Ward 12, Mai LLG, Wabag District, bringing together community leaders, women, youth, church representatives, persons with disabilities, government officials and members of the Langap tribe.
The workshop provided an opportunity for community members and government representatives to review, verify and validate information gathered during a community needs assessment conducted earlier this year. Participants discussed the ward’s key development priorities, challenges, risks and opportunities to ensure that the final Ward Development Plan accurately reflects the needs and aspirations of the wider Sakarip community.
Speaking during the workshop, Enga LLG Director Mr. Jorrie Tandapi commended the collaborative approach and expressed the Provincial Government’s commitment to supporting the process and implementation of the pilot Ward Development Plan. The initiative is intended to strengthen coordination between communities and government and provide a practical framework for identifying and addressing development priorities at ward level.
Sakarip Ward Councillor Cr. Psalmson Tembeno also thanked IOM and its partners for engaging with the community, highlighting the importance of giving local people an opportunity to actively participate in planning and shaping the future development of their ward.
Following the validation workshop, IOM and its partners conducted a Community Facilitators Training from 21–22 August 2026. The training equipped selected members of the Sakarip community with knowledge and practical skills to support the next phase of the ward development planning process.
The trained community facilitators will support the Community Intensive Training scheduled for 24–28 August 2026 in Sakarip Village, Wabag District. The week-long process will involve further community engagement, data collection, community assessment and ward profiling, while gathering additional information required for the preparation of the Sakarip Ward Development Plan.
The approach is designed to ensure that the Ward Development Plan is not developed solely by external actors, but is informed by the knowledge, priorities and experiences of the people who live in the ward.
At the closing of the validation workshop and Community Facilitators Training, Mrs. Dorothy Kisau Kukum, Senior Provincial Monitoring Officer – Enga, Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs (DPLGA), thanked IOM for taking the initiative to support the first pilot Ward Development Plan in Enga Province and for involving relevant government divisions throughout the process.
She further acknowledged the importance of strengthening government and community participation and expressed her department’s commitment to supporting the process and learning from the Sakarip pilot, with the potential for similar ward development planning initiatives to be undertaken in other wards across the province.
In his closing remarks, Tony Tambi Jr., Senior Project Associate for IOM in Enga, thanked the Sakarip community, government representatives and facilitators for their active participation throughout the validation workshop and training. He encouraged community members to take ownership of the ward development planning process and emphasized that meaningful community participation will be essential to the success and sustainability of the initiative.
He also acknowledged the continued support of the Enga Provincial Government and expressed IOM’s commitment to working closely with the Provincial Government, Sakarip Ward and other stakeholders towards the successful completion of the pilot Ward Development Plan.
The Sakarip Ward Development Plan is expected to provide a community-led development roadmap that can support local planning, coordination, resource mobilization and future development interventions. Lessons from the pilot will also help inform discussions on how similar ward development planning approaches could be adapted and implemented in other parts of Enga Province.
The initiative reflects a shared commitment by IOM, the Enga Provincial Government and the Sakarip community to strengthen local ownership, inclusive participation, evidence-based planning and community-led development across Enga Province.