THE Child Nutrition and Social Protection (CNSP) Project Component Management Unit 2 (CMU 2) under the Department for Community Development and Religion signed a partnership contract with Save the Children yesterday.
The contract signing ceremony was witnessed by the Department’s Secretary, Mr. Jerry Ubase, CMU 2 team members, senior managers of the department, and Save the Children Country Director, Ms. Lisa Piper and her team.
CMU 2 Manager, Mr. Joseph Klapat, thanked Secretary Ubase and Deputy Ms. Karen Haive for their leadership in driving the rollout of this nutrition-sensitive project.
“It has taken extensive negotiations, but we are finally here to sign this agreement and formalize our partnership with a key organization that will help us move this project forward. We are very pleased to work with Save the Children,” said Mr. Klapat.
“Last year, we registered 1,760 beneficiaries (pregnant mothers and children under 2 years) across 11 wards in the four pilot provinces – East New Britain, Madang, Simbu, and Western, where a total of K115,530 in Child Nutrition Grant payments were disbursed.
“With this signing, we now look forward to expanding the scope of the project to new provinces and districts,” Mr Klapat said.
Mr. Ubase commended Mr. Klapat and his team for their commitment to supporting children and mothers through the Child Grant initiative and also thanked Save the Children’s Country Director, Ms. Lisa Piper, and her team for finalizing the partnership.
“Child malnutrition remained a challenge in PNG since independence, and the government has struggled to address it.
“With the National Social Protection Policy 2022-2030 now endorsed by the National Executive Council and set to be launched this month, we have a strategic framework to reduce stunting and improve the lives of marginalized and vulnerable people.
“With Save the Children on board, I believe the scope of the partnership would help expand the CNSP project’s impact in reducing child stunting in PNG,” Ubase said.
Ms. Piper thanked the CMU 2 Project team and the Secretary for the partnership, expressing her commitment to supporting efforts to reduce child malnutrition and stunting in the country.
