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Understanding PNG Culture
April 2008
Papua New Guinea is a country of many languages and therefore many cultures. It is a unique and exciting country. It is helpful for those that are new to PNG to have an introduction to the culture and context. Diwai Pacific was invited to do just that for Ramu Nico Management’s Chinese staff. The introduction to PNG culture was facilitated by Dr. Patrick Gesch, Head of the Arts Department, Divine Word University.
Advanced Accounting Training
April 2008
Diwai Pacific organised a five-day training workshop in ‘Advanced Accounting’ for the Catholic Bishop's Conference, under the Church Institution Strengthening Program (CISP- AusAID funded). The training workshop was a follow up to ‘Basic Bookkeeping and Accounting’ training held in 2007. Training facilitators were drawn from the Divine Word University Faculty of Business and Management.
Donor Funds Management
March 2008
Diwai Pacific organised a training program for donor funds management for the Catholic Health Services under the Church Institution Strengthening Program (CISP- AusAID funded). The aim of the five-day training was to provide the 17 participants with an appropriate understanding of “sourcing and managing donor funds” for development and service delivery. The training was successful in this objective.
Diwai Pacific works with Divine Word University for Teacher Training in Nauru
June 2007 to June 2008
Divine Word University (DWU) and Diwai Pacific continue in the delivery of a Diploma in School Management and Leadership (DSML) program being offered to the Republic of Nauru. The third residential semester of the DSML will take place in April and the fourth semester in June. Twenty four Nauruans from the education sector are enrolled. Lecturers from DWU, Dr. Mark Solon and Dr. Julienne Kaman, are delivering the units. Subsequent programs planned for delivery include a Bachelor of Education, a teacher upgrade program, and eventually Masters and PhD programs.
National Research Institute: Research into the Effectiveness of In-service and Capacity Building
January 2008
Diwai Pacific was successful in a tender to undertake research into the “effectiveness of in-service and capacity building in relation to mastery and application of skills” offered by the PNG National Research Institute. The research is being conducted by Dr. Cecilia Nembou, Vice President of DWU. The research is expected to take approximately 3 months followed by presentation of the findings.

Project Completion Report (PCR) for Employment Oriented Skills Development Project

January 2008
Diwai Pacific has been identified by the PNG Department of Community Development to undertake a project completion report (PCR) for the ADB-funded Employment Oriented Skills Development Project (EOSDP). The main objective of the activity is to assess the implementation of the EOSDP and learn how future implementation of projects can be improved. The activity is being undertaken by Ms. Julie Bengi, Project Coordinator for the Divine Word University (DWU) Department of Development and Self Reliance, and Rev. Dr. Jose Orathinkal, Senior Lecturer, DWU Faculty of Health Sciences.
Donor Funds Management Workshop
December 2007
Diwai Pacific partnered with Pacific Islands Project to deliver Donor Funds Management workshop to the Catholic Bishops Conference under the Church Institutional Strengthening Program (CISP) supported by AusAID. The five day workshop held in Port Moresby was designed to improve the skills and knowledge of finance managers and officers of the dioceses, national commissions and agencies of the Church. There were a total of 29 participants. Similar training will be held again in March 2008 for the Catholic Health Services.

Advanced Communication Training
November 2007
Diwai Pacific and the Divine Word University (DWU) Department of Communication Arts organised a training program aimed at equipping participants with skills in communication, specifically:


•   Writing effectively and powerfully
•   Promoting an organisation
•   Strategic planning
•   Action planning
•   Developing a financing strategy
•   Writing a funding proposal
•   Monitoring and evaluation
•   Writing a media release


This is the second such training Diwai and the Communication Arts Department have delivered.
Corporate Governance Training
November 2007
Diwai Pacific organised a training program in corporate governance and finance. The 23 participants were representatives of six local land owner companies in the mining permit area of the Ramu Nico mining project and representatives of the umbrella companies associated with the project. The aim of the one week workshop was to provide the current directors, aspiring directors and those involved in strategic decision making with a better understanding of the general principles of Corporate Governance; the roles and functions of the Board of Directors, the working procedures of the Board; Corporate governance issues that affect the company’s long term planning; and understanding financial information. Diwai was pleased to participate in this training to empower landowners to manage the mining development and their businesses in the best interest of their communities.
Diwai Pacific continues cooperation with Pathfinder International
2007
Pathfinder International, an NGO with the mission of ensuring that women and couples have the fundamental human right to manage their fertility, first began activities in Papua New Guinea in 2006. Diwai Pacific has been with Pathfinder since their entrance to PNG assisting with financial management and oversight and legal compliance. Pathfinder is now looking at expanding activities from Madang Province to other provinces in the country.
Diwai Pacific partners with CCI for PNG Upper Secondary Curriculum & Assessment Design
September 2007
Diwai Pacific has partnered with the Curriculum Corporation International (CCI) to implement the ECBP sponsored Curriculum and Assessment Design Project for Grades 11 and 12. The PNG Department of Education Curriculum Development Division in cooperation with consultants from PNG and Australia will work together to design the curriculum. The first workshop for the project occurs in September and the second is scheduled for October. The grade 11 and 12 curriculum will be introduced to PNG schools in 2010.
Congratulations to the PNG Squash Team on their Gold at SPG
September 2007
Diwai Pacific is a proud sponsor of the PNG Squash Racquets Federation (PNGSRF) who are participating in the 2007 South Pacific Games (SPG) being held in Samoa.  Diwai Pacific Congratulates the PNG Squash Team on their Gold Medals:
•  Gold Women’s Team Event; and
•  Gold Women’s Singles Event.

Congratulations PNG Squash Team on your Achievement!

Diwai Pacific and DWU organise Sustainable Development Forum
August 2007
Diwai Pacific and Divine Word University (DWU) organised an important international forum in August aimed at addressing sustainability, particularly in the extractive industry. The forum, "PNG’s Prospects for Sustainable Development", came at a time when PNG was seeing an influx of both national and international companies wishing to source its natural resources such as timber, marine life and mineral deposits like gold, nickel and gas.

The forum was held to (1) To Learn from our Past (2) Understand the impact of extraction activities and (3) Raise Awareness and develop effective strategies of Sustainable Development. Participants developed specific Forum Resolutions that will be further refined in September and later presented by DWU to government and published in the forum publication scheduled for release in February/March 2008.

Diwai Pacific works with Divine Word University for Teacher Training in Nauru
June 2007
Divine Word University (DWU) was invited by the Republic of Nauru to offer education programs at the Diploma, Bachelor, Masters, and PhD level. DWU has partnered with Diwai Pacific for the implementation of this important initiative. The first program being delivered is the Diploma in School Management and Leadership (DSML) with the 1st semester occurring in June of this year and the 2nd semester planned for September. Thirty Nauruans from the education sector are enrolled. Subsequent programs planned for delivery include a Bachelor of Education, a teacher upgrade program, and eventually a Masters and PhD program.
PNG Independent Monitoring Review Group
May 2007
Diwai Pacific participated in the PNG Department of Health Independent Monitoring Review Group (IMRG) through the provision of a public health administration specialist from Divine Word University’s Faculty of Health Sciences. The IMRG Team focused on HSIP (Health Services Improvement Program) performance at the provincial level and below. Interviews were conducted at the national level (NDOH, central agencies, developing partners). The IMRG Team also travelled to four provinces (Madang, Morobe, Western and Milne Provinces) to meet with staff at the provincial health offices, provincial hospitals, and provincial administrations, provincial AIDS councils, and visited district and health facilities in the public and faith-based sectors. The medical supplies distribution was assessed at all levels. A final report completed the review process.
Diwai Pacific organises an important short course
May 2007
A five day training on Advanced Communication Skills was coordinated by Diwai Pacific.
Training design and lead facilitation was provided by Ms. Amanda Watson and cofacilitated
by Ms. Joys Eggins, both from the Department of Communication Arts,
Faculty of Arts of Divine Word University. A total of 14 participants sponsored by
various NGOs around the country participated in this week long course, including a
government official from the Madang Provincial Government.

Diwai Pacific organises short courses
March 2007
In March Diwai Pacific implemented three training programs:

  • A two day workshop on Good Governance for the PNG Lutheran Health Services Board. The training was designed by Br. Patrick Howley, a Lecturer with the Divine Word University Faculty of Flexible Learning and a recognized leader in the area of conflict resolution, mediation, and restorative justice.
  • Five day Introduction to Computing for the Catholic Health Secretariat. The training materials were designed by Ms. Iwona Kolodziejczyk, Lecturer in the Divine Word University Information Technology Services Department, and co-facilitation was provided by Ms. Thadreina Abady, also from the Information Technology Services Department.
  • Five day training in Basic Bookkeeping and Accounting. Course design and lead facilitation was provided by Jun Pasilabban and co-facilitators came from three other lecturers, all from the Divine Word University Faculty of Business & Management and experts in bookkeeping and accounting.
Launch of the Media for Development Initiative State of Media Report
March 2007
Diwai Pacific managed the State of Media Report (SOMR) Project under the AusAID funded Media for Development Initiative (MDI). The project involved collection of media broadcasts and publications from across PNG over a 3 week period and analysis of the findings. This was the first and largest study of this nature in PNG. The findings will be launched in Port Moresby on 12 April. Michael McManus, Head of the Divine Word University Communication Arts Department and writer of the final project report, will present the findings of the study at the launch. The SOMR provides important baseline data to guide MDI in its future initiatives.
Diwai Pacific supports the PNG Squash Team to the 2007 South Pacific Games
March 2007
Excitement and anticipation is building as PNG Squash Racquets Federation (PNGSRF) embarks on the journey to the 2007 South Pacific Games (SPG). Diwai Pacific, the project management and consulting arm of Divine Word University, Steel Industries, a producer and manufacturer of steel products in PNG, and TNT Air Cargo are the first to rally behind the PNG Squash Team to the South Pacific Games 2007. Steel Industries, TNT, and Diwai Pacific are the first of the twelve sponsors needed and have recognized the value of participating in SPG 2007.

The South Pacific Games, to be held in Apia, Samoa, is the premiere sporting event of the South Pacific. PNG squash has earned gold in all events since 2000 and PNG squash will again be the team to beat of all the Pacific countries. Diwai Pacific is proud to be a sponsor of the PNGSRF and wishes them much success in the upcoming games.

A new General Manager for Diwai Pacific

January 2007
The start of the new year has also brought a new face to Diwai. Mr. Vai Reva has joined the company in the position of General Manager. Mr. Reva has extensive experience in both the public and private sector. His past experience has included being the Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Manager for British American Tobacco, Managing Director and Chief Executive for the Investment Corporation of Papua New Guinea, Alternate Executive Director for the Asian Development Bank, Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Rural Development Bank of PNG, and Director of the PNG National Planning Office. He is a Director with the Bank of South Pacific while also holding several other Chairman and Director positions. Vai will further enhance the services and activities in which Diwai is involved. We are glad to have him as a part of the Team.

Diwai Pacific participates in Media for Development Initiative

January 2007
Diwai Pacific was identified by the PNG Media Council to undertake a State of Media Report Project under the AusAID funded Media for Development Initiative (MDI). The aim of MDI is to promote development and good governance by giving voice, increasing access, and improving media content. There were two outputs of the project: (1) research into the state of media in PNG and a resulting report and (2) design and input into a CSO (Community Service Organization) and media organization database. The project will conclude in mid January 2007. The project team was comprised of Divine Word University staff, students and alumni. The SOMR will help guide future activities of MDI.

Teacher Training Program for PNG National Department of Education

January 2007
Diwai Pacific partnered with Divine Word University (DWU) to provide a qualification upgrade program for untrained teachers in the PNG education system. A shortage of trained teachers forced schools to seek teachers that had qualifications in areas other than teaching. The one year teacher upgrade program will conclude in January 2007. The goal of the Department of Education was to qualify 100 teachers. Diwai and DWU were able to enrol 150 teachers and expect approximately 130 to graduate in February 2007 and about 10 more to graduate in February 2008.

Diwai Pacific assists Pathfinder International

January 2007
Diwai Pacific has renewed its contract with Pathfinder International. Pathfinder is a US based NGO working around the world in sexual and reproductive health. In late 2006, a Pathfinder representative visited the Madang, PNG project, which is just getting off the ground. Pathfinder will provide training and education services to communities in the Madang area. Diwai is providing financial management and oversight.