PROJECT OFFICE
P O BOX 279
WAIGANI, PNG
TEL: (675)323 0180/323 5643
Project Planning in Simbu
WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SCHEME?
The Community Development Scheme (CDS) started in 1999. By providing grants it supports the growth and development of the NGO sector in PNG as well as the work of individual organisations. Grants are given for community development activity as well as for the organisational development of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and Church Groups.
The funds to support the scheme currently come from the Australian Government through AusAID. The second phase of CDS began in July 2002 and will end in June 2007.
The CDS’s main office is in Port Moresby. There are four Regional Offices. Within the regions there are a total of 28 Core Groups and over 150 Field Workers. Core Groups are made up locally of people from all sectors interested in and committed to the development of the community. They work as volunteers but each Core Group receives small support grants every quarter from the CDS. Some Core Groups have applied for official registration as associations. Field Workers are paid allowances for their work and are supported continuously by the CDS with field based training and supervision. The long-term plan is for the work of the CDS to evolve and be sustained by the Core Groups, Field Workers and other NGOs independent of AusAID funding.
It is expected that Core Groups and, through them, the Church Groups, NGOs and CBOs receiving grants from the CDS, will gain the capacity to support themselves, and to source additional funds from other donors. In this way the institutions of civil society in PNG will have gained strength to continue to promote service provision and to advocate for the community development needs of people across the country.
The work of the CDS is divided into three programs. The first is a simple scheme providing grants to support organisational development and community based development initiatives – Small Grant Program . Organisations that apply are assessed on their eligibility, experience and capability.
The second program is directed at promoting the capacities of organisations within the ‘sector’; the NGO Strengthening Program. Grants are provided for organisational development and core funding as well as program support. Eligibility is determined through a rigorous assessment process. Grants may be multi-year.
The third program is a partnership scheme – the Specialised Partners Program. In this program the CDS supports NGOs and their networks that have their own well developed programs of community based activity, networking and advocacy.
Specialist
NGOs and CBOs funded by CDS often require short-term specialised inputs in areas such as literacy, health, infrastructure, water supply, small business skills, project management, mediation and community development. CDS maintains a database of specialists which it shares with groups looking for technical advice. If you are qualified you can register on the CDS Specialist database. Registering with CDS does not guarantee employment.