Government officials and stakeholders from across Papua New Guinea gathered in early March for specialised training aimed at strengthening the nation's disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
The five-day workshop, held from 3-7 March at the Holiday Inn in Port Moresby, brought together 21 participants to learn advanced data collection and geographical mapping techniques essential for disaster risk management.
These essential skills enable evidence-based decision-making and more effective resource allocation during disasters, which is critical for a nation frequently affected by earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and severe weather events.
The training is part of the Second phase of the Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP II) project, which is funded by the European Union (EU) in collaboration with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
The sessions focused on equipping participants with skills in KoBo Toolbox—a digital platform for field data collection—and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for hazard and exposure mapping.
"The knowledge acquired from the training is not just tools but a catalyst for positive change," said Mr Jerry Ubase, Secretary of the Department of Community Development, during the opening ceremony.
The workshop drew a diverse group of participants, including 11 women and 10 men, with one participant with visual impairment. Representatives travelled from as far as Manus and West New Britain provinces to attend, highlighting the nationwide interest in improving disaster data management.
Participating agencies included the Department for Community Development, National Disaster Centre, Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory, and the Department of Information, Communication and Technology.
H.E. Jacques Fradin, the EU Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, emphasised that "GIS training is about awareness, information sharing and participation." He reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting disaster risk information efforts throughout the country.
Hotoravu Alenge, the SPC Geoscience, Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division’s Senior Technical Officer, Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change who helped facilitate the training, highlighted "the value of having access to good geo-data to support decision-making and for designing community-outreach programmes."
Participants received hands-on experience creating user accounts on KoBo Toolbox, accessing and deploying data collection templates, and incorporating field data into GIS platforms. The workshop also provided a valuable forum for government departments and stakeholders to share best practices in data collection and analysis.
Mr Laso Mana, Acting Director of the National Disaster Centre, encouraged participants "to take the learning and put them into practice in their respective areas." He extended gratitude to the EU and SPC for making the training possible.
All 21 participants received certificates of participation at the conclusion of the workshop, contributing to Papua New Guinea's efforts to enhance disaster resilience through improved data management and geographical analysis.
The project continues to support Pacific Island nations in strengthening their capacity to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, an increasingly critical need in the face of climate change challenges.
The BSRP II project is implemented in 14 Pacific Island countries, which include: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Timor-Leste.
For more information:
Jone Tuiipelehaki Raqauqau, Communications and Knowledge Management Adviser, SPC Geoscience, Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division, E: [email protected]
