The Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) and the Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance (SILAG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost leadership and management training for public servants across Papua New Guinea.
The agreement, signed today aims to address gaps in technical and leadership skills among the department’s ageing workforce and prepare a new generation of competent officers.
Secretary for the Department of Works Gibson Holemba, said training is one of their top priorities and stressed that without developing the next line of leaders, the department will fail the people.
“This MoU will help us build the right attitude and capacity to serve,” Holemba said.
SILAG CEO Michael Barobe described the partnership as timely and critical for public sector reform.
Barobe also acknowledged the receipt of a cheque of K100,100 from DoWH to SILAG and stated that the funds would be made good use of.
He emphasized that SILAG is a service-oriented organization and plans to utilize the money to support their training and organizational initiatives.
“We want to ensure that all appointments in the public service come through a systematic training process. SILAG is here to build a workforce that puts service over self,” Barobe said.
The MoU will see more Works officers, especially engineers, enrolled in executive leadership and management courses.
DoWH is also partnering with UNITEC to offer online engineering and MBA programs to support its technical staff.
The two agencies said the partnership shows a shared commitment to deliver better roads, bridges and infrastructure nationwide under the Connect PNG program.
