Empowering Papua New Guinean Infrastructure Stakeholders with Enhanced Project Management Skills

Wewak, Papua New Guinea – In a move to bolster Papua New Guinea's transport infrastructure development sector, the International Labour Organization (ILO) organised a comprehensive capacity-building training on Project Scheduling and Resource Planning for a diverse assembly of key stakeholders, including transport infrastructure contractors and government officers closely involved in road construction. 

This training was part of a broader ILO initiative, under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, to improve the quality and efficiency of transport infrastructure works in the country. 

With infrastructure development playing a pivotal role in Papua New Guinea's economic growth and connectivity, the capacity-development workshop, which was held in Wewak, aimed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to use Primavera and Microsoft Project to effective scheduling and project planning for transport infrastructure projects. 

The training covered topics such as project lifecycle, planning, time management, work breakdown structure, resource allocation, project structure, organisation breakdown structure, cost management, risk management, monitoring and control, and reporting.

It was attended by 20 participants from government agencies, private contractors, and development partners. The participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to learn about Primavera and Microsoft Project, and they said that the skills they acquired would be valuable in their work.

“This is the first time for me to attend such training. It is worthwhile to attend this one-week training. For most of us, we are used to projecting the project upon the board roughly, not using software or programs such as MS Project and Primavera. This training was an eye-opener for us. I believe that in our next couple of projects, we should use these applications to draw our project schedule to make sure that we manage our projects within time and budget,” said Mr Sani Sani, the Project Engineer from Sani Construction Limited, who attended the training. 

Key Takeaways from the Training:

• Enhanced Project Efficiency: Participants gained proficiency in using Primavera and Microsoft Project to meticulously chart project timelines, optimize resource allocation, and streamline workflow processes. This newfound expertise promises to significantly enhance project efficiency.
• Improved Decision-Making: The training delved deep into data-driven decision-making by harnessing these software tools. This will enable stakeholders to make informed choices that ensure project success.
• Timely Project Delivery: Equipped with advanced scheduling techniques, attendees are now better prepared to adhere to project timelines, fostering timely delivery of infrastructure projects.
• Resource Optimization: Participants discovered how to make the most of available resources, both in terms of manpower and materials, contributing to cost-effectiveness.
• Fostering Collaboration: The event emphasized the importance of effective communication and collaboration between contractors and government officers. These software tools facilitate seamless information sharing.

The ILO, under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, is committed to supporting the development of skills and capacities in the transport infrastructure sector in Papua New Guinea.

The EU-STREIT PNG Programme, being implemented as a UN Joint Programme (FAO as the leading agency, and ILO, ITU, UNCDF and UNDP as partners), is the largest grant-funded Programme of the European Union in the country and the Pacific region. The Programme aims to help improve the lives of the people from East and West Sepik provinces, by focusing on increasing sustainable and inclusive economic development of rural areas through improved economic returns and opportunities from cocoa, vanilla and fishery value chains while strengthening and improving the efficiency of value chain enablers, including the business environment, improved access to ICT services and supporting sustainable, climate-resilient transport and energy infrastructure.