Investments in human capital have been shown to improve employment rates and earnings and offer significant social rates of return. Australia is supporting PNG’s human capital development by investing in the country’s education system and leadership capability.
Education is a central component of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership. Australia recognises that a stable and prosperous Papua New Guinea, with a growing economy, is one of its highest foreign policy priorities. Australia has a mutual interest in PNG being able to take full advantage of its economic and human potential.
Portfolio Plan
The Australian High Commission’s Education and Leadership (E&L) Portfolio Plan 2018-2022 supports the PNG Government’s vision for all citizens to gain the skills and knowledge to take advantage of employment and leadership opportunities.
Australia’s investments are organised around three priority areas:
Outcome 1 – Foundations: more girls and boys in targeted provinces/schools have improved early grade literacy and numeracy
Outcome 2 – Skills and Productivity: more women and men gain appropriate skills in priority sectors
Outcome 3 – Leadership: more women and men are able to apply leadership skills and attributes towards the development of PNG
These priority areas are directly relevant to supporting the PNG Government to deliver against the Vision 2050 statement and priorities made under the Alotau Accord II. They are also aligned to the Medium Term Development Plan III 2018-2022, in particular key result areas: 3. Sustainable Social Development, 5. Improved Service Delivery and 6. Improved Governance.
Program for Improved Performance in Education (PAPE)
A key step in the partnership with the PNG Government is the design of a new, innovative program to replace some of the key functions of the existing Education Capacity Development Facility. The new Program for Improved Performance in Education (PAPE) Investment Concept sets out the strategic directions of Australia’s next phase of support to the education sector in Papua New Guinea, 2019-2022.
PAPE will play a vital role in providing strategic advice and delivering outcomes, in particular supporting the PNG Government to deliver on its own objectives. The Program will work in two ways:
- supporting targeted areas of the national education system to deliver better outcomes for students; and
- documenting new and existing successful models of good practice which can, over time, be embedded into the broader system. With a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, an in-depth understanding of the political economy and high quality action research, PAPE will identify system blockages and their solutions in line with PNG Government policies and plans.
Functions of PAPE
PAPE is expected to perform six functions:
- Sub-program management, mainly the Skills for Growth Program but also other smaller initiatives that may arise in response to Australian or PNG Government requirements. These will be designed in line with DFAT policies and guidelines.
- Grant management of a number of targeted grants (e.g. for district service delivery).
- Facilitation and enabling support to address system challenges. This could include a mix of long and short-term technical assistance at national and subnational levels, along with a small budget to facilitate activities such as those related to the PNG Government’s leadership role in donor coordination, roundtables between stakeholders, and inter-provincial study tours.
- Design of new educational activities as required over the four-year life of the program.
- Evidence gathering, research and analysis, including a) the collection, analysis and dissemination of evidence of effective approaches from across the Portfolio Plan, and b) action research and analysis in areas of sectoral need to inform PNG education authorities and DFAT. This would include linking closely with Papua New Guinean researchers in the sector and relevant Australian and international institutions.
- High quality policy advice which draws on experience in all of the five functional areas listed above. PAPE will provide well-informed policy advice on the state and needs of the education sector, emerging issues and opportunities available for Australia to add value.
Attachment
Note
This information is provided for planning purposes only and it does not represent solicitation or constitute a request for proposal, nor is it a commitment to purchase or tender for any described services. The scale, scope and focus of any proposed program may change at any time and is subject to formal approval by the Australian and PNG Governments before any procurement process will commence. Should a procurement be approved, it is expected to commence in the second half of 2019. This information is subject to delays, revision or cancellations.
