PARTNERSHIP AT LOCAL LEVEL CAN TRANSFORM SERVICE DELIVERY IN RURAL AREAS
BY BRADLEY MARIORI in Lae.
IN Papua New Guinea, development discussions often focus on towns and major urban centres. Yet many of the foundations for real progress already exist in rural communities.
What is needed is intelligent and honest leadership that recognizes these foundations and builds upon them through practical partnerships.
Across the country, churches own and manage significant infrastructure. They operate schools, aid posts, mission stations and guest houses that have served communities for generations.
These institutions are trusted, stable and deeply rooted in local life. Rather than treating them as separate from government systems, a forward-thinking leader would see them as natural partners in strengthening service delivery at the Local Level Government stage.
A clear example of this opportunity can be found in Leron Wantuat Local Level Government area in Markham District, Morobe Province.
Within this area, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Wantuat has established church land portions, schools and guest houses that continue to function as important community assets.
Alongside these, there are government land portions where run-down buildings once established under associations and cooperative societies now sit idle.
This situation presents a powerful development opportunity.
On one side, church land holds active and trusted infrastructure. On the other, government land contains structures that can be revived and modernized.
A smart and honest leader would coordinate development across both land portions and establish an integrated local government station.
Such a station could gradually introduce essential services including policing, small-scale banking or Automated Teller Machines, improved telecommunications, health services and administrative offices.
When services operate in a coordinated hub, rural communities gain direct access to what they need without travelling long distances.
This approach would strengthen the local economy.
Farmers and small business operators could transact locally. Public servants would have greater reason to remain stationed in rural areas if security, communication and essential services are available. Youth would see opportunity at home rather than feeling compelled to migrate.
Reducing unnecessary movement to cities is critical. When rural services decline, urban centres become overcrowded and overstretched. By contrast, when services are strengthened at the local level, development becomes balanced.
Communities remain stable and productive, and cities become easier to manage.
Partnership with churches does not weaken government authority. It enhances efficiency. Churches bring land security and community trust. Government brings policy direction and public resources.
Together, they can deliver practical, measurable results.
Leron Wantuat demonstrates that the physical foundation for such cooperation already exists. What remains is leadership that is intelligent enough to recognize opportunity and honest enough to work collaboratively.
Real development begins where people live, not where attention is most visible.
