Strengthening Civil Society Across Papua New Guinea

The Bougainville Youth Federation (BYF) was grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Strengthening PNG CSOs Project training, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union (EU).

Representing BYF at the training were BYF Chairman Mr Michael Dave and Secretariat representative Ms Lorraine Rowaro, who took part in the capacity-building sessions and gained valuable knowledge and skills to further strengthen BYF’s organizational development and governance.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a vital role in improving the lives of communities across Papua New Guinea. From delivering essential services and promoting peace to strengthening communities and building resilience, CSOs are an important part of creating positive and sustainable change.

To help strengthen the capacity of CSOs across the country, UNDP brought together representatives from 30 civil society organizations from across PNG for two weeks of capacity-building training. The first training, held from 3–7 August 2026, focused on managerial capacities and governance of CSOs, while the second, held from 10–14 August 2026, focused on CSO advocacy, coordination and collaboration.

Through practical and interactive sessions, participants conducted organizational capacity assessments and developed tailored action plans to strengthen their organizations. The training also strengthened skills in resource mobilization, advocacy, organizational management, coordination, networking and partnership building.

For BYF, the training provided an important opportunity to reflect on its organizational capacity and identify areas for continued improvement. The knowledge gained by Mr Dave and Ms Rowaro will contribute to strengthening BYF’s governance, systems and partnerships, ultimately supporting the Federation’s work to represent and empower young people across Bougainville.

The learning does not stop with the participants. Through the Training of Trainers (ToT) approach, participants are equipped to share the knowledge and skills gained with their colleagues, partners and wider networks in their respective regions. This will help extend the impact of the training and contribute to building stronger and more capable civil society organizations across PNG.

BYF extends its sincere appreciation to UNDP and the European Union for providing this valuable opportunity and for their continued investment in strengthening civil society organizations across Papua New Guinea.

Together, we can build a stronger, more connected and sustainable civil society sector across PNG.

Bougainville CSOs BYF and BWF representatives that attended the TOT workshop