Building local expertise for sustainable infrastructure in Papua New Guinea

© ilo

© ilo

WEWAK (ILO News) – A total of 78 engineers and technical staff have completed specialized training courses aimed at strengthening rural infrastructure in Papua New Guinea, through a joint initiative by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT).

Delivered under the EU-STREIT PNG programme and guided by an implementation agreement between the ILO and PNG Unitech, the five-course series took place from January to March 2025 in East and West Sepik Provinces. The programme was led by Dr. Mirzi Betasolo, Head of the School of Civil Engineering at PNG Unitech.

The training sessions focused on employment-intensive infrastructure development and covered key technical areas including:

• PNG Road Transport Infrastructure Management System (RoTIMS), Annual Road Maintenance Plans (ARMP) and Provincial Road Transport Master Plans (PRTMP)
• Construction Supervision of Retaining Structures such as Gabion, Cement Masonry, Plum Concrete and RCC
• Material Testing and Laboratory Practices with an emphasis on Quality Assurance and Quality Control
• Procurement and Contract Management

© ilo

© ilo

Participants came from the Department of Works and Highways (DoWH), Provincial Works Divisions, the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM), district administrations and local contractors.

“This initiative exemplifies the power of academic and development partnerships in fostering local technical expertise,” said Dr. Betasolo. “The practical knowledge delivered will contribute directly to building more inclusive and resilient rural infrastructure.”

The ILO and PNG Unitech are committed to further collaboration in promoting employment-intensive approaches and practical engineering education to support sustainable infrastructure development in Papua New Guinea.

For more information, contact:
Rua Puka