Youth Competition Finalists Announced

Contacts:
In PNG:
Oala Oala-Rarua ,  World Bank
Phone: 321 7111

In Sydney:
Elisabeth Mealey, World Bank
emealey@worldbank.org

Port Moresby, February 27, 2006 – Twenty-four youth and community groups from all around PNG have been named as finalists in the Papua New Guinea Tingim Yut Kompetisen.

The country manager of the World Bank in PNG, Dr Benson Ateng announced the finalists at a press conference in Port Moresby today.

The finalist groups – who must now develop and submit a more detailed final proposal, by Friday, 7^th April – come from villages and towns all over PNG. Their proposed projects range from youth radio programs to eco-tourism initiatives to cultural development and local agricultural projects. 

Dr Ateng thanked everyone who had submitted proposals. He said the high number of initial proposals (820) was an indication of the enthusiasm at the local level for good ideas that benefit young people. ‘We have been very impressed by the support from all around the country for the competition,’ he said. ‘We congratulate those who have made it to the round of finalists and we thank all those groups who have spent time writing and submitting ideas.’

The 24 finalists were selected after an exhaustive assessment process in which 20 experienced assessors checked the proposals against the eligibility criteria of innovation, sustainability, realism, cost-effectiveness and impact on the community.

Representatives of each finalist group will now attend a workshop at the Divine Word University in Madang where they will develop their skills in project planning and implementation, budget accountability and management, how to overcome obstacles etc. After submitting their final proposals, representatives of each group will be flown to Port Moresby for the awards day on 6 May. At this event, a jury panel of eminent Papua New Guineans will choose the winners. The winning groups will have their projects funded for 12 months.

The Tingim Yut Kompetisen is an initiative of the World Bank in partnership with Air Niugini, Airlines PNG, Bank South Pacific, Coral Sea Hotels, Divine Word University, NASFUND, Pacific Enterprise Development Facility, Port Moresby Grammar School, UNDP and UNICEF.

More information:
 List of finalists (8kb pdf)
 PNG Development Marketplace