The CDW National Standard was developed through a comprehensive process of participatory workshops with and by PNG community development workers and development practice leaders and thinkers. The process to establish a CDW National Standard began in 2005. The CDW National Standard was officially launched by the then Minister for Community Development, Dame Carol Kidu, in May 2007.
From time to time the CDW National Standard is comprehensively reviewed and updated. Updates, reviews or changes to the Community Development Worker National Standard are overseen by an “Industry Technical Committee” (ITC) managed by the National Apprenticeship and Trade Testing Board (NATTB). Any changes must then be endorsed by the NATTB. The first ITC was established in 2006. The current ITC administers the website you are reading right now.
The ITC is comprised of expert community development workers and other development professionals from those sectors that rely upon community development workers. The current ITC members are: Mrs Merilyn Gairo – Chairperson (Tetra Tech), Ms Priscilla Pius – Secretary (DT Global), Mr Charles Iha (GGGI), Mr Joe Koima (FPDA and DAL), Mr Bennie Atigini (The Nature Conservancy), Mr Sewege Moa (freelance Level 3 CDW), Mr Leo Aroga (CIC), Ms Bala Karepa (OTDF), Ms Elsie Mongoru (Santos Ltd), Mr Lawrence Chicka (CARE PNG), and Ms Lucinda Gulluman-Kusip (Fred Hollows Foundation). The ITC has advisory support from Mr Brian Clowes (NATTB), and two community development professionals who have been involved with the development of the standard and associated materials since 2005: Ms Rebecca Robinson, and Mr Chris Gard.
Please contact us if you would like to communicate with the ITC.
Many organisations have supported the establishment and development of the CDW National Standard and associated materials. These included; Divine Word University, PNG University of Technology, FORCERT, Community Development Initiative, Family Voice, Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Barefoot Community Services, Widebay Conservation Association, Callan Services, Lutheran Development Services, NATTB, The Leprosy Mission PNG, Ok Tedi Development Foundation, Tetra Tech, DT Global, Global Green Growth Institute, CARE PNG, Oil Search Foundation, Oil Search Limited, Santos Ltd, Fresh Produce Development Agency, the Nature Conservancy, New Britain Palm Oil Ltd, Coffee Industry Corporation, the Department for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, and The Fred Hollows Foundation.
The CDW National Standard and associated materials were originally developed with funding support from Australian Aid, through the URS Sustainable Development managed Community Development Scheme, Democratic Governance Transition Phase, and Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen projects. Training materials were further developed by CARE PNG (through Australia Aid), and by the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Inclusive Governance in Post Conflict Bougainville project (through Australia Aid and the World Bank).
The assessment process, assessment instruments, and training materials have been further developed with funding support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), under the Supporting Sweet Potato commercialization in the PNG Highlands project managed by Central Queensland University and the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA). ACIAR has worked with FPDA and Oil Search/Santos Ltd to produce CDW coursebooks as an alternative to formal training.
Recently, a new unit (Provide Mentoring) has been added to the National Standard, along with a generic CDW coursebook on how to provide mentoring in a way that meets the Standard. This new unit and associated technology was developed with funding support from ACIAR under the Increasing the productivity and profitability of smallholder beekeeping enterprises in PNG and Fiji project managed by Southern Cross University, the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) and the Department for Agriculture and Livestock (DAL).