COMMUNICATION SKILLS ARE VITAL IN ESTABLISHING TRUST, GOODWILL AND SUCCESS IN RURAL BASED PROJECTS

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

THE PAST

THE PRESENT

WHAT CAN LAND USERS DO?

WHAT CAN GOVERNMENTS DO?

WHAT CAN GOVERNMENT & NGOS DO?

WHAT CAN UNIVERSITIES DO?

CONCLUSION / RECOMMENDATIONS

INTRODUCTION

The world has changed greatly over the last three decades

Governments look for new ways to work together with stakeholders

Decentralization is the way forward

Social impacts in 80’s ignored while 90’s was the period of awakening & learning while this new century is a period of implementation

There is a need to find a Pacific way to do things collaboratively ++

THE PAST

Interactions amongst stakeholders were minimal

Decisions were mostly made by National Governments & companies

Landowners were usually pushed aside

Inputs usually came from self centered individuals / politicians

Individuals & politicians were mere rubber stamps ++

THE PRESENT

Land users use the most influential means

Money is their power

Land users bypass local people and deal directly with National Government

National Government have often isolated landowners

Local people have no part in consultations ++

THE PRESENT (cont *)

The current trend:

• Most negotiations & agreements are dealt with the National Government

• Taxes and royalties are paid to government & govt instituted corporate bodies

• Compensations are individually focused

• In-House services dedicated to land users

• Training dedicated to needs of land users

• Employment are filled by outsiders

• Inputs are sourced from outsiders ++

WHAT CAN LAND USERS DO?

Must try to understand the nature of their ventures

Must identify groups to be affected

Must establish a process of meaningful public involvement

Must collect factual information about people and their needs-social mapping

Must inform people about their operations & on a continuous basis

eg. Moramoro- operations cannot occur unless community is supportive of operation. Support is achieved through the process of discussion, negotiation and consultation ++

Land users dos [cont]

Williams in Century project-Queensland- “Subject to broad community support”

Need to modify agreement to accommodate any realized genuine changes

Loney & Sheldon- involve community early in discussion-”process speeds up success”

Discuss matters in a common language

Use local vernacular to boost local people

Dean Wells in James Cook Uni- spoke in Malay to Malaysian audience & Kevin Rud spoke Chinese to Chinese audience in China

Communicate with local people more effectively & compassionately

Loney & Sheldon- “ Time and energy spent building a bank account of goodwill on a daily basis can be a valuable asset to draw on in times of crisis”. ++

Land users dos [cont]

Use liaison officers to deal with people in initial stages

Should not only worry about being successful, they should also be socially responsible

Must strive for a win/win outcome

Respect traditional rights and cultural self-determination

Develop community profile

Develop a high level of empathy

Must be honest in communication ++

WHAT CAN GOVERNMENTS DO?

Work closely with local people before committing itself to any project

Set up rules to regulate operations and to ensure information sharing and consultation can take place in a practical and orderly fashion

Require project design to deal with social and environmental impacts

Make sure communities have good access to feasibility studies prior to operation

Make sure people understand the cons & pros of operations

Listen to people also and not land users only ++

WHAT CAN GOVERNMENT & NGOS DO?

Aim to acquaint themselves with National Occupational Standards (NOSS) via NATTB

• Provides benchmarks for training courses and issuing of qualifications

• Provides benchmarks for assessment of skills and knowledge

• Clarify work organizations and allow for developing of job descriptions

• Recognizing existing skills and knowledge held by people in both formal and informal employment

• Identifying training needs ++

WHAT CAN UNIVERSITIES DO?

Educate local people in communicating effectively

Offer professional programs to help communicate development issues

Communication For Development Program

Diploma of Technology in Communication For Development\

Year 1

Sem 1 Sem 2

Study Skills Reading & Writing Skills

Introduction to Business PNG Languages & Communication

Melanesian Society & Policy Introduction to information Technology

Introduction to Law Rural Sociology

Environmental Studies Principles of Management

Introduction to Communication Tech Rural Valuation

Diploma in Tech in C4D [cont*]

Year 2

Sem 1 Sem 2

Reporting & Writing for Media Fieldwork

Conflict Resolution /Nego. Skills Communication in Workplace

Critical Thinking Principles of Translation & interpret

Training, Law & Education & Society Public & Community Relations

Introduction to and Stud Landownership Dispute

Mathematics for Communication Human Resource Management

Forestry, Forest Policy & economics

Bachelor in Tech in C4D [cont*]

Year 3

Sem 1 Sem 2

Writing a Research Paper Social Change

Develop Com & Com Devel Communication & Media Studies

Environmental & Socio Impact Monit Communicating Develop Strategies

Social Mapping Crime & Development

Technology & Society Statistics for communication

Development Studies

Mining Techniques & Mining Economics

Bachelor in Tech in C4D [cont*]

Year 4

Sem 1 Sem 2

Industrial Training Writing Project Proposals

Dissertation, Commu. in Resource

development

Administrative Law

WHAT CAN UNIVERSITIES DO? [cont*]

Educate people in communicating science and technology

Graduate Certificate in Communicating Science and Technology

Module1 Communicating with Adults

Module 2 Language of Science & Technology

Module 3 Communication of Science and Technology in Community

Module 4 Writing Scientific Reports

Module 5 Transforming Information to knowledge

Module 6 Advanced Roles for Scientists

Module 7 Directed product development

WHAT CAN UNIVERSITIES DO? [CONT*]

Help set up institutions of solving problems at Local Level Governments

Provide regular short courses

Connect with industry & local communities as part of their networking ++

CONCLUSION / RECOMMENDATIONS

PNG is a land of the unexpected and this is no joke. It is full of unpredictabilities and this alone is cause for immediate action to be taken by all people in order to instil trust, goodwill, harmony and success to our people in rural communities.

Communication no doubt is the main ingredient that can unlock problems we face today. Understanding and working collaboratively goes a long way to establishing good productive organizations in communities.

It would be most ideal if we considered the following ideas.

1. Maintaining a meaningful consultation process

i) consultation is the cornerstone to sustain development

ii) meaningful consultation process closes the knowledge and capabilities gap between all stakeholders

iii) helps build trust, goodwill , respect and success

iv) opens room for explanation of operation

v) can avoid creation of false expectations

Conclusions / recommendations [cont]

2. Training and capacity building for community

i) Local people can be rich source of training

ii) Development of new skills and capabilities to benefit all stakeholders

iii) Land users must work with governments and communities to develop partnership

iv) Land users to offer help and expertise to support training institutions in local areas

v) Land users can contribute to communities by outsourcing different tasks to be provided by communities

vi) Land users can help communities build their independent business bases

## National Occupational Skills standards

Conclusion/ recommendations [cont *]

3. Provision of news media outlets

a) Governments to provide the following:i) radio stationsii) newspapersiii) televisioniv) telephones

b) Land users to provide the following:i) internet servicesii) telephonesiii) bulletin magazinesiv) brochures / pamphlets

Good communication, healthy consultation and synergistic cooperation will be the essence of successes in the world over tomorrow

THE END&

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION