The USAID LGP Lukautim Graun Program Partners with the Center for Excellence in Financial Inclusion to Graduate 19 Financial Literacy Trainers in Simbu Province
News Highlights May 17, 2022
The USAID PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has teamed up with the Center for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) to graduate 19 participants as financial literacy trainers in Kundiawa, Simbu Province.
The five-day financial literacy “training of trainers” (TOT) started on May 9 and ended on May 13. In partnership with CEFI, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is delivering the training to people in rural and remote communities in a total of six provinces in PNG, including Eastern Highlands, Jiwaka, Madang, Milne Bay, Morobe, and Simbu. The training is complete in the Jiwaka, Eastern Highlands, Morobe, and Simbu provinces and will soon commence in Madang and Milne Bay.
The partnership between USAID and CEFI is ongoing, aiming to graduate trainers in the basics of teaching rural and remote community members about savings, budgeting, and online digital finance. These skills are the foundation for creating new enterprises and increasing household and personal financial security, especially for women.
Martha Kaiun, president of Simbu Provincial Council of Women’s Network, said she will impart what she has learned from the training to other women. She shared,
“The training has helped build my confidence, and I am well prepared to teach members of the Provincial Council of Women. Thank you, USAID and CEFI, for making this possible.”
In return for the TOT, each of the 19 trainers from Simbu has committed to training at least 50 other individuals in their respective communities. This cascade training will result in an estimated 950 people across the province gaining new skills in household and personal financial literacy.
Steven Yandima, Project Manager for KGwan, a community-based organization in Gembolg District, said, “I can confidently say that I am ready to teach members of my communities what I have learned from this training.”
Rosemary Kaupa, Business Development Officer at Simbu Provincial Administration, also said “The training has reminded me to strictly spend within my budget. I will take this with me, apply it to my family budget, and also teach it to others.”
After the conclusion of each training session, participants gain the opportunity to access banking services and open bank accounts in cooperation with MiBank. MiBank, USAID, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation recently signed a new Loan Guarantee Program agreement targeting people in rural and remote areas. Women’s groups, female leaders, small- to medium-sized enterprises, faith-based organizations, and community-based conservation organizations in these areas will now receive training and be able to register as banking agents to facilitate access to new digital financial services through mobile phones.
Jill Pijui, Head of Financial Inclusion Training for CEFI, said, “ CEFI is indeed privileged to have USAID as a partner in terms of delivering financial literacy training throughout the six provinces. CEFI is also happy to be at the forefront and be the technical partner for USAID in terms of driving financial literacy training. We look forward to continuing this partnership with USAID.”
Led by Cardno International Development, LGP works in partnership with PNG governments and a range of implementing partners, including Care International, CEFI, the Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights, The Nature Conservancy, the PNG Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, the Research and Conservation Foundation, the Wildlife Conservation Program, and the Woodland Park Zoo. Additionally, LGP works with the private sector, faith-based organizations, and civil society organizations. The overall objective of LGP is to empower traditional landowners to manage their resources sustainably and empower women as full participants in PNG’s economy.
