Promoting Skill Transfer for Human Capacity Development in Papua New Guinea

The Government of Papua New Guinea’s Development Strategic Plan 2010–2030 seeks to extend the benefits of economic growth to the country’s most disadvantaged communities, emphasizing improvements to transport and energy infrastructure as key measures for doing so. In line with these priorities, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) increased its investment from $350 million in 2010 to a portfolio of $1.4 billion in 2016, with transport and energy projects accounting for the majority of its lending activities. These projects represent considerable opportunities to promote skill transfer and increase the availability of wage jobs for PNG’s workforce. However, current policy conditions and tender requirements do not encourage skill transfer between contractors and the domestic workforce, and will not do so if left to market pressure alone.