Resource beneficiary communities will have a direct say in how future Community Investment Trust Fund (CITF) investments are made, following the completion of the first phase of Community Needs Assessments and Rapid Rural Appraisals (RRAs) by the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC).
The assessments, carried out in Kikori in Gulf Province and in Kutubu in Southern Highlands Province, engaged directly with communities to identify their development priorities, review existing services and establish baseline information to guide future project planning and investment. They covered water and sanitation, health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, livelihoods and social inclusion.
MRDC Managing Director Augustine Mano said the assessments mark a shift in how community investment decisions are made and strengthen governance and accountability across the program.
“For many years, community development investments have been guided by proposals, requests and emerging needs. These assessments give us a stronger evidence base. They show us what communities themselves see as their priorities, so that investment decisions are informed by facts, community voices and long-term development outcomes,” Mr Mano said.
“The RRA takes much of the guesswork out of development planning. When a proposal comes before the Board, we can now test it against verified community priorities and real needs on the ground. That helps ensure projects are not only well-intentioned, but relevant, sustainable and capable of delivering lasting benefits to our people.”
MRDC General Manager – Assets and Infrastructure, Reginald Ope, said the findings give management and the Board practical information to direct funds where they are needed most.
“The assessments help us make informed decisions at both management and Board level. Most importantly, they help direct community investment to the projects that deliver the greatest benefit, and ensure that infrastructure is fit for purpose, responds to community priorities and creates lasting value for future generations,” Mr Ope said.
A clear message from the consultations was that communities want more than new infrastructure – they want services that are reliable and sustainable. Water emerged as the highest priority in many locations, alongside health, electricity, communications and livelihood opportunities.
Community members welcomed the chance to contribute directly to decisions about their future.
“It is the first of its kind that this was brought to our attention, and we want this to continue,” a representative from Kikori Urban LLG said during consultations.
The assessments also created dedicated space for women and youth to share their perspectives. Women identified livelihoods, agriculture, education, health services and access to water and sanitation as key priorities, while communities more broadly called for greater participation by women and young people in development planning.
MRDC Senior Community Development Officer Beautlyn Eliab said participants responded positively to the process and valued being consulted on issues that affect their communities.
The findings are now strengthening the evidence base for future CITF investments. MRDC plans to progressively extend the assessments to all CITF beneficiary communities as part of its commitment to impactful, community-driven development.
