Papua Needs Assessment - UNDP

Development organizations in Papua do not have a clear or complete picture of the developmentrelated
activities of their peers. The need for better coordination of this information is very obvious,
but collecting this information during the PNA proved difficult. If the UNDP is to assist in this
area, resources for it should not be underestimated – it requires frequent face-to-face interaction
with partners. The coordination must take place in both Papua (not just Jayapura) and in Jakarta.
There is a need for better coordination of the UNDP’s own work in Papua including coordination
between the implementation of national programmes at the Papua level, and the Papua-specific
programme activities. Coordinating information, schedules and relationships with Papuan
counterparts within the UNDP and with other donors will enhance impact.
The need for quality technical expertise coupled with good development practitioners’ skills also
should not be underestimated. To ensure that appropriate people are recruited, there is a need
to go beyond the normal recruitment process using proactive and alternative networks to obtain
the right candidates. Recruitment may require extra budget and time. Furthermore, recruiting
appropriately skilled and qualified personnel for certain development activities in Papua means
drawing on a limited pool of human resources. Consultation with local stakeholders to consider
alternative arrangements may be warranted, so as to minimise the brain drain’ from local
organisations and instead build up local capacities. Ensuring an appropriate mix of Papuan and
migrant or outsider personnel is an important, if delicate, challenge for future development
assistance in Papua. Furthermore, a genuine willingness and ability to travel and work successfully
in remote areas must be carefully assessed.
The UNDP staff capacities, especially in key areas such as the monitoring and facilitation of
tasks, may require a special internal human resource strategy to develop individual confidence
and capacities. Planning of resources should be factored around this need, so that there are
specific resources dedicated to providing ‘more than usual’ on-the-job supervision for local team.
Finally, the logistics of operating in Papua are complicated by the geography. Availability of
quality health and education services, as well as infrastructure and transport constrain not just
the local communities, but also outside agencies operating in Papua. Security issues are also
such that special operating procedures are required so that obtaining visas for international
personnel, including consultants, can be difficult. Clear directives and procedures for responding
to human rights issues will be necessary to support programme personnel in Papua. Thus larger
budgets must be allowed for operational costs, as well as for monitoring and evaluation in the
design of any programme.
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