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Strengthening Communities in Baiyer River: Voice for Change’s We Rise Mapowa LLG Project

Voice for Change’s We Rise Mapowa LLG Project Office continues to play a vital role in improving safety, leadership, and livelihoods for women, young women, and communities in Baiyer River, Western Highlands Province. Established in November 2021 and fully operational from February 2022, the project was created in response to the urgent need for GBV prevention and response services for women and girls. 

 

Building Strong Local Partnerships

Since its establishment, the Mapowa Project Office has worked closely with key community groups, including churches, ward councillors, women’s groups, and young women. These partnerships have enabled ongoing consultations, trainings, and community meetings. 

These relationships form the backbone of the program’s efforts to strengthen communication pathways and community engagement.

 

Training and Empowerment Programs

Over nine months, the project delivered a series of capacity‑building trainings aimed at improving gender equality, peace, and economic resilience. These included:

  • Three Gender Trainings

  • Three Peace Building Trainings

  • Three Livelihood Skills Trainings

  • One Peace Mediation Session

The project also facilitated consultations under two major programs:

  1. Young Women Leadership Empowerment Program

  2. Women in Leadership Program

In total, the team conducted nine trainings and identified 168 Persons Living With Disability for a Social Inclusion Workshop. 

 

Supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment

A key initiative under the project is the Soil Improvement Program, delivered in partnership with the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI). This program brought together participants from Jiwaka Province and Baiyer River District to explore improved agricultural practices and livelihood opportunities. 

 

The Mapowa LLG Team

The Mapowa Project Office operates with a small but dedicated team of four staff:

  • 1 Project Coordinator

  • 1 Project Officers

  • 1 Technical Officer

  • 2 Counsellors

Zone Officers oversee the ten council wards in Mapowa LLG, while the Field Coordinator works closely with them to implement activities. The brochure explains that the Project Coordinator.

 

Supported by Regional and International Partners

The Mapowa LLG Project is funded by the We Rise Coalition, a partnership of seven feminist organisations across the Pacific. Additional support comes from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA).

These partnerships strengthen the project’s ability to deliver meaningful, community‑rooted change.