The Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) has reaffirmed the importance of financial inclusion, financial literacy and accessible financial services in supporting the successful implementation of Papua New Guinea’s Child Nutrition and Social Protection (CNSP) Project.
This was highlighted during a stakeholder workshop held at the CEFI Office in Port Moresby, bringing together representatives from the CNSP Project team and financial institutions, including BSP, TISA Bank and National Banking Corporation, to discuss financial access arrangements for the Government-funded initiative.
The workshop focused on account opening processes, agent banking services and digital payment mechanisms for mothers and caregivers who will receive child nutrition support payments.
Participating financial institutions also presented their products and services, including account opening requirements, agent banking networks and digital payment solutions that could support the delivery of child nutrition grants to beneficiaries in Madang, Simbu, East New Britain and Western Province.
Opening the workshop, CEFI Acting Executive Director Peter Samuel highlighted the important role financial inclusion plays in ensuring beneficiaries can effectively access and utilize financial support provided through the programme.
He said that while financial assistance is important, beneficiaries must also have the knowledge and skills required to manage their finances responsibly and sustainably.
“Financial literacy plays a critical role in helping mothers utilize the support provided, not only during the life of the project but also into the future, so they can sustain themselves and their families,” Mr Samuel said.
Mr Samuel acknowledged the contributions of key partners, including the Department for Community Development and Religion, the Department of Health, the World Bank and participating financial institutions, for their continued commitment to improving the wellbeing of mothers and children throughout Papua New Guinea.
He also announced that CEFI is developing a Digital Financial Literacy Module to support beneficiaries in understanding and using digital financial services such as mobile wallets and other electronic payment platforms.
According to Mr Samuel, many women in rural communities have limited exposure to digital financial services and would benefit from targeted training and awareness programmes.
In addition, CEFI is developing a Small and Medium Enterprise training module aimed at supporting beneficiaries to transition from grant recipients into income-generating entrepreneurs, strengthening the long-term sustainability of the programme.
Providing an overview of the project, CNSP Component Manager Joseph Klapat said the initiative focuses on improving the nutritional status of pregnant women and children under five years while contributing to poverty reduction through targeted cash transfers.
Mr Klapat said the project is currently being implemented in selected districts of East New Britain, Madang, Simbu and Western Province and has already delivered significant benefits to thousands of households.
“The project is making a real impact in households. To date, we have reached approximately 15,000 beneficiaries, and our target is to reach an additional 30,000 beneficiaries this year,” he said.
He noted that the CNSP Project aims to reach 180,000 beneficiaries nationwide and is jointly implemented by the National Department of Health, the Department of Justice and Attorney General, and the Department for Community Development and Religion, with support from development partners including the World Bank, UNICEF, World Vision PNG, Catholic Church Health Services and CEFI.
Mr Klapat further revealed that more than K3 million in benefit grants has already been paid directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
The programme has recently transitioned from quarterly to monthly payments, with the monthly benefit increasing from K30 to K60 per household.
World Bank Senior Economist and Task Team Leader for the CNSP Project, Ning Fu, described the programme as a life-changing initiative aimed at addressing child malnutrition and stunting across Papua New Guinea.
“The overarching goal of the project is to reduce stunting among children in Papua New Guinea,” Mr Fu said.
“While nutrition services are critical, improving household purchasing power through child nutrition grants is equally important in helping families access nutritious food and essential health services.”
Mr Fu highlighted the project’s contribution to financial inclusion, noting that many beneficiaries are opening formal financial accounts for the first time through the programme.
He said approximately 16,000 beneficiary households have already been reached, with plans to expand to 30,000 households by the end of the year and 80,000 households by next year.
He added that women make up a significant proportion of beneficiaries, making the programme an important contributor to Papua New Guinea’s broader financial inclusion objectives.
Closing the workshop, CEFI Manager for NFIS Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement Danny Koka thanked participating financial institutions and development partners for their continued support and commitment to improving access to financial services for vulnerable communities.
“Financial institutions are our key partners in implementing the National Financial Inclusion Strategy. Their support is critical in ensuring that financial services reach those who need them most,” Mr Koka said.
Mr Koka emphasized that collaboration between government agencies, financial institutions and development partners will be essential to ensuring the successful rollout of the project and the secure delivery of child nutrition grants through regulated financial service providers.
“The project will have a significant impact on our younger generation and mothers. Together, we can contribute towards building healthier families and a healthier population for Papua New Guinea,” he said.
Despite progress made under the CNSP Project, participants acknowledged several challenges that may affect the effective delivery of financial services to beneficiaries. These include limited awareness and understanding of formal financial services among some rural communities, challenges with account opening and documentation requirements, limited access to banking infrastructure in remote areas, and the need for stronger financial literacy support to help beneficiaries confidently use digital financial services.
The workshop also highlighted the importance of improving coordination between government agencies, financial institutions and implementation partners to ensure beneficiaries can access payments efficiently and securely. While financial institutions have existing agent networks and digital solutions, continued efforts are needed to expand access points and strengthen support services in project locations.
Moving forward, CEFI will work closely with participating financial institutions to review account access arrangements, strengthen agent banking channels and identify practical solutions to improve financial service delivery in rural and underserved communities.
Through continued collaboration, the CNSP Project aims to not only provide immediate support to mothers and children but also contribute to long-term financial inclusion, economic empowerment and improved household resilience across Papua New Guinea.
Ends.
Image Captions
Image 1: Component Manager for the Child Nutrition and Social Protection (CNSP) Project, Mr Joseph Klapat, delivers the opening remarks and outlines the objectives of the workshop.
Image 2: Component Manager for the Child Nutrition and Social Protection (CNSP) Project, Mr Joseph Klapat, addresses participants as he provides an overview of the workshop and its key priorities.
Image 3: Mr Ning Fu, World Bank Senior Economist and Task Team Leader for the CNSP Project, shares his insights during the workshop, highlighting the importance of effective financial access arrangements for project implementation.
Image 4: CEFI Acting Executive Director, Mr Peter Samuel, delivers his address, reaffirming CEFI’s commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the Child Nutrition and Social Protection Project.
Image 5: CEFI Acting Executive Director, Mr Peter Samuel, engages participants as he discusses the vital role of financial inclusion in strengthening the delivery of social protection initiatives.
Image 6: Ms Stephanie Aisi of BSP delivers a presentation showcasing the bank’s products, services and financial solutions available to support the Child Nutrition and Social Protection Project.
Image 7: Ms Stephanie Aisi of BSP briefs workshop participants on the bank’s account opening requirements, agent banking network and digital payment services.
Image 8: Mr Jasper Kinaram of TISA Bank presents an overview of the bank’s products and services, outlining financial solutions tailored to meet the needs of project beneficiaries.
Image 9: National Banking Corporation (NBC) Senior Manager – Retail Operations, Mr Gabriel Nangile, delivers a presentation highlighting NBC’s products, services and banking solutions designed to enhance financial access for communities.
About CEFI
CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24th of April 2013. CEFI was endorsed by PNG’s National Executive Council (NEC) as the industry apex organization for coordinating, advocating and monitoring all financial inclusion activities in PNG.
CEFI’s vision, mission and values focus on financial inclusion and literacy, poverty elimination and the promotion of vibrant financial institutional operation in Papua New Guinea.
Visit our website – www.thecefi.org
Media Contact:
Mr. Leslie Omaro
Communication Officer
Phone: 79736883
Email: lomaro@thecefi.org
