In addition to the events listed here, you can follow this link for the latest events under the NRI HIV Seminar Series

Report Launch, Community Transformation: Unlocking the Development Potential of the People - 17 June 2010
The NRI launched its latest publication entitled, 'Community Transformation: Unlocking the Development Potential of the People', on 17 June 2010. This publication contains selected papers that were presented at the Community Transformation Conference held at the National Research Institute, from 16-18 June 2009. The conference captured the successes and challenges in community development programs around PNG with presentations from community development groups, people from the academia, policy analysts, research institutions, private sector, and representatives from government departments who gathered and shared their knowledge and experiences.

More Information: NRI Press Release| Dr. Michael Unage Speech

Sir Barry Holloway (right) talks about the publication as the editor and Senior Research Fellow, Dr. Michael Unage looks on.

PRESS CONFERENCE
NRI wants to see PNG explore ways of safeguarding the effective expenditure of natural resource revenues
24 May 2010
Governance of natural resource revenues is a major issue that NRI is concerned about. At a press conference held recently to launch NRI's latest Spotlight issue, Director of NRI, Dr. Thomas Webster urged PNG to explore ways of safeguarding fund management and fund governance, including looking at international experience.

He said previous mechanisms to deal with increased revenues from mineral resources such as the Mineral Resource Stabilisation Fund and the various Trust Funds have been abused as rules and guidelines were rewritten by ministers and the executive government without proper scrutiny.

Prof. Ron Duncan, the author of the latest NRI Spotlight paper on 'Managing Natural Resource revenues in Papua New Guinea, told reporters that one of PNG's main problem was the effective expenditure of revenues held in trust funds.

"Funds are well spent when they are used to replace non-renewable resources with other assets to earn income in the future such as in education," he said.

He also stressed the importance of having a strong politcal constituency inorder to hold the government responsible for fund governance and management unlike in the past.

More Information: Download Spotlight article |NRI Press Release 24 May 2010

WORKSHOP ON ELECTORATES
An INA and NRI Joint Workshop on Timelines, Deadlines, Issues and Options relating to Electorates in the 2012 Parliament
7 May 2010
This full day workshop launched the latest INA publication Timelines and Deadlines:Electorates for the next Parliament by Dr Jim McPherson. Speakers included the Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu, Governour of Madang Sir Arnold Amet and other prominant stakeholders in political reform in PNG.
More information: Speech of the Deputy Prime Minister

PUBLIC SECTOR SEMINAR
Amendments to the Leadership Code: Are the Necessary or Dangerous for PNG's Leaders
27 April 2010
The NRI hosted special guests Leader of the Opposition Sir Mekere Morauta, Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek and Chair of Transperancy International PNG Peter Aitsi for this half day seminar on some of the most controversial political reforms in Papua New Guinea's recent history - the amendments to the Constitution and the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership, put forward by the Member for Esa'Ala Moses Maladina.
More information: Speech of the Leader of the Opposition Speech of Peter Aitsi

REPORT LAUNCH
Papua New Guinea District and Provincial Profiles Report
31 March 2010
The Papua New Guinea District and Provincial Profiles Report contains indicators on health, education, infrastructure, economic activity and governance for all 89 districts and 20 provinces in Papua New Guinea. The report was launched by our special guest the Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Sir Puka Temu.
More information: Click here to download a copy of the report.

PUBLIC SECTOR SEMINAR
Ethical and Effective Governance
25 March 2010
This event saw stakeholders from the public and private sectors and civil society gather to discuss major issues for improving governance in Papua New Guinea. Even without our special invited guest, the governor of NCD the Honorable Powes Parkop, the discussions focused on brainstorming the key issues for our seminar series to cover in 2010. These ideas will now inform future events under the broader theme of ethical and effective governance.
More Information: Speech of Dr Webster

LAUNCH OF SPOTLIGHT WITH NRI Vol.3 No.7
Papua New Guinea: Trade Policy and Trade Agreements
8 December 2009
Despite two major mineral commodity booms over the past two decades, Papua New Guinea 's average per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been on a declining trend since independence. In this article, the author Prof. Ron Duncan discusses the impact of internal binding constraints and the role of trade policy and trade agreements.
More information: Download spotlight article

WORLD AIDS DAY CELEBRATION
Universal Access and Human Rights
1 December 2009
The NRI HIV/AIDS Committee organised a series of activities for its staff and the NRI campus community to observe World AIDS Day under the theme “Universal Access and Human Rights”.To show its support, the NRI buildings were covered in red ribbons and all staff wore red Tshirts. The NRI Behavioural Surveillance Survey team showcased their research, followed by a documentary 'Diamonds', on the experiences of women living with HIV in the Asia Pacific. A team from IGAT Hope PNG were the guests on that day.
More information: NRI BSS Research Profile Presentation

Dr. Webster (centre) and IGAT Hope PNG Representative (left) cut the WAD cake in officially closing the day's program.

LOWY INSTITUTE SEMINAR AND LAUNCH
Linking Growth and Poverty Reduction in Papua New Guinea
28 October 2009
The National Research Institute hosted the PNG launch of a new Lowy Institute Analysis by Mr. Laurence Chandy. The Analysis entitled 'Linking Growth and Poverty Reduction in Papua New Guinea',examines the relationship between economic growth and poverty in PNG. Using a new analytical framework, the paper explains why the ‘poverty dividend' from growth is often small and also looks at what can be done to increase it.
More Information: Laurence Chandy presentation | Analysis Paper

PUBLIC SECTOR SEMINAR SERIES
Supporting the Public Sector in PNG-New Directions in the Australia-PNG Development Partnership
27 October 2009
NRI's third Public Sector Seminar for 2009 featured special guest, Minister-Counselor of AusAID, Mr. Bill Costello. Mr Costello spoke on the evolving partnership between the Australian Government and the Public Sector in PNG and the new programs arising within this partnership, including the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen project, the Economic and Public Sector Strengthening Project and the new police cooperation program.
More information: Mr. Bill Costello's Speech

Mr. Joseph Sukwianomb (left) asks Mr. Costello a question.

PUBLIC SECTOR SEMINAR
A Research Update on Sub-National Governance
8 September 2009
Special guests Dr. Nao Badu of the National Economic and Fiscal Commission, Dr. Lawrence Kalinoe of the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission and Dr. Alphonse Gelu of the NRI presented their analytical research on sub-national governance in PNG.
More information: Dr. Badu presentation l Dr. Gelu presentation

Dr. Lawrence Kalinoe of CLRC with Dr. Alphonse Gelu (centre) and Dr. Nao Badu (NEFC).

LAUNCH OF SPOTLIGHT WITH NRI Vol.3 No.5
Carbon Trade: Do we know what we are doing?
13 August 2009
Carbon trade is a complex issue that has taken PNG by storm and it seems that there is more focus on the financial benefits of carbon trade and not looking at the bigger picture, argues Research Fellow Nalau Bingeding.
More information: Download Spotlight Article

LAUNCH OF ELECTORAL REFORM PUBLICATIONS
The Launch of NRI's research on the 2007 Elections
6 July 2009
Guaranteeing ‘one person, one vote' should be the highest priority for electoral reform in PNG. This is the primary message of two research reports into the 2007 National General Elections undertaken by the National Research Institute (NRI).
More information: Briefing Kit l link to publications page to download both reports

Dr. Nicole Haley and Dr. Ray Anere, authors of the 2007 Elections Domestic Observation Report

LAUNCH OF SPOTLIGHT WITH NRI Vol. 3 No.4
Community Driven Development: Lessons from Domil Case Study
3 June 2009
This edition of ‘Spotlight with NRI' focuses on research conducted on the Domil community in the Western Highlands Province , which is a model of community development in Papua New Guinea. NRI was joined by special guest, Hon. Jamie Maxtone Graham for this event.
More information: Download Spotlight Article

LAUNCH OF NRI DISCUSSION PAPER NO. 104
The Institutional, Economic, and Ecological Sustainability of Plastics Recycling in Papua New Guinea
28 May 2009
This Discussion Paper, by Henry Koi addresses the recycling of plastics from a number of viewpoints to judge whether plastics recycling in Papua New Guinea is institutionally, economically, socially, and ecologically sustainable.

PARLIAMENTARY AND PUBLIC BRIEFINGS ON LAND REFORM SEMINAR
28-29 May 2009
The NRI hosted briefing sessions for Parliamentarians and the public on the preliminary findings of the latest economic analysis and modelling, conducted as a commissioned study under the NRI Land Issues and Policy Research Program.

LAUNCH OF NRI OCCASIONAL PAPER NO.2
Sorcery and AIDS in Simbu, East Sepik, and Enga Provinces
7 May 2009
This occasional paper by Philip Gibbs discusses how ‘sorcery' is manifested in three geographical areas – Central Simbu, parts of East Sepik, and Central Enga Province – and how sudden deaths can be incorrectly attributed to that practice.

Dr. Holly Aruwafu of NRI (second from right) at the launch of the publication.

LAUNCH OF SPOTLIGHT WITH NRI Vol.3 No.3
Options for Increasing Women's Representation at the National and Local-level Governments
2 April 2009
The National Research Institute's seminar and policy paper will discuss a number of possible electoral options available for increasing women's political representation and highlights the implications of each.
More information: Download spotlight article

Minister for Community Development, Women. Sports and Religion, Dame Carol Kidu (centre) was the special guest at the launch of the publications.

THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NRI INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
12 March 2009
Three years in the making, the new NRI infrastructure Project, funded by the AusAID Australia PNG Incentive Fund was unveiled at an Opening Ceremony attended by special guests.

Minister Michael Ogio receives a gift of appreciation from NRI Council Chairman, Sir Henry Chow (right)

LAUNCH OF SPOTLIGHT WITH NRI Vol.3 No.1
The need for a national strategy to overcome the acute housing situation
25 February 2009
This edition of Spotlight with NRI explores the urgent need for a comprehensive National Housing Policy combining land reform and private sector reform.
More information: Download Spotlight Article

NRI Director Dr. Thomas Webster and Acting Director of the National Housing Corporation, Mr. Mugunaua (centre), interviewed by Journalist Peku Pilimbo (right)