Lighting the way for Kokoda College’s sustainable future in Papua New Guinea
44%
56%
Partner contribution
$ 208,820
DFAT contribution
$ 275,000
Total Value
$ 483,820
Start: June 2024 - End: May 2025
Australian Government
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade works with international partners and other countries to tackle global challenges, increase trade and investment opportunities, protect international rules, keep our region stable and help Australians overseas.
Kokoda Track Foundation
The Kokoda Track Foundation is an Australian non-profit dedicated to working alongside people and communities in Papua New Guinea to improve lives, livelihoods and futures.
Kokoda College
Kokoda College is a secondary school in in Papua New Guinea’s remote Oro Province.
A partnership to light the way for Kokoda College’s sustainable future in Papua New Guinea
Context
Kokoda College is a well-established institution at the end of the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea’s remote Oro Province. It has supported over 1,000 students in the last five years, playing a pivotal role in enabling students to enhance their qualifications, obtain Grade 12 certificates, and gain future employment opportunities.
However, due to its remote location, reliable energy remains a challenge, hindering the ability of students and teachers to consistently access power to light up their classrooms and screens.
About the initiative
The Kokoda Track Foundation and the Australian Government are teaming up to transform Kokoda College’s students’ outcomes through greater access to reliable and sustainable off-grid energy.
The partnership aims to set up a solar mini grid at the College, which will be designed to meet the growing energy demands of the campus, enhancing educational facilities and supporting additional infrastructure to fulfill current needs and facilitate future growth. It will also establish an IT lab, a campus garden with solar irrigation, and develop a medical-grade incinerator for responsible waste management.
Besides enhancing energy access, the partnership will promote climate-smart agriculture, digital literacy, educational outcomes and the inclusion of people with disabilities while addressing waste management concerns. It will also involve the local community and create employment opportunities, particularly for women.
Hear from our partner
Dr Genevieve Nelson | CEO, Kokoda Track Foundation
“We are so proud to partner with the Australian Government to deliver an innovative and ambitious solar grid project to our Kokoda College. This first-of-its-kind project along the Kokoda Track will not only light up classrooms and power our college but also paves the way for bringing off-grid and sustainable energy infrastructure to remote villages.” – Dr Genevieve Nelson | CEO, Kokoda Track Foundation
Key contributions from partners
- The Kokoda Track Foundation manages the partnership and will oversee the delivery of its impact.
- The Kokoda College, as the primary project site and educational hub, will support the implementation of the partnership’s work, engaging the local community and networks to ensure a successful delivery for the local community.
- The Australian Governmentwill contribute catalytic funding. It will also connect partners to networks, provide support through the BPP in gender and disability inclusion, business models, safeguards and impact measurement, as well as support with communications to enable national and global recognition.
This partnership was selected through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) Call for Partnerships to Support Off-Grid Renewable Energy in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.