Why Volunteer in Papua New Guinea?
- Kirsty Burnett
- Oct 6
- 3 min read
As Papua New Guinea celebrates 50 years of independence, we spoke with Dr. Jo Cribb to discuss not only the country's history but also its future trajectory and the importance of regional partnerships in aiding that progress.
A Personal Response to Regional Need
Dr Jo Cribb is well known in Aotearoa for her public service leadership and governance work. This year, she has been on assignment with Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) in Papua New Guinea. We spoke with Jo about her return from New Britain, where she worked with the University of Natural Resources and Sustainability.
Her experience offers a valuable window into what volunteering in the Pacific looks like today and why (even after 50 years of independence) capability partnerships remain vital.
In a June 2025 column for Newsroom, Jo reflected on why she chose to apply for a VSA assignment. Like many New Zealanders, she had been unsettled by the scale of global crises. A comment by former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about the world feeling like an “all-out dumpster fire” sparked something: “I could complain about the state of things, or I could try to contribute,” she wrote.
Her assignment with VSA reflects that spirit. Each year, more than 150 Kiwis undertake volunteer placements through VSA, working alongside local partners on everything from education and policy design to agriculture and social enterprise. As Jo notes, New Zealand volunteers are valued in the Pacific for their practicality and collaborative approach.
“I could complain about the state of things—or I could try to contribute,”
This aligns closely with Future Partners’ own methodology: prioritising local ownership, building institutional resilience, and supporting context-specific development strategies.
Capacity, Not Will
Jo’s placement was with the University of Natural Resources and Sustainability in East New Britain. She began with two months in-country mid-year, followed by ongoing remote support to develop policy capability alongside local leaders.
The onboarding process for the role was extensive, including multiple interviews, health checks, and cultural orientation. Like many VSA volunteers, Jo entered her placement with humility, conscious that she was stepping into a very different operating environment.
Papua New Guinea is a country of extraordinary richness. It's home to over 800 languages and nearly 1,000 tribes, which brings a large degree of complexity. High unemployment, law and order challenges, and limited access to basic services affect daily life. Despite this, Jo found a sense of local determination and pride: “There’s so much energy, innovation, and generosity... people want to build their future. What’s often missing is capacity, not will.”
Papua New Guinea at 50: Progress and Persistent Gaps
2025 is a milestone year for Papua New Guinea, marking half a century since independence was declared on 16 September 1975. As Dulciana Somare-Brash, daughter of founding prime minister Sir Michael Somare, has reflected: unifying 900 distinct groups into one nation was never a small feat—it required “connecting different planets of people.”
Today, the country’s youth population is booming, yet formal employment is scarce. Rates of gender-based violence and maternal mortality remain high, and only a small proportion of the population has access to safe drinking water.
In this context, long-term, values-aligned partnerships remain critical. From civil service strengthening to local governance and social policy design, capacity development is an area where targeted external support—delivered through partnership, not prescription—can make a measurable difference.
A Shared Ethos of Service
Jo’s time in PNG echoes many of the values that underpin Future Partners’ work in other parts of the Pacific and South Asia:
Walking alongside local leaders
Respecting culture and context
Building systems that outlast short-term funding cycles
Supporting emerging talent and leadership
The University Jo worked with is one of many institutions across the Pacific seeking to professionalise public administration, embed good governance, and equip the next generation of leaders.
“Sometimes, it’s simply sitting with people, listening, and working together on things that matter.”
Her reflections speak to the real challenges, but also the real potential, of capability-building in the region. “Sometimes, we forget that development doesn’t have to mean big budgets or international consultants,” she wrote. “Sometimes, it’s simply sitting with people, listening, and working together on things that matter.”
Want to Know More?
Future Partners encourages individuals and organisations interested in skill-based volunteering to explore VSA’s current assignments. Their work spans education, health, agriculture, digital systems, governance, and more.
Read Jo’s full Newsroom reflections:
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