Microbusiness back on the Track

Kokoda Track Corridor Livelihoods Project – Phase 1

In May 2009, the Kokoda Track Foundation was the successful applicant contracted by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage, and the Arts to conduct the Phase 1 Study of the Kokoda Track Corridor Livelihoods Project. The Foundation submitted a joint proposal with the University of Technology, Sydney and was selected to conduct the study.

The consultants engaged by the Foundation to conduct the Livelihoods Study were:

• Professor Stephen Wearing – expert in eco-tourism, sustainable development, microbusiness, and community capacity building in developing countries (Director, the Kokoda Track Foundation);
• Dr Genevieve Nelson – expert in cross cultural and educational psychology, PNG education system, and executive director of the Kokoda Track Foundation (Executive Director, the Kokoda Track Foundation);
• Sandy Lawson – expert in agricultural science, Melanesian culture, community capacity building, and sustainable development;
• Creel Price – expert in small business and microbusiness establishment and management, social entrepreneurial training, and community engagement; and
• Simone Grabowski – expert in eco-tourism, sustainable development, and community capacity building.

The majority of the service fees paid to the above consultants were generously donated back to the Kokoda Track Foundation’s health, education, and community development programs in PNG.

Community Consultations

The team conducted in-depth workshops in 10 villages along the Track. The team walked in by foot using a local tour company and engaged with clan elders, landowners, women’s groups, and children in all of the villages that workshops were conducted in. The two team leaders are highly experienced with the communities along the Track – Dr Nelson has walked the Track 9 times and whilst conducting her PhD in the communities spent many weeks living in the villages; Mr Lawson speaks fluent Tok Pisin and Motu and has many years experience living in PNG and in the Kokoda Track communities. Both team leaders have strong connections with all communities as well as the numerous stakeholders associated with Kokoda (including the KTA, AusAID, DEC, DEWHA, trek operators, trekkers, not for profit organisations).

Workshops were conducted in accordance with the community consultation plan which was devised in collaboration with key stakeholders. Workshops involved large and small group forums that were modelled as an extension of the workshops conducted by the Foundation between 2004 and 2006 in the development of its Strategic Plan for Eco-Tourism. Workshops focused on the needs and wants of the local communities in the context of the increased trekking industry along the Track and they identified a number of microbusiness initiatives that the communities expressed their enthusiasm to establish and support.

Stakeholder Consultations

A number of other stakeholders were also consulted by the team. Trek operators and trekkers were consulted as part of this process to provide their input into the types of microbusinesses they considered would succeed in the industry. Market demand was then matched with what the communities expressed interest in doing. Conversations were also held with PNG Government representatives (including the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Kokoda Track Authority), Australian Government representatives (including DEWHA and AusAID), and other non-Government organisations (including Rotary PNG).

Key Findings – Microbusiness Opportunities for the Kokoda Track Communities

The study identified a range of microbusiness opportunities that could be successfully implemented along the Track. The key findings emanating from discussions with local communities were around the establishment of food-related microbusinesses, with a focus on selling snacks, drinks, and meals to trekkers as part of a catering service. All villages expressed a need for training, particularly around food preparation and cooking, and small business skills, particularly skills related to advertising and basic accounting. Communities expressed a need to be able to more easily access basic ingredients that are necessary to establish these food services in more practical ways than travelling to their nearest city by foot. 

The key findings from discussions with trekkers and trek operators were around the purchase of food, the establishment of guesthouses, and provision of services to trekkers (such as boot cleaning and clothes washing).

A number of factors were also identified in the study that will be critical to the success of Phase 2 and the implementation of livelihood projects. These include the need for clear communication systems to be put in place between trek operators and local communities, training and mentoring, community engagement and ownership, partnerships, and an emphasis on agriculture and increasing food production. The long-term sustainability of any microbusinesses will be dependent on ownership and buy-in from local communities.

A number of other considerations must also be taken into account before embarking on any joint microbusiness initiatives with communities including cultural and religious considerations, the reliance on external inputs, the maintenance needs of the microbusinesses, and the involvement of women and young people.

Plans for Microbusiness on the Kokoda Track

The Australian and PNG governments are currently progressing Phase 2 of the Kokoda Corridor Livelihoods Project where we hope to see further collaboration with communities along the Kokoda Track for the successful implementation of microbusinesses that will seek to improve the livelihoods of the Kokoda corridor communities.

Largely as a result of conducting the Phase 1 Study of the Livelihoods Project, the Kokoda Track Foundation is also very keen to support local Kokoda Corridor communities with the establishment of microbusinesses that will enable them to earn an income from the trekking industry. Our link with experts in the field (including agricultural scientist Sandy Lawson, microbusiness expert Creel Price, and Paul Chatterton from WWF) have allowed us to continue having helpful conversations about the best steps forward and we are speaking with local communities on a regular basis as to their needs and wants. Communities are keen to see the establishment of a number of microbusinesses in their villages and they have requested assistance to do so. Much work is also needed to build confidence amongst trekkers and trek operators in the establishment of the recommended food-related microbusinesses (especially around the issue of hygiene and food preparation).

After conducting the Livelihoods Study, in July 2009 the Foundation took its first step towards establishing a microbusiness project along the Track. Eight KTF volunteers accompanied the Foundation executive director along the Track and conducted cooking classes and small business workshops in eight villages. This initiative was developed by the Foundation in direct response to the learnings gained during the Livelihoods Study where all communities, especially women’s groups, expressed an interest in and need for cooking skills and experience. Workshops were run with women’s leadership groups in the communities and involved the preparation of four new recipes that combine local produce with a small number of ingredients imported from Port Moresby (e.g., flour, sugar, and oil). The cooking classes were a great success and each group sold all of their produce to trekkers who were camping in the village. A huge thanks to the trekkers and trek operators who participated and assisted us with the cooking classes! The women’s groups are now re-investing their profits into further establishing these businesses.

The Foundation is also aware of a number of trek operators and other individuals and groups who have been assisting villages in similar ways (e.g., one trek operator is supporting community members from Manari, Efogi, Kagi, and Naduri with bush ovens and lessons in baking).

Needs of communities

There is still however a pressing need for an agricultural response to the growing trekking industry along the Kokoda Track. According to agriculture expert Sandy Lawson, the peak trekking season coincides with peak labour requirement (especially from young men) for the preparation of new food gardens along the Kokoda Track. This has potentially serious implications for food security in the future. There is circumstantial evidence that food is no longer as abundant as it was a couple of years back, and Mr Lawson suspects the variety of foods available to the villagers, including wild collected ones, is declining.

The Foundation is keen to see this issue addressed and will explore future options with relevant experts and stakeholders along the Kokoda Track. We are looking forward to an ongoing partnership with the Australian Government and Kokoda stakeholders to ensure that positive steps are being taken towards improving the wellbeing and livelihoods of the Kokoda Track communities.

 

Write a comment

Name: *
Email: *
Subject:
Comment: *

Help prevent spam - enter security code above:
 

Content © The Kokoda Track Foundation 2009   |   Email : gen.nelson@kokodatrackfoundation.org for more information