Helping Papua New Guinea's diplomats: Peter Nichols reports on the NZIIA's recent involvement in the training of Papua New Guinea diplomatic recruits.

• Author: Nichols, Peter
• Position: New Zealand Institute of International Affairs

In late 2011 an approach was made from the Papua New Guinea Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) though the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to Victoria University of Wellington to identify whether there was interest in the design and delivery of an induction/ orientation course for Papua New Guinea diplomatic recruits.

Following a 'scoping visit' to Port Moresby in late November 2011 by the NZIIA's director, Brian Lynch, a proposal went through the NZIIA Standing Committee. It was then agreed between Victoria University and the NZIIA that it would be appropriate for the NZIIA to become the New Zealand 'partner' with DFAT in taking the project forward. Two presenters and a curriculum development officer would be selected to conduct the training. A formal letter dated 6 December 2011 to establish that relationship was exchanged between the permanent head of DFAT, the acting secretary Ambassador Lucy Bogari, and NZIIA President Sir Douglas Kidd.

The three weeks in Port Moresby for the two presenters delivering the training was to be funded by Papua New Guinea DFAT and travel by the curriculum development officer was to be funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs (using funds from the Pacific Partnership Facility), which supports small scale activities of a capacity-building nature designed to strengthen personal relationships between key players in New Zealand and Pacific Islands countries, especially at governmental level). Dr Lance Beath, a former diplomat and author of Papua New Guinea's defence policy, and Michael Powles, a former senior New Zealand diplomat, agreed to conduct the training supported by myself as curriculum development officer.

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A visit to Wellington by Director-General for Corporate Services Kuike Numoi and two of his colleagues in February 2012 confirmed that the purpose of the training was to introduce new DFAT diplomats to the basic knowledge required to help them in their career development. Six topics and learning outcomes were identified and essay topic options were advised along with participant evaluation criteria. Subject matter included:

* Context: history and qualities of a good diplomat; process for identifying Papua New Guinea's strategic environment and foreign policy priorities.

* Diplomacy in the modern world: why have a service? Core features, allies and friends, the small state perspective.

* The...