The United Nations in Papua New Guinea, in cooperation with the Population Media Center (PMC), announced today a partnership with Colgate-Palmolive. Colgate-Palmolive has signed on as a private sector sponsor of two social change radio serial dramas to be developed for public broadcast in Papua New Guinea in Pidgin and English. The contribution of PGK 30,000, with the possibility of a second contribution of an equal amount, will be channeled through the PNG UN Country Fund.

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - 

The United Nations in Papua New Guinea, in cooperation with the Population Media Center (PMC), announced today a partnership with Colgate-Palmolive. Colgate-Palmolive has signed on as a private sector sponsor of two social change radio serial dramas to be developed for public broadcast in Papua New Guinea in Pidgin and English. The contribution of PGK 30,000, with the possibility of a second contribution of an equal amount, will be channeled through the PNG UN Country Fund.

“The United Nations is delighted that Colgate-Palmolive has taken on a role as a corporate partner for development in PNG. Through this support, Colgate-Palmolive is developing a legacy of civic participation and helping PNG move towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” said United Nation’s Resident Coordinator David McLachlan-Karr. Colgate-Palmolive’s partnership for development comes at a time when the UN is looking at partnering more with civil society and the private sector for development.

The programme is being carried out by Population Media Center on behalf of the UN as part of its Millennium Development Goal campaign, aimed at raising awareness and encouraging citizen participation in the promotion and delivery of the MDGs.

It will include the production and broadcast of two radio drama series that will each air twice weekly over the course of two years. Each series will be 208 episodes in length and will be broadcast nationally and via provincial stations. The original radio dramas will be written and produced by Papua New Guinea nationals who will receive technical support and training from world renowned dramatic writers, producers, and communications professionals from both Hollywood and the developing world.

The dramas will be written to reflect the realities of life in Papua New Guinea and will feature character role models that the audience can follow over time and learn from. The dramas will address issues such as gender equality and women’s empowerment, education, environmental protection, and poverty eradication. By first engaging audiences in riveting, dramatic stories, the programme is able to not only deliver important social and health messages to the public at large, but to motivate them to change their attitudes and behaviors on the issues of common social interest. The series in PNG is slated to go on the air at the beginning of 2011.

Given the percentage of people who listen to radio in Papua New Guinea, the programme has the potential to reach between 2 and 3 million people.

“We are very excited about the tremendous support that Colgate-Palmolive is providing for this important effort in Papua New Guinea,” Bill Ryerson, President of Population Media Center said. “Colgate-Palmolive is a leader in corporate social responsibility, and we are grateful for their commitment to improving life in Papua New Guinea.”

The original version of this story was published by Population Media Center.

The PNG UN Country Fund was established in 2009 and allows the UN System in PNG to move towards a single financing mechanism for development, with the expectation that 52% of the UN’s non-core financial resources in the country will be channeled through it. The PNG UN Country Fund provides a means for further consolidation of UN funding mechanisms in PNG and coherent mobilization, allocation and disbursement of donor resources in support of the five Delivery as One elements of the Joint UN Country Strategy. The PNG UN Country Fund is administered by the MDTF Office. For more information on the PNG UN Country Fund, click here. 

The United Nations in Papua New Guinea, in cooperation with the Population Media Center (PMC), announced today a partnership with Colgate-Palmolive. Colgate-Palmolive has signed on as a private sector sponsor of two social change radio serial dramas to be developed for public broadcast in Papua New Guinea in Pidgin and English. The contribution of PGK 30,000, with the possibility of a second contribution of an equal amount, will be channeled through the PNG UN Country Fund.

“The United Nations is delighted that Colgate-Palmolive has taken on a role as a corporate partner for development in PNG. Through this support, Colgate-Palmolive is developing a legacy of civic participation and helping PNG move towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” said United Nation’s Resident Coordinator David McLachlan-Karr. Colgate-Palmolive’s partnership for development comes at a time when the UN is looking at partnering more with civil society and the private sector for development.

The programme is being carried out by Population Media Center on behalf of the UN as part of its Millennium Development Goal campaign, aimed at raising awareness and encouraging citizen participation in the promotion and delivery of the MDGs.

 

It will include the production and broadcast of two radio drama series that will each air twice weekly over the course of two years. Each series will be 208 episodes in length and will be broadcast nationally and via provincial stations. The original radio dramas will be written and produced by Papua New Guinea nationals who will receive technical support and training from world renowned dramatic writers, producers, and communications professionals from both Hollywood and the developing world.

 

The dramas will be written to reflect the realities of life in Papua New Guinea and will feature character role models that the audience can follow over time and learn from. The dramas will address issues such as gender equality and women’s empowerment, education, environmental protection, and poverty eradication. By first engaging audiences in riveting, dramatic stories, the programme is able to not only deliver important social and health messages to the public at large, but to motivate them to change their attitudes and behaviors on the issues of common social interest. The series in PNG is slated to go on the air at the beginning of 2011.

 

Given the percentage of people who listen to radio in Papua New Guinea, the programme has the potential to reach between 2 and 3 million people.

 

“We are very excited about the tremendous support that Colgate-Palmolive is providing for this important effort in Papua New Guinea,” Bill Ryerson, President of Population Media Center said. “Colgate-Palmolive is a leader in corporate social responsibility, and we are grateful for their commitment to improving life in Papua New Guinea.”

 

The original version of this story was published by Population Media Center.

 

The PNG UN Country Fund was established in 2009 and allows the UN System in PNG to move towards a single financing mechanism for development, with the expectation that 52% of the UN’s non-core financial resources in the country will be channeled through it. The PNG UN Country Fund provides a means for further consolidation of UN funding mechanisms in PNG and coherent mobilization, allocation and disbursement of donor resources in support of the five Delivery as One elements of the Joint UN Country Strategy. The PNG UN Country Fund is administered by the MDTF Office. For more information on the PNG UN Country Fund, click here.