Media Centre · 2026

2026 News & Updates

News, partnerships, events and updates from XSPI and its network of partners across the Asia-Pacific during 2026.

Articles

2026

Year

Countries

10 Jun 2026

PNG

Professor Miranda Forsyth, ANU Presents at XSPI Q2 Expert Network Meeting

At the XSPI Q2 Expert Network meeting, Professor Miranda Forsyth, School of Regulation and Global Governance, College of Asia & Pacific, ANU presented a talk titled "Connecting community to state through governance innovations in PNG." Professor Forsyth discussed five current projects focused on mapping justice systems and community rule making in PNG and other Pacific nations. Her presentation led to broad feedback and discussion among XSPI members. Professor Forsyth also referenced the proposed establishment of a PNG Peace Institute potentially at Mt. Hagen.

4 Jun 2026

Bougainville

Hon. Theresa Baranangko MP, Member for Central Bougainville Women Requests XSPI Advisory Support

Following a meeting in Buka, Bougainville, the Hon. Theresa Baranangko MP requested Ms. Mann secure support from the Sankamap – XSPI Bougainville Taskforce to assist drafting a five-year (2026–2030) framework for the proposed Women's Cooperative in Central Bougainville. An initial draft was subsequently completed by the Taskforce which the Member is currently reviewing.

28 May 2026

Bougainville

Inaugural Sankamap – XSPI Bougainville Taskforce Mission Secures Strong ABG Project Endorsements

Ms. Josephine Mann completed the Bougainville Taskforce's first mission to Bougainville, comprising broad government, NGO and private sector meetings in Arawa, Buin, and Buka focused on three of the Taskforce's five current project initiatives. Buka meetings secured endorsements for: (1) OOXii Global Community Vision Eye Care project; (2) Bougainville-led CSO Development Hub; and (3) Bougainville-led Accelerated Malaria Elimination initiative. Dr. Joseph Mautu convened prominent business leaders and secured interest in forming a Rotary Satellite Club, potentially linked to Port Moresby Rotary Club. Ms. Mann also visited the Arawa School of Nursing where strong support for OOXii was obtained.

25 May 2026

Bougainville

Bougainville Taskforce Facilitates Initial Discussions to Create Buin Rotary Satellite Club

Josephine Mann, XSPI PNG Country Director, and Nellie Tinga, Co-Chair Bougainville Taskforce, facilitated a half-day workshop in Buin, South Bougainville to explore options to create the first Rotary affiliation in South Bougainville District. The meeting was convened by Dr. Joseph Mautu and Mr. Albert Nukuitu, a prominent local business leader. The meeting resolved strong interest in progressing discussions with Rotary to qualify the potential for creation of a satellite club.

25 May 2026

Bougainville

PaCSIA Receives Bougainville Health Minister Endorsement

PaCSIA, a key member of the Sankamap – XSPI Bougainville Taskforce, convened the first mental health training workshop in Bougainville, held at the Catholic mission in Chabai, North Bougainville. In her opening remarks the Minister for Health Honorable De Lourdes Semoso and the North Bougainville Women's Representative fully endorsed the PaCSIA-led community mental health project. Minister Semoso said: "Thank you Dr. David Tierney and Dr. Serge Loode for introducing these programs to us apart from your Mental Health responsibilities in Bougainville. You have done justice to the people of Bougainville."

15 Apr 2026

Bougainville

XSPI and Sankamap Partner OOXii Global Receives Balwyn Rotary Club Centenary Grant

The Balwyn Rotary Club announced the Kariong Somersby Rotary Club was awarded a multi-year Centenary Grant to support the OOXii Vision Project for vision testing and affordable glasses provision in Bougainville, PNG. The project proposes to train four local health workers in vision screening and dispensing glasses, conduct up to 10,000 refractive vision screening tests, and provide 2,000+ glasses and frames. Dr. Sarah Crowe, OOXii Global CEO stated: "Winning this very important grant was critical to enable OOXii to proceed with its much-needed Bougainville project. Our sincere appreciation to the XSPI PNG Working Group's Bougainville Taskforce without whom we would not have been successful securing this grant."

1 Apr 2026

PNG

Drs. Terence Wood & Cameron Hill Present at XSPI Expert Network Q1 Meeting

Drs Terence Wood and Cameron Hill, Consultants, Development Policy Centre, Crawford School, ANU presented to a combined meeting of XSPI's Expert Network and PNG Working Group. Dr. Hill addressed the Australian Development Budget Outlook while Dr. Wood discussed Australia's PNG Bilateral Program. The talks generated very active discussion among XSPI members attending.

2 Feb 2026

PNG

XSPI and Abt Global Enter PNG Malaria Strategic Partnership

XSPI and Abt Global executed a Strategic Partnership MOU for a PNG Provincial Scale Malaria Partnership. The partnership is designed to provide a platform for XSPI and Abt Global to jointly explore potential sub-national malaria and control projects, initially focused on eight of PNG's highest burden provinces. This is a unique initiative representing PNG's first private-sector provincial scale initiative to engage the private sector supporting malaria control.

17 Jan 2026

PNG

Josephine (Jo) Mann Appointed Inaugural XSPI PNG Country Director

Dr. Dan Evans, XSPI Founder & Chair announced the appointment of XSPI's inaugural PNG Country Director, Ms. Josephine (Jo) Mann, effective 19 January 2026. The late 2025 XSPI Steering Committee decision to appoint a PNG Country Director followed the mid-2025 inaugural Member Survey and related strategy review. Ms. Mann was appointed following a comprehensive international executive search which demonstrated very strong interest in the position, partly due to XSPI's unique development model and localisation commitment.