Jayapura, Papua – Development in Papua should prioritize community welfare to ensure that the benefits of development are felt equally down to the village level.
Member of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Papua Special Autonomy Development, Paulus Waterpauw, emphasized that development in Papua should not only focus on physical infrastructure and large-scale investment, but must also improve the quality of life of Indigenous Papuans (OAP).
According to him, a development approach that directly involves the community is essential in creating sustainable progress in Papua.
“Development must be able to deliver real welfare for the community, create job opportunities, and strengthen family economies at the village level,” he stated on Saturday.
The statement was delivered in response to the implementation of National Strategic Projects (PSN) in the food security and energy sectors currently taking place in several regions of Southern Papua, including Asmat, Mappi, Merauke, and Boven Digoel.
Paulus emphasized that humanist communication and open dialogue with local communities are important factors in ensuring that development programs can run effectively and gain public acceptance.
He explained that various social challenges in Papua, including limited access to education, healthcare, and security disturbances, are closely linked to poverty and limited economic opportunities.
Therefore, development projects and incoming investments are expected to provide direct economic benefits to local communities by increasing household incomes and creating new business opportunities.
In addition, he encouraged Papua’s development planning to adopt a bottom-up approach by listening to aspirations from villages and local communities as the foundation for policymaking.
According to him, development that prioritizes Indigenous communities will become an important foundation for realizing a safe, advanced, and prosperous Papua.
The government remains committed to accelerating Papua’s development through inclusive and sustainable Special Autonomy policies aimed at improving community welfare across various sectors.
