PNG Red Cross and ICRC sign Partnership Agreement

A Partnership Framework Agreement (PFA) to strengthen the collaboration between the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society (PNGRCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was signed for the first time in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, by the Secretary-General of the PNGRCS Valachie Quagliata, and the Head of the ICRC Mission in Papua New Guinea, Dominik Urban.

"Creating positive relationships, being able to communicate ideas and understand others is an important skill to have when building partnerships," says Mr Urban.

The document captures a three-year partnership (2023-2025) and expresses the mutual commitment to develop, strengthen and value partnership, particularly in the areas of capacity-building in Communication, Protecting Family Links, Branding, Safer Access and IHL.

The Head of ICRC PNG Mission, Dominik Urban said the ICRC had always enjoyed a good working relationship with PNG Red Cross and the agreement will further strengthen what had already been established.

"This agreement is all about these perspectives and others. The implementation will strengthen our relationship with PNG Red Cross and leverage our positions as humanitarian actors in PNG:"

The signing marked an historic moment for the two institutions. PFA is a strategic level agreement that among other things, signifies a commitment to grow together in accordance with the Movement's Fundamental Principles, its statues, the Code of Conduct for good partnership and the Movement's coordination rules.

The Secretary General of the PNGRCS, Valachie Quagliata, for his part, described the agreement as significant in strengthening the cooperation and collaboration, especially at this time when other key stakeholders are working hard to operationalise their humanitarian impact in PNG.

"We are, therefore, pleased and encouraged by this momentous achievement and we are committed to taking it forward. With this PFA and our enhanced partnership, we hope to achieve our vision of becoming the focal point when it comes to Humanitarian diplomacy and action within the next 5 to 10 years and further".

Mr Quagliata thanked ICRC for the guidance and support rendered in the past several years and assured its partner of PNGRCS commitment to the agreement.