Old Dart Foundation · Papua New Guinea

A World in Which PNG Is Able to Flourish on Its Own Terms

We support communities by developing trusting relationships, providing resources, and fostering connections, to advance inherent rights and catalyse social change.

55+ Experts consulted

Who We Are

A Private Funder Uniquely Placed to Catalyse Change

This strategy reflects the actions we will take based on what we have heard and learned from 55 experts — over half with direct experience of PNG, including 20 living there now. Our research has been wide-ranging, examining the root causes of gender-based violence, climate change, and the healthcare crisis.

As a private funder, we are uniquely placed to help catalyse social change in PNG by supporting individuals and organisations that are woefully overlooked and underfunded but so critical to bringing about lasting change.

"Synthesising the insights from our experts and concluding what it means for our funding has been a huge privilege, yet also a challenging process. There is so much we can do in PNG and how best to strike a balance between breadth and depth of funding is something to which we continue to give careful consideration."

Francesca Mott CEO, Old Dart Foundation

Community-based, grassroots organisations in rural areas

Women-led work and organisations

Youth-led work and emerging leaders

Our Foundation

Vision, Purpose & Approach

Our Vision

A world in which PNG is able to flourish on its own terms, the diversity of its culture and ecosystems are valued, and the potential of its people is fully realised.

Our Purpose

We support communities by developing trusting relationships, providing resources, and fostering connections, to advance inherent rights and catalyse social change.

Our Approach

We forefront self-determination and prioritise opportunities where money goes directly to frontline communities, in support of community-led initiatives.

What We Stand For

Our Core Values

These values guide everything we do — from how we fund to how we show up for the communities we serve.

Allyship

We know that the future of PNG belongs to the people who have been shaped by its past and present. We are committed to working in service of the PNG community and will uphold their right to self-determination.

Mutual Respect

We seek to engage with our grantees in a spirit of partnership, mutual understanding, and respect. Real relationships are built through genuine listening and authentic solidarity.

Humility

We are committed to continual learning and growth. We seek out knowledge beyond our organisation and centre the expertise of those most affected by the injustices we seek to tackle.

Humanity

Our mission is driven by compassion for the human race and the natural world. Every decision we make is rooted in genuine care for the communities we serve and the ecosystems they depend on.

Ambition

We recognise the urgency and seriousness of the injustices our partners seek to address. We are ambitious for the communities we serve and uncompromising in our commitment to this work. We are bold in the face of the action required of us.

Trust

We believe in our partners and are led by their vision — building authentic relationships based on solidarity. Trust is not given conditionally; it is the foundation from which everything else grows.

What We Fund

Our Five Funding Priorities

Based on extensive consultation with 55 experts, we focus our funding on the most pressing and most underfunded areas of need in PNG.

Healthcare

Rural Healthcare

Our research emphasised that:

The government has consistently failed to prioritise rural healthcare, with infrastructure and medical supplies not meeting the needs of the growing population.
PNG has the same number of births per year as Australia — but Australia has 24,000 midwives, while PNG has fewer than 800, mostly in urban areas.
No government scholarship exists for midwifery. Women must first train and serve as a nurse for five years before qualifying.

How ODF can catalyse change:

Funding programmes that enable trained community healthcare workers to develop a wider range of skills, including maternal and infant health.
Scholarships and funding to increase the number of medical professionals working rurally in PNG, including qualified midwives.

In 10 years:

More of the rural population can access primary medical care, with more women giving birth with assistance. Rural medical practitioners have access to increased and ongoing training opportunities.

Climate

Climate: Coastal Conservation

Our research emphasised that:

For coastal communities, the impacts of climate change are already so profound that people are forced to move due to rising sea levels and coastal ecosystem degradation.
Women are more adversely affected — when communities are displaced it is their job to bring normalcy, gather resources and rebuild. There is no government guidance.
Although many countries now recognise Loss and Damage, funding consistently fails to reach frontline communities.

How ODF can catalyse change:

Funding and wider support for locally-led organisations that support coastal communities to protect ecosystems and sustain livelihoods.

In 10 years:

Coastal ecosystems are better protected and local communities can build more sustainable livelihoods.

Climate

Climate: Forest Protection

Our research emphasised that:

Indigenous people have developed cultures and practices that prevent over-exploitation of forests. Rates of deforestation are significantly lower in areas managed by local communities.
Less than 2% of philanthropy has gone to climate change initiatives and less than 1% of that has gone to indigenous and frontline communities — even though they bear the impact.
Protecting local livelihoods is a key lever for preventing deforestation, as communities are less likely to sell their land to logging companies when financially secure.

How ODF can catalyse change:

Funding and support for climate leaders, activists and community-led initiatives through trusted local partners.
Funding that enables the local management of forests and prioritises self-determination.

In 10 years:

Inherent land rights are formalised and respected, improving environmental outcomes and strengthening community leadership and livelihoods.

GBV

Gender-Based Violence

Our research emphasised that:

Root causes of GBV include patriarchal gender norms, poverty, lack of employment opportunities, and poor mental health.
Whilst laws exist to protect women, they aren't always enforced, and social norms make it difficult for victims to pursue justice.
Local women's organisations led by respected community members are often more effective at ending the cycle of violence but find it difficult to access funding.

How ODF can catalyse change:

Funding rural, community-based, women-led organisations and emerging leaders.
Awareness-raising and behaviour change campaigns.
Projects specifically working with male perpetrators of violence — an area rarely addressed by other funders.

In 10 years:

Social norms and behaviours around GBV have shifted, and women's rights and protection from violence are the status quo in reality and social consciousness.

Children and young people in PNG communities

Child Safety

Violence Against Children

Our research emphasised that:

Children in PNG are victims of high levels of violence in their homes, schools, and communities, perpetuating the cycle and normalisation of violence.
Preventing or stopping violence against children at home or in school is the single most important thing that can be done to reduce violence in the long term.
Teachers are often poorly trained and minimally equipped to address violence. There are rarely dedicated guidance counsellors in schools.

How ODF can catalyse change:

Work carried out with children and young people to shift social norms and behaviours around violence.
Programmes in schools which support teachers to better safeguard children.
Organisations supporting child survivors of violence.

In 10 years:

Homes and schools are safer places where children can live free from abuse and violence.

How We Fund

Our Funding Practices

How we provide funding is just as — if not more — important than what we fund. We are committed to significantly shifting the power we hold to the communities we serve.

Our Grants

Continue to offer unrestricted, core funding.
Actively support each grantee to find donors that can sustain them beyond ODF's lifetime.

Non-Financial Support

Strengthen our grantees' organisations through mentoring, education and capacity building.
Invest in organisations themselves, not just projects. Support individuals through trusted intermediaries.

Our Funding Process

Actively create opportunities for community self-determination.
Be transparent about the origins of ODF's wealth.
Support grantees to define success on their own terms — not KPIs and milestones.

Shifting Power

Proactively seek out local changemakers and support their own visions.
Establish an advisory panel that reflects the communities we serve.
Strengthen young people's voices through our grant-making.

The Wider Ecosystem

Coordinate with other funders and fund the ecosystem to grow.
Do donor organising — promoting our grantees to other funders.

ODF — 2025

ODF Management Visits DWU

In 2025, the Old Dart Foundation management team visited Divine Word University in Madang — meeting with scholarship awardees, faculty heads, and the DWU—ODF coordination team to celebrate the program's continued impact across Papua New Guinea.

These regular visits strengthen the ODF—DWU partnership, ensuring every scholar receives the support they need to complete their studies and return home to serve their communities.

The People Behind ODF

Our Team

Committed individuals who believe deeply in PNG's right to self-determination and a flourishing future.

Prof. Iwona Kolodziejczyk Co-DirectorDWU / ODF

Prof. Jerzy Kuzma Scholarship DirectorDWU / ODF

Mr. Kossie Sindek Program CoordinatorDWU FMHS

Mrs. Helen Dukaduka Tigali Team MemberDWU / ODF

Scholarships Awarded

Active Scholars

Alumni Network

Community Projects

The Old Dart Foundation

Transforming Lives Through Education

For over a decade, ODF has partnered with Divine Word University to support talented students from rural and remote communities across PNG — removing financial barriers so they can return home as nurses, doctors, teachers, and leaders.

About the Scholarship Get in Touch