Organization Mission

Morobe Development Foundation Inc. (MDF) is a leading internationally recognised NGO based in Lae Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG). It”s vision is to help young people reach their full potential by utilising their hidden talents in community development initiatives to become role models in their communities. MDF was established to address a broader and more diverse range of objectives through the use of dance, music, and drama.

MDF’s primary aim is to ensure that women participate equally in decision-making in any project undertaken, including projects related to Ending Violence against Women and promoting Human Rights to support the Government and the Sustainable Development Goals.

MDF, in collaboration with Online Volunteers (OVs), has previously undertaken various scientific research studies related to the environment including: forest cover loss, land use land cover change, the influence of various parameters on surface waters, and coastal shoreline turtle habitat loss. These projects included the participation of various experts and researchers from diverse fields across various countries across the globe – ranging from marine biology, biodiversity conservation, PNG community management, remote sensing, and land use policy among various others.

MDF is managed by a management committee, which is made up of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, Secretary, the Treasurer, the Project Coordinator, Community Development Officer, and a male and female member of the foundation who ensures that women participate equally in decision making.

We at MDF assert that we have the required skill sets, knowledge, established international network, and the necessary foundational work to undertake projects successfully.

Context

PNG is one of the most aid-dependent countries in the Pacific. For decades, billions of dollars have flowed into the country from Australia, the World Bank, the IMF, and other donors. However, despite this massive influx of foreign aid, PNG, Fiji and other Pacific nations continue to face challenges with poverty, inequality, corruption and underdevelopment. This paradox raises critical questions about aid effectiveness and the underlying systemic issues that prevent sustainable development in these nations.

MDF requires specialised support in academic writing, research methodology, and policy analysis to produce high-quality manuscripts that meet international publication standards. Our local capacity is limited in these technical areas, making Online Volunteers” support essential for creating credible, well-researched publications that can influence policy discourse and community understanding.

These manuscripts will serve as evidence-based resources to educate local communities about governance challenges and potential solutions, provide policymakers with research-backed recommendations for reform, and support advocacy efforts for improved governance and reduced corruption. The research will help bridge the gap between foreign aid input and development outcomes by identifying systemic barriers and proposing actionable solutions.

MDF will utilise these manuscripts by distributing them to government officials, policy makers, and development partners; using them in community education and awareness programmes; submitting them to academic journals and policy publications; and presenting findings at conferences and policy forums. The manuscripts will also be shared with international development organisations and donors to inform future aid strategies and serve as the foundation for MDF”s ongoing research and advocacy initiatives.

This assignment directly contributes to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by addressing corruption, promoting good governance, and strengthening institutional capacity in Pacific nations. Through rigorous analysis of governance failures and aid effectiveness, the manuscripts will provide evidence-based recommendations for building more transparent, accountable, and effective institutions that can better serve their populations and achieve sustainable development outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

MDF is looking for 8 Online Volunteers with innovative writing and research skills to develop 4 separate manuscripts on topics related to economic, political, finance, technology, and geopolitical analysis for business leaders and policymakers in PNG, Fiji, and other Pacific nations. Each manuscript will be assigned to 2 volunteers working collaboratively under the guidance and supervision of the MDF Team.

Expected Deliverables: 4 individual manuscripts (approximately 8,000–10,000 words each), each focusing on a specific theme but collectively addressing the overarching question of why foreign aid has not translated into sustainable development in these nations.

Online Volunteers Roles and Areas of Focus:

Manuscript 1: Technology and Democratic Governance
– Volunteer 1: Research and analyze the influence of communication technologies on cultural and democratic norms in Pacific nations under MDF guidance;
– Volunteer 2: Examine how digital transformation affects governance and citizen participation, ensuring consistency in socio-political language throughout the manuscript under MDF supervision;

Manuscript 2: Financial Accessibility and Inclusion
– Volunteer 3: Research and analyze barriers to financial inclusion and their impact on development in Pacific nations under MDF guidance;
– Volunteer 4: Focus on clarity, terminology, and structure in financial analysis, supporting the development of the finance accessibility study under MDF supervision;

Manuscript 3: Geopolitical Governance Analysis
– Volunteer 5: Research and analyze the influence of geopolitical aspects on governance in Pacific nations under MDF guidance;
– Volunteer 6: Ensure policy relevance and community development focus across the research, maintaining a practical and scholarly tone throughout the manuscript under MDF supervision;

Manuscript 4: Economic Strategy and Reform
– Volunteer 7: Research and analyze economic strategies to tackle flawed economic policies, focusing on stalled governance reforms and their economic implications under MDF guidance;
– Volunteer 8: Provide actionable recommendations for economic development despite aid dependency, ensuring manuscript coherence and quality under MDF supervision;

All Online Volunteers will work remotely under the direction and supervision of the MDF Team throughout the engagement. Each manuscript will be developed collaboratively by the assigned volunteer pairs but will follow consistent formatting, citation standards, and methodological approaches to ensure coherence across the collection.

MDF and the authors have joint copyright over the content, and MDF will promote the publication of the manuscript.

Required Skills and Experience

The Online Volunteers should have:
– Strong writing, editing, research skills.
– Proven experience in communication or a related field.
– Ability to work independently and as part of a remote team.
– Excellent communication skills together with strong organization and planning skills
– Attention to details, initiative and ability to work in a multicultural environment.