MAS KAGIN
TAPANI ASSOCIATION INC. (MAKATA)
"Sea Guardians" — Madang Province, Papua New
Guinea
ANNUAL REPORT
July
2025 – June 2026
Prepared for:
United Nations
Development Programme — Biodiversity and Climate Fund (UNDP BCF)
In
partnership with the New Zealand Government and the Conservation and
Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), Papua New Guinea
Grant Project: Community-Based Coral Reef Restoration and Climate
Change Adaptation
Project Sites: Kaviak Village, Karkar Island, Madang
Province, PNG
Submitted by: Wenceslaus Magun, Director, MAKATA Monday, 13
July, 2026
1. Executive Summary
Mas Kagin Tapani Association Inc.
(MAKATA) is a Papua New Guinean not-for-profit conservation organisation based
in Madang Province. It was established
in April 2009 to sustain the Sea Turtle Restoration and Protection Project
(STRP) initiated in 2006. Over the reporting period July 2025 to June 2026,
MAKATA implemented community-based biodiversity conservation and climate change
adaptation activities in Kaviak Village, Karkar Island, under a grant supported
by the UNDP Biodiversity and Climate Fund (BCF), the Government of New Zealand,
and the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA).
During the reporting period, MAKATA
completed a detailed community profiling and baseline survey of Kaviak Village
(February–March 2025). This was followed
by Climate Change and Blue Economy workshop.
In addition, MAKATA in partnership with the Madang Provincial Fisheries
Division informed participants about the Madang Province Fisheries Division’s
Master Plan (November 2025).
Kaviak villagers were also informed,
educated, and empowered in Coral Restoration and Climate Change Adaptation
Training (January 2026). This five-day
training was delivered in partnership with East New Britain (ENB) Sea Keepers.
The training reached 63 community participants and resulted in the
establishment of seven coral nurseries (five A-frame and two table frame
nurseries), the propagation of 86 coral fragments across nine genotypes, the
initiation of a community coral gene bank, and the start of customary closure
(tabu area) discussions among Kaviak's four clans.
MAKATA further empowered 43 women
with intensive basic sewing training (April 2026). These women and girls represented their four
clans namely; Kulkul, Kaviak, Balang and Wolan clans. This (40hrs) sewing training empowered them
with foundational sewing skills. The
training covered machine operation, pattern cutting, and garment assembly. Participants learned to produce items like
meri blouse. These women and girls
completed a 40 hours basic sewing training.
The training was highly successful.
It provided essential sewing skills.
Participants are now equipped to start their own sewing businesses.
The project activities ended with a
Monitoring and Evaluation exercise. The
data collected through pre- and post-training surveys in April 2026, show
strong gains in community awareness, knowledge, confidence, and commitment to
coral reef conservation, with all surveyed participants expressing commitment
to ongoing conservation efforts. This report summarises MAKATA's activities,
outcomes, challenges, and forward plans under the grant, and reports against
the UNDP BCF's expected results framework.
2. About MAKATA
Mas Kagin Tapani means "Sea
Guardians" in the Bel and Takia languages of Madang Province.
The group is a registered
not-for-profit advocacy and conservation group established in April 2009. Mas Kagin Tapani, henceforth MAKATA grew out
of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project (STRP), started in June 2006 by Director
Wenceslaus Magun while contracted as Western Pacific Campaigner for the Turtle
Island Restoration Network (TIRN), a US-based non-profit.
MAKATA's mission is to prevent the loss of
endangered sea turtles and to support coastal and island communities in Papua
New Guinea to manage and sustain their cultures, food sources, marine habitats,
ecosystems, and biodiversity, while balancing conservation outcomes with
alternative livelihood options.
MAKATA’S central strategy is in the
establishment of Community Managed Marine Areas
(CMMAs), using Conservation Deeds
(CDs). The establishment and renewal of
Karkum CMMACD gives customary resource owners a legal framework for managing
their marine and nearshore resources (https://www.thenational.com.pg/deed-signed-toprotectleatherbacks/).
MAKATA has historically worked with coastal communities across
Madang Province, including
Sarang, Karkum, Mirap, Yadikam, Tokain, Malas, Dibor, and Murukanam
villages in Sumgilbar
Local Level Government in Sumkar
District. It has also worked in Mur,
Yamai, Male, BomSagar and Lalok in Raicoast District. Under the current grant, MAKATA has expanded
its coral reef restoration and climate change adaptation work to Kaviak Village
on Karkar Island within Sumkar District.
3. Grant Overview
|
Item |
Details |
|
Grantee |
Mas Kagin Tapani Association Inc. (MAKATA) |
|
|
|
|
Funders |
UNDP Biodiversity and Climate Fund (BCF), Government
of New Zealand, CEPA |
|
Reporting period |
July 2025 – June 2026 |
|
Project title |
Community-Based Coral Reef Restoration and Climate
Change Adaptation
|
|
Primary project site |
Kaviak Village, Karkar Island, Sumkar District,
Madang Province, PNG |
|
Implementing partner |
East New Britain (ENB) Sea Keepers |
|
Grant amount |
PGK346,146.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant period |
4. Project Site and Community Context
Figure 1: Location of Kaviak Village on Karkar
Island, Madang Province, PNG, from
Google Map.
Kaviak Village within Ward 4 of the
Karkar North Local Level Government area on Karkar Island. Karkar is a volcanic island off the coast of
Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.
5. Key Activities and Achievements
Figure 2: Members of the Kaviak clan participating in the
baseline survey facilitated by Geraldine Bepi,
Bonny Wadui, Edith Bai, Micah Lawrence, and Adolf Lilai.
5.1.
Kaviak
Village Profile
A baseline community profiling
survey was conducted between 23 February and 3 March 2025 to inform project
design.
Key Kaviak Village Profile Baseline
Findings include:
a.
Kaviak Village has a population
of 1,124 people. The population continues to grow each year;
b.
To cope with that change,
Kaviak villagers formed the Kaviak Community Based Organisation. This CBO is dedicated to sourcing
partnerships and collaborations, and working with partners to drive
development;
c.
Under the leadership of one of
their elite leaders, Winnifred Duk, who is studying at the New South Wales
University, in Australia, the CBO sought help from MAKATA to help them restore
their coral reefs, sea turtles, and attend to their blue economic needs in
light of the ongoing climate change effects and impacts;
d.
One of MAKATA’s first activity
in responding to this request was in carrying out
Kaviak Village Profile;
e.
This study shows that Kaviak
Village falls under Ward 4 of North Karkar LLG, neighbouring Dorokatam, and
Keng villages, with Kinim Government Station also within the Ward;
f.
Its governance is managed
through customary structures alongside a village Ward councillor, with serious
matters referred to Karkar Police Station, roughly 5–10 minutes away on
foot;
g.
Most households in Kaviak are
semi-permanent (70%), with the remainder split between traditional
bush-material (20%) and permanent (10%) housing;
h.
The community speaks the
indigenous Waskia language alongside Tok Pisin, and English. It relies on gardening, fishing, and store
goods for food, with copra, betel nut, mustard, and cocoa as its primary income
sources;
i.
There are four church
denominations active in the village: Seventh-day Adventist
(SDA), Lutheran, Four Square, and
Catholic;
j.
Education is served by Kidoka
Primary School (unregistered since 2005), Kaviak Elementary School, and the
SDA-run Sivono SDA Phonics School (Early Childhood Development); secondary
students attend Karkar Secondary School, with technical/vocational pathways
available at the Yu Kinim Technical Vocational
Education Training Centre (TVET) in
Kinim;
k.
The community faces climate
stressors including rising sea levels, changing rainfall, and volcanic
activity, alongside socio-economic pressures such as youth migration to urban
centres for education and employment.
This baseline informed the design of the subsequent trainings and restoration activities. MAKATA ensured the interventions were grounded in Kaviak's social structure, customary governance, and livelihood dependencies on marine and other natural resources.
5.2. Climate Change and Blue Economy workshop
Figure 3: Mrs. Sandy
Malol sharing her views on Blue Economy
A total of 29 participants attended
a training in November 2025 in Kaviak village, that enabled them to make
informed decisions on issues of climate change, blue economy, and the Madang
Provincial Fisheries Division’ Master Plan.
Out of these participants, 13 were males and 16 were females.
The goal of this training empowered
participants on the concept of climate change and blue economy. The training ensured that participants
understood the concepts of climate change and blue economy, appreciated the free
environmental services they get from their natural resources, and commit to at
least one or more small action or project activity.
The participants also learned about
the Madang Provincial fisheries Master plan as well at its business arm,
‘Taliorai’. Participants further learned
the definition of Climate Change, the factors contributing to increased
Greenhouse gases, the effects of these Greenhouse gases and their subsequent
threats. They also understood the meaning of blue economy and the types of blue
economic projects they already have or may want to venture into.
The objective of this training was
for participants to understand these concepts and the fisheries master plan, so
that they are able to take steps to address these issues at their community
level. One such project MAKATA intended
to help Kaviak villagers establish was a climate resilient coral reef
restoration project using the UNDP BCF grant.
The participants were also given
the opportunity to meet a provincial fisheries officer, Mark Umune. They learned from him the sector’s master
plan. They were also empowered to
collaborate with the provincial fisheries’ business arm, ‘Taliorai’ and to
venture into fisheries projects in the province. The training motivated the participants to
take adaptive actions to address climate change impacts affecting their natural
resources and their lives. It gave the
participants the opportunity to venture into local sustainable blue economic
fisheries projects both in the sea and on land.
5.3.
Coral
Restoration and Climate Change Adaptation workshop
Figure 4: Roger from Kaviak village checking to ensure the A frames and Table frames for the
coral nurseries at Kaviak village's coral nursery site are in order. Picture by Patrick Gomiai
MAKATA, through its partnership with ENB Sea Keepers, delivered a five-day Coral Restoration and Climate Change Adaptation Training in Kaviak Village. The training combined coral science, nature-based climate adaptation, and traditional reef management knowledge, and was designed to be community-led, science-based, and grounded in indigenous knowledge.
|
Indicator |
Result |
|
Participants |
63 community members (youth, women, elders, fishers,
and leaders) |
|
Duration |
5 days |
|
Coral nurseries established |
7 total — 5 A-frame nurseries, 2 table nurseries |
|
Coral fragments harvested and established |
86 fragments across 9 genotypes (Acropora staghorn, tabulate,
and digitate)
|
|
Coastal perimeter scoped |
Approx. 4.81 km, covering approx. 602,159 m² of
nearshore marine environment |
|
Nursery site location |
Lat. 4°33'15.53" S, Long. 145°56'12.42" E |
|
Governance outcome |
Customary
closure (tabu area) discussions initiated among all four clans |
 |
Figure 5: Group picture of participants with ENBSK staff and MAKATA's volunteers. Picture by Wenceslaus Magun. |
The training was structured across
five themed days: (1) marine ecosystems, coral reefs, and climate change,
including a community threat-mapping exercise; (2) coral taxonomy, bleaching
resistance, and restoration case studies from Milne Bay Eco Custodian
Advocates, Ailan Awareness (New Ireland Province), and Coral Gardeners (Fiji);
(3) site scoping, nursery material preparation, and customary governance
discussions, supported by bathymetry, turbidity (NDTI), and
sea-surface-temperature analysis of the Kaviak reef; (4) coral harvesting and
full nursery deployment; and (5) data management, CBO registration guidance,
monitoring and evaluation, and a closing ceremony with certification.
A notable governance outcome was
the community's collective identification of a nursery site balancing
ecological suitability (depth, clarity, wave exposure) with customary
acceptance by resource owners, alongside the start of formal discussions on a
customary closure (tabu area) to protect the site.
Kaviak youth made a public pledge
to construct an additional coral nursery, linked to a performance-based
incentive (a kayak, a genset, and a mobile phone donated by MAKATA) to support
ongoing monitoring, documentation, and storytelling.
MAKATA further identified next
steps follow-up workshops for 6 to 12 months to strengthen customary marine
governance and sustainable blue economic project. These workshops will facilitate discussions
amongst representatives of Kaviak's four clans (Kaviak, Kulkul, Wolan, and
Balang) to outline a customary closure around the nursery site, covering
proposed boundaries, access and use rules (particularly fishing restrictions),
and clan roles in monitoring, enforcement, and conflict resolution. These
discussions will integrate customary authority with the Kaviak Community-Based
Organisation (CBO) leadership and youth monitoring teams, positioning
traditional governance as a core climate adaptation strategy rather than a
parallel process. The workshops will
also monitor and evaluate the progress of the basic sewing activities conducted
by each of the four clans and identify and recommend areas for
improvement. The workshops shall conduct
further research to identify alternative blue economic activities to balance
the reef restoration project.
5.4. Basic Sewing Training workshop
Figure 6: Participants wearing meri blouses theyproduced from this training. Picture by Wenceslaus magun
The (40hrs) a week-long basic sewing
training programme aimed at empowering participants with foundational sewing
skills. Covering machine operation, pattern cutting, and garment assembly. Participants learned to produce items like
meri blouse.
The course enhanced the participants
technical skills including stitching and pattern design. PNG meri blouse or (meri kolos) is a popular,
loose-fitting garment introduced by missionaries in the late 1800s, serving as
national dress. Often sewn by local SME
creators, it features a round-neck, free hand cut designed, sometimes worn with
a skirt. It is worn for both formal and
casual occasions.
The four clans of Kaviak namely
Kulkul, Kaviak, Wolan, and Balang were represented by 20 active participants
and 23 observers.
The Objective of this training
was:
a.
To equip participants with
skills for operating home sewing machine, cutting fabric, and producing
finished garments;
b.
To be familiar with handling of
a sewing machine; and
c.
To identify trouble shootings
of a sewing machine
Training Module
The participants were introduced to machine operation. They learnt to properly set up the threading,
bobbin winding and safety techniques.
They also learnt to produce the main body of the meri blouse, its
sleeves, neckline/facing before stitching them together to produce a meri
blouse. The following sewing steps were
used:
a.
Participants first prepared the
neckline: They stitched the two pieces of neckline together, and cut around the
neckline to ensure they produced a V-Shape;
b.
They then used the pleats to
make gatherings on the front and back of the bodice before stitching the bodies
to the neck of the meri-blouse;
c.
Sleeve: The participants then
took the longer curve side of the sleeve and pleat along the cuff, and stitched
them to hold. They also pinned the
sleeves to the bodice from front to back of the meri-blouse and stitched them
to firm them;
d.
Side seams: The participants
then sew the side seams from the cuff to the hem; and
e.
Hemming: They finally hemmed
the bottom edge of the blouse to complete their meri blouse project.
Achievements and outcomes
include:
a.
Skills Acquisition: The participants
developed proficiency in operating sewing machines and basic garment
creation;
b.
Empowerment: They gained confidence to
alter clothing or start small tailoring businesses’; and
c. Sample completion: All the participants successfully completed sewing one meri blouse and wore them on their graduation.
Conclusion
The training program was highly successful. It provided essential sewing skills. Participants are now equipped to start their own businesses.
5.5. Monitoring and Evaluation assessment
MAKATA measured training effectiveness through pre- and post-training surveys assessing awareness, knowledge, confidence, and commitment among participants.
|
|
Pre-Training |
|
|
Indicator |
|
Post-Training |
|
Awareness of coral restoration |
Mostly "No" (17 of 28 respondents) |
Overwhelmingly "Yes" (25 of 28
respondents)
|
|
|
Limited |
|
|
Knowledge of restoration techniques |
High |
|
|
Confidence in applying skills |
Not assessed / low baseline |
Nearly 100% confident (28 of 29) |
|
Community commitment to conservation |
Emerging |
100% commitment (29 of 29) |
Qualitative feedback indicated
participants gained the ability to identify coral species, understood coral
bleaching and reef threats, and valued the practical, community based learning
approach. MAKATA has identified follow-up 6-month and 12-month surveys,
integration of coral health monitoring data, and use of trained participants as
peer mentors as recommended next steps for future monitoring and evaluation
cycles.
6. Alignments with the Sustainable Development Grants
MAKATA has aligned this project activities with the following SDGs:
a.
SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
strengthened local capacity for coral reef conservation and restoration.
b.
SDG 13 (Climate Action):
enhanced community adaptive capacity to climate related threats to marine
ecosystems.
c.
SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
inclusive participation of women and youth in marine conservation activities
and leadership.
d.
SDG 4 (Quality Education):
practical, community-based environmental education, basic sewing training with
measurable learning outcomes.
e.
SDG 17 (Partnerships for the
Goals): collaboration among UNDP BCF, the New Zealand Government, CEPA, ENB Sea
Keepers, the Madang Provincial Fisheries Division, and the Kaviak
community.
7. Challenges and Lessons Learned
7.1. Challenges
MAKATA has identified the following
challenges:
a. Weather and tidal conditions required adaptive scheduling and flexibility during field activities;
b.
Continuous power blackouts in
town have forced MAKATA to buy battery powered solar systems
for work;
c.
BSP Bank no longer accepts
cheque accounts. MAKATA had to write a
letter requesting the bank to accept its current cheque account with its
existing signatories as it progresses to migrate into new banking system. This has caused inconvenience to apply audit
recommendation to transfer funds from the association’s cheque account to
service providers;
d.
MAKATA needs to appoint new
board members. To do that it needs funds
to call up a board meeting. Once a new
board is in place, signatories to the group’s bank account will be replaced
with new appointees;
e.
Participants entered training
with varying levels of prior knowledge, requiring facilitators to balance
technical depth with accessibility;
f.
Limited access to equipment
highlighted the need for locally appropriate, low-cost restoration solutions;
and
g.
MAKATA needs major long-term
funding to cover costs for administration, logistics, staff wages and benefits,
and project activities. This can be
achieved through internal fundraising activities and or from reliable donor
grants.
7.2. Lessons Learned
MAKATA has also learned lessons from
this project as listed below:
a.
Integrating traditional
ecological knowledge with scientific approaches strengthens trust, relevance,
and participation;
b.
Hands-on, practical learning
significantly increases confidence, skill retention, and ownership;
c.
Governance discussions are most
effective when linked to shared, tangible actions such as nursery
construction;
d.
Youth, women and people living
with disability engagement is critical for long-term sustainability and
monitoring continuity; and
e.
Allocate funds for
miscellaneous activities. The
justification for this is that the rough seas and bad weather conditions during
the T4 period could have prevented MAKATA’s staff and a consultant to travel to
Karkar using MAKATA’S boat had MAKATA not hired a MTS boat. Failure to travel to Kaviak due to rough seas
would have prevented MAKATA from implementation its T4 activities on time to
meet the deadline as per the work schedule and contract agreement. Fortunately, MAKATA had in its access T5
funds. Thus, MAKATA used some of its
T5’s funds to cover the T4’s unbudgeted activity costs by hiring a MTS boat to
travel to and from Karkar to Madang safely.
8. Financial Summary
|
Budget Line |
T5 |
T4 |
T3 |
T2 |
|
T1 |
TRANCE |
Approved Budget |
Expenditure to Date |
Balance |
|
Personnel |
3461
|
3461 |
3461 |
3461 |
3461 |
5 |
46,805.00 |
23,995 |
|
|
|
Training, and Workshop |
6514.16
|
46356.86
|
31,253
|
31721.31
|
21,253 |
4 |
46,542
|
69,353
|
|
|
|
Transportation |
1,000 |
2570 |
18,063 |
|
8,482.82
|
3 |
90,902.00 |
90,902 |
|
|
|
Consultants |
6300
|
5000 |
15600 |
3000
|
4000 |
2 |
48042 |
48018
|
|
|
|
Transit
accommodation |
725
|
1550 |
9,180 |
|
|
1 |
113,855.00 |
113855 |
|
|
|
Rental
|
3948
|
3948 |
11,064 |
3948 |
4,991 |
TOTAL
|
346,146.00
|
346,123 |
23 |
|
|
Project
Support |
2046.98
|
6467.46 |
2,281 |
5887.77 |
71,667.00
|
|
||||
|
TOTAL
|
23995.14 |
69353.32 |
90902 |
48018
|
113855 |
|||||
9. Acknowledgement
MAKATA thanks the Government of New Zealand,
UNDP BCF, and CEPA for funding this project. It also extends its sincere
appreciation to the East New Britain Sea Keepers, particularly the team lead
facilitator Emma Oliver and the training team.
MAKATA extends its acknowledgement also to Mark Ume from the Madang
Provincial Fisheries Division and the Technical Vocational Education Trainer,
Elise Langpain for helping MAKATA deliver the trainings to participants
attending the various trainings in Kaviak.
MAKATA further thank Richard Kaukebia from NBC Radio Madang for document
the project activity and airing it on NBC Radio Madang to its listeners and the
external evaluator, Alois Roula for carrying out an external monitoring and
evaluation for the project. MAKATA
recognises the invaluable contribution made by the Kaviak Community-Based
Organisation’s executive and its clan leaders for their leadership and
hospitality, and the wider Kaviak community including their women, youth,
elders, and the representatives from neighbouring villages. MAKATA therefore thank them all for their
participation in the workshops. Their
active participation has translated the project activities into positive
outcomes.
10. Sustainability and Next Steps
In order to sustain this Project, MAKATA needs long-term major funding. In order to
secure long-term major funding MAKATA has three alterative options to
take:
a)
It can continue raising funds
internally;
b)
The director and reliable
volunteers can assist the director write project proposals; and
c)
Publish stories on social media
and mainstream media for potential funding assistance.
11. Conclusion
Over the 2025–2026 reporting
period, MAKATA, with support from UNDP BCF, the Government of New Zealand, and
CEPA, has built a strong foundation for community-led coral restoration and
climate change adaptation in Kaviak Village, Karkar Island. Combining rigorous
village profile research, science-based technical training in climate change
and blue economy, coral reefs and climate change adaptation, basic sewing
training, and an external monitoring and evaluation exercise, the project has
empowered Kaviak villagers with the knowledge and understanding of climate
change and blue economy, established a functioning coral nursery
infrastructure, and empowered women in basic sewing skills. The monitoring and
evaluation report has recommended relevant steps to take. These foundations position Kaviak Village,
and MAKATA's broader programme, to scale community-based climate adaptation
across island and coastal communities in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea in
the coming years.
