ANNUAL REPORT: UNDP BCF

 

     

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	January 2025 – June 2026

    

  

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 they

produced 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.