Welcome, Basil Peutalo!

What motivated you (or your organization) to become involved in peace and conflict resolution?

Many socio-economic trends taking place in my country Papua New Guinea. First up, there is growing gap betwwen development policies and realities of our people especially our rural communities. So called developments take place in urban centres whilst 90%of our rural peoples continue to experience difficulties in accessing social support services such as health, education and socio-economic development opportunties to make decent livelihoods. These discrepancies become causes of anger and often disilluyssionment among our peoples especaially the youths. It seemed our political independence of 1975 was only for very few who live in urban areas. While in rural areas health services are non-existent and if facilities are present no drugs perenially, educational facilities are run down and roads and bridges infrastructures are in poor state or non-existent at all.

Please feel free to provide a short bio about yourself or the work of your organization (no more than 3 paragraphs)

I have more than 20 years of community development with specialty areas in rural community empowerment, natural resource management and development, Non-Government Organziational development and management, sustainable livelihood initiatives development, gender advisory and skills training. I apply my professional skills and experiences in all these activities as a free-lance and self-employed social entrepreneur.I have worked mostly in rural areas and have participated in donor-funded projects from donors including World Bank, United Nations, Asian Deelopment Bank, ASustralian Government Development Agency, AusAID, New Zeland Government development agency, NZAid..

Please list the countries and/or regions in which you (or your organization) have direct and significant expertise

Core country of expertise is Papua New Guinea, however participated in forums, meetings, conferences of organiztions that I worked with in some countries in the Pacific Region, including Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji, US, Germany, France, Rome, United Kingdom.

What is your current country of residence (or location of your organization)?

Papua New Guinea

What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?

Currently I am a self-employed social entrepreneur. I am currently working as a member of teams working with traditional landowners to develop sustainable livelihoods as displaced and vulnerable peoples under the current development project of the Liquified Natural Gas development on their traditional land. I am also the Founder and Managing Director of newly established Freedom Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation.

How many years professional experience do you have ?

15+

What is your personal or organizational website?

http://nil

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://PCDN and member organizations

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://same as above

Which are your primary sectoral areas of expertise (or the primary sectoral areas of your organization) ?

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Anti-Corruption, Business, Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, Conflict Mainstreaming, Development, Dialogue, Environment, Facilitation, Gender, Human Rights, Information and Communication Technology, Internally Displaced, Organizational Development, Rule of Law, Security, Social Entreprenuership, Transparency

Which are your primary skills areas(or the primary skill areas of your organization)?

Advocacy, Capacity Building, Communication, Program Administration, Training

What are some of your current areas of research (if any)?

Nil but interested in peace building through alternative and sustainable livelihood initiatives development.

If appropriate feel free to list several of your (or your organization's) publications

Nil