Milne Bay Province has become the seventh province in Papua New Guinea to complete the National Youth Employment Scheme (NYES) Socialization Program.
It marked another milestone in efforts by the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) to connect unemployed and out-of-school youths with employment and skills development opportunities.
The three-day program, held from May 25 to 27 at Alotau Bay Resort, brought together provincial leaders, stakeholders, and youth representatives to discuss the implementation of the scheme and strengthen youth participation in economic activities.
NYDA Director-General Joe Itaki said it is mobilizing out-of-school youths, registering them through their respective local-level governments (LLGs), and referring them to industry pathways available within each province for casual employment and engagement opportunities.
Provincial Administrator, Alotau District Administrator, and Alotau Urban Town Mayor attended the event, demonstrating strong leadership support for the nationwide rollout of the NYES program.
A key outcome of the meeting was the identification of Alotau District as the pilot district for the province, covering Alotau Urban LLG and Huhu Rural LLG, said Mr. Itaki.
Officials also signed the Joint Inception Implementation Plan (JIIP) and the Joint Action Collaborative Framework to guide implementation of the program.
The NYES Online Youth Registration System was officially launched during the event, with registration officers expected to begin enrolling eligible youths next week.
Mr. Itaki said the initiative is designed to create structured pathways for young people to access employment, training and other development opportunities while supporting broader youth empowerment goals.
Milne Bay joins six other provinces that have already completed the NYES Socialization Program as the scheme continues its nationwide rollout under the 2025–2029 implementation framework.