Papua New Guinea

About UNDP

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We work in 166 countries, helping people find their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

Our Programme in PNG

Poverty Reduction	Democratic Governance	Environment and Energy	Nation Building	HIV/AIDS	Gender Equality

UNDP in PNG

Despite vast natural and mineral wealth, Papua New Guinea is a very poor country and poverty impacts on the daily lives of almost all of the population. Poverty is exacerbated by among other things; extreme rural isolation; high rates of crime and violence; a burgeoning HIV/AIDS epidemic and recent political turmoil.

Only about 40 percent of Papua New Guineans enroll in school, 5.5 percent of babies born will die before they are two years old and the average life expectancy is just 57 years at birth.

UNDP works to improve the government’s ability to deliver public services to the poor and in doing so, plays a vital role in helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, raise the standard of living and protect human rights for ordinary Papua New Guineans. UNDP gives practical support to the government's efforts to become more efficient, effective, equitable and accountable. It attempts to foster greater participation in democratic and civil society and helps the government encourage private sector growth that makes use of the country's natural resources in a sustainable manner.
 
UNDP has been working in PNG since 1981, when it signed an agreement with the government to operate in the country. It has continually expanded and today works in these focus areas:

Poverty Reduction

Thirty-seven percent of PNG's population lives below the national poverty line and PNG is one of the poorest countries in Asia and indeed the world. UNDP’s poverty reduction programme is geared towards providing strategic support to the government in its formulation and implementation of national development plans and strategies so that it can help PNG achieve the Millennium Target of halving poverty by 2015.

Achieving the Millennium Development Goals

UNDP is supporting the government in achieving the national MDG goals by helping monitor and account for progress towards them. The first National Report on MDGs was prepared in 2004 and a second is being launched in 2009.

Fostering Democratic Governance

PNG's government, like the governments of many developing countries suffers from low capacity, low levels of skill and training, occasional corruption and a lack of transparency. UNDP is helping the government tackle these issues and make itself more efficient, more focused on human rights, more democratic and more accountable so that it can better deliver services to the poor.

Environment and Energy for Sustainable Development and Livelihoods

PNG's poverty has put intense pressure on the government to utilize natural resources to help make trade the engine of economic growth. This, added to population pressure is in-turn putting the environment under threat. UNDP works with the government to help develop policies that protect the environment and those that depend on it for their livelihood.

Nation Building through support to Crisis Prevention and Recovery

PNG has suffered from a protracted conflict in Bouganville, which has only recently ended. A critical part of the peace process involves reconciliation and nation building, as well as taking measures to ensure violence decreases, such as eliminating dangerous weapons from the community. UNDP is helping the government by supporting capacity building in these areas. UNDP also assists the government to help it better respond to and prepare for a wide range of natural disasters.

Responding to HIV/AIDS

PNG has one of the highest rates of HIV prevalence in the region and new infection rates are on the increase. If this trend continues, the country faces a bourgeoning epidemic that could reverse many of the development achievements made over the last few decades and seriously increase poverty and depravation. UNDP is developing the capacity of the National AIDS Council Secretariat to effectively meet its mandate and achieve the MDG of reversing the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Gender

Gender inequality is both caused by and causes poverty. UNDP works to help the government address gender inequality. A particular focus is gender-based violence and the promotion of women in decision-making positions.

For the latest expenditure figures for each project, click here to go to our funding page