Papua New Guinea

ACFID members' work in Papua New Guinea
Australian NGOs have long-standing experience working with local partners in PNG. For instance, some church organisations have actively worked there for over 100 years, some volunteer sending agencies for nearly forty years and most other Australian NGOs have been working there for at least the past two decades. The scope, volume and diversity of their experience demonstrate the capacity for, and commitment to, facilitating sustainable development outcomes. Currently 39 ACFID members work in PNG with over 200 PNG partner organisations on more than 150 programs/projects. These 39 Australian NGOs at part of the ACFID PNG-Pacific-Solomon Islands Working Group. They provide ongoing multi-level interventions in all sectors throughout PNG.

Facts and figures
Development challenges facing PNG
Papua New Guinea, the largest of the Pacific island countries, faces significant development challenges. These include: declining living standards; the emergence of extreme hardship; rural disadvantage; lack of employment opportunities for an increasingly youthful population; law and order issues; and the disturbing rise of HIV/AIDS. Statistics show that: Life expectancy for Papua New Guineans is only 53 years in rural areas and 60 in urban centres; Approximately 31 per cent of all people aged 15 years or over have no cash income earning activity; Approximately 50,000 young people leave school each year — the formal sector can absorb only a small proportion of these; Population growth rate is high and predicted to double by 2026; Only 56 per cent of females aged 15 years or over are literate; Approximately 33 infants die each day, the majority from preventable causes; HIV/AIDS rates are drastically high — growing annually by 15 – 20 per cent, transmitted predominantly through heterosexual contact; Approximately 58 per cent of the population do not have access to safe drinking water; 85 per cent of people live in rural areas — many areas are almost inaccessible and only 4% of roads are paved; and Papua New Guinea is now ranked 133 out of 175 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index.

Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
PNG is experiencing increasing levels of domestic violence and child sexual abuse. The following reports give in-depth information about disturbing levels of domestic violence and child sexual abuse:
Amnesty International, September 2006
Papua New Guinea: Violence Against Women: Not Inevitable, Never Acceptable! ( 708kb)

PNG HIV Infection
PNG has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the Pacific region and was the fourth nation in the Asia Pacific Region to have a generalised epidemic. Currently approximately 2% of the adult population are HIV infected, the main mode of infection being through heterosexual transmission. Most infections occur in women and in the 15-24 year age group. High presence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in PNG and high incidence of gender-based violence contribute to the rising rates of infection. PNG’s already over-burdened health system is straining under this pressure. PNG has developed a National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS 2006-2010 and Australia is playing a big role in helping PNG to address this issue.
The following documents provide more information:

Lessons from Africa on their HIV response are outlined in:
Sharing Lessons Learnt from Oxfam’s Southern Africa HIV & AIDS Programs with the Pacific ( 515kb)
(Kathryn Dinh, Oxfam Australia, August 2006)

PNG Forestry
PNG’s Centre for environmental Law and Community Rights (CELCoR) and the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) have produced a report relating to corruption and human rights abuses in PNG’s large scale logging industry. The report questions whether PNG, its government and its people are getting a good deal from its forestry sector.
CELCoR and ACF, July 2006
Bulldozing Progress: Human Rights Abuses and Corruption in Papua New Guinea’s Large Scale Logging Industry ( 2.6mb — large file warning)

Papua New Guinea Church Partnership Program (CPP)
Several faith-based ACFID member agencies provide support to their PNG church counterparts through the Australian Government funded PNG Church Partnership Program. The Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Seventh Day Adventist, United churches and the Salvation Army are involved in improving the delivery of essential health and education services in PNG.

Resources
The following documents relate to Australia’s role in PNG:
Discussion Paper by World Vision Australia, June 2006
Gutpela Tingting na Sindaun: Papua New Guinean perspectives on a good life	952kb



Celebration of Community Development Scheme (CDS) water supply support, Mendi, Southern Highlands, 2006

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Papua New Guinea

ACFID members' work in Papua New Guinea

Facts and figures

Development challenges facing PNG

Domestic Violence and Child Abuse

Amnesty International, September 2006

PNG HIV Infection

PNG Forestry

CELCoR and ACF, July 2006

Papua New Guinea Church Partnership Program (CPP)

Resources

Discussion Paper by World Vision Australia, June 2006

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