LocationsPapua New Guinea has taken a major step toward strengthening its disaster and emergency management system with the validation of the proposed National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) Bill and Policy at a national Stakeholders Workshop convened in Port Moresby.
Papua New Guinea Advances Disaster Risk Reform with Validation of NEMA Bill and Policy
April 2, 2026
National and provincial government representatives, Provincial Disaster Coordinators, development partners, and technical experts participated in the workshop.
UNDP Papua New Guinea/Seru Kepa
The workshop was organized by the Government of Papua New Guinea, through the National Disaster Centre (NDC) and the Review Committee, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Project. The event is financially supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Bringing together national and provincial government representatives, Provincial Disaster Coordinators, development partners, and technical experts, the workshop provided a platform to present and validate revised drafts of the NEMA Bill and Policy—marking a critical milestone in Papua New Guinea’s efforts to modernize its disaster risk governance framework.
Papua New Guinea remains highly vulnerable to natural hazards and climate-related risks, including floods, earthquakes, droughts, volcanic activity, and extreme weather events, which continue to place increasing pressure on national systems and response capacities. The proposed reforms respond to these challenges by transitioning from the existing Disaster Management Act (1984) toward a modern, all-hazards disaster risk management system with stronger institutional coordination, integrated risk systems, and enhanced subnational implementation.
The Acting Director of the National Disaster Centre, Mr. Laso Mana, highlighted the importance of cooperation for disaster risk management across PNG.
UNDP Papua New Guinea/Seru Kepa
The development of the NEMA Bill and Policy has been shaped by an extensive national consultation process throughout 2025, complemented by international peer exchange visits to Australia and New Zealand. These exchanges—supported by Governments of Australia and New Zealand —enabled members of the Review Committee to draw on international best practices and adapt proven emergency management models to Papua New Guinea’s national context.
Importantly, the reform aligns with Papua New Guinea’s commitments under the International Monetary Fund’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (IMF RSF), which prioritizes strengthened institutional frameworks and climate resilience.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Laso Mana, Acting Director of the National Disaster Centre, emphasized the importance of collective action: “Disaster risk management is not the responsibility of one agency alone—it requires strong partnerships across government, provinces, communities, and development partners. The proposed establishment of the National Emergency Management Authority is a transformative step for Papua New Guinea, strengthening coordination, governance, and our ability to effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.”
Chairman of the Review Committee, Mr. Ray Paul, called for adopting international best practices in disaster response to the context of PNG.
UNDP Papua New Guinea/Seru Kepa
Mr. Ray Paul, Chairman of the Review Committee, highlighted the value of both national consultations and international learning: “The development of the NEMA Bill and Policy reflects extensive national engagement as well as lessons from international best practices, including peer exchanges to Australia and New Zealand. This process has helped ensure that the proposed framework is practical, inclusive, and tailored to Papua New Guinea’s realities.”
The validation workshop is expected to result in consolidated stakeholder feedback and endorsed draft documents, which will guide final refinements by the Review Committee. Once finalized, the NEMA Bill and Policy will be submitted for Peer Review. After the review, both policy documents will be submitted National Executive Council (NEC) for consideration and approval.
The reform represents a significant step toward building a more coordinated, resilient, and risk-informed Papua New Guinea—strengthening the country’s capacity to anticipate, manage, and recover from disasters in an increasingly complex risk environment.
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