UNDP and CCDA continue a series of climate change trainings in East New Britain

After completing successful trainings on climate change mainstreaming in Manus Province and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville this October, UNDP and CCDA traveled to East New Britain, where provincial, district, and local officials took part in a four-day training on strengthening community resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change.

November 13, 2025

For four days, the participants learned about the impacts of climate change on local ecosystems and livelihoods.

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Seru Kepa

The workshop was held in Kokopo on 4-7 November as part of UNDP’s and CCDA’s joint Building Resilience to Climate Change (BRCC) Project.

“Through this hands-on training, we are translating national climate priorities into local action — strengthening provincial and district capacity to develop adaptation plans that protect livelihoods and build resilience,” said Mr. Michael Sembenombo, UNDP Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst, in his opening remarks to the participants.

East New Britain is highly exposed to climate threats such as sea-level rise, flooding, coastal erosion, and shifting rainfall patterns. These threats directly affect communities by damaging infrastructure and compromising livelihoods. The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of government planners and sector managers to integrate climate adaptation into their development plans and ensure that resilience is integrated into provincial decision-making.

Deputy Provincial Administrator of East New Britain, Mr Marakan Uvano, addressed the participants.

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Seru Kepa

“We are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, and this training gives us the practical tools and knowledge to respond more effectively. We are committed to integrating climate resilience into all aspects of our provincial planning so that our communities can continue to thrive despite the growing challenges,” explained the Deputy Provincial Administrator of East New Britain, Mr Marakan Uvano, during the workshop.

Over the course of four days, participants improved their understanding of the impacts of climate change on local ecosystems and livelihoods, and learned to use different vulnerability assessment tools to plan actions to reduce these impacts. By the end of the training, each participating district and LLG had developed a draft adaptation implementation plans to execute the National Adaptation Plan in their respective regions.

“Our islands are on the frontline of climate change, and we see the effects every day through rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion,” said Mr. James Gatgolo, Community Leader from Duke of York Islands. “Being part of this training helps us understand how to plan better for the future and work with the government to protect our homes, food, and water sources.”

James Gatgolo, a Community Leader from Duke of York Islands, gave a powerful account of how climate change is impacting his community

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Seru Kepa

The workshop also included a presentation by CCDA representatives on aligning the Provincial Adaptation Implementation Plans developed with the project’s support with Papua New Guinea’s broader national frameworks, including the Provincial 5-year Integrated Plan, National Adaptation Plan and Vision 2050.

The session highlighted how climate actions integrated across the four key priority sectors — infrastructure, health, agriculture, and transport — can contribute to sustainable, climate-resilient development. It also outlined potential funding sources to support the implementation of these adaptation implementation plans.

Man in blue shirt speaks at podium with microphone and laptop, blue poster backdrop. — Mr. Frank Alkam, the BRCC Project Manager of CCDA, emphasized the importance aligning local plans with national frameworks

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Seru Kepa

“This training demonstrates our ongoing commitment to ensuring that climate change adaptation is embedded at every level of governance, by strengthening the capacity of provincial and local officials to plan and act on climate risks, we are empowering provinces like East New Britain to protect livelihoods, infrastructure, and the environment for future generations,” explained Mr. Frank Alkam, the BRCC Project Manager of CCDA.