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Newsletter March 2022

"It is not possible to build a nation on only half our resources”

Papua New Guinea signs agreement to protect 'megadiverse' Kimbe Bay

One of 17 'megadiverse' countries in the world, Papua New Guinea’s marine ecosystems are of international significance - with some of the highest marine biodiversity on the planet left unprotected. Until now…

In the face of Papua New Guinea’s extraordinary natural heritage, most of the country’s highly biodiverse marine and coastal ecosystems are not well protected or resourced. Until now, sustainable livelihoods opportunities linked to the marine environment were out of reach.

Building forward on the Blue Economy opportunity inherent in PNG, the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the West New Britain provincial government to support the establishment of a Marine Protected Area in Kimbe Bay – a renowned region of abundant marine biodiversity.

Identification and implementation of sustainable financing solutions are needed to support the effective management of the area. Key activities are intended to support processes that will build upon existing conservation and management activities while developing or upscaling sustainable revenue-generating activities within and surrounding, marine protected areas.

CEPA and West New Britain provincial government agree to protect Kimbe Bay.

UNDP has entered into a partnership with Wildlife Conservation Society to support site-based consultation and implementation over four years. The Memorandum of Agreement also outlines both the commitment and financial contribution of both the national and provincial governments to support the success of the initiatives.

The Blue Economy model aims to improve human wellbeing and social equity with coastal states encouraging inclusive participation of all social groups and sectors.

This will protect, support and develop traditional cultures, carbon sequestration, and coastal resilience to help mitigate the effects of climate change. UNDP Chief Technical Advisor, Dr. Andrew Rylance, says it is extremely encouraging to see such commitment to marine conservation and the blue economy from both national and provincial governments.

“This project aims to complement previous investments to support the establishment of locally-managed marine areas and further strengthen management effectiveness of these areas. Experiences from Kimbe Bay can provide important lessons for other marine areas in the country,” Dr Rylance said.

Kimbe Bay lies on the northern side of the island of New Britain, in the province of West New Britain. Located within the Coral Triangle, Kimbe Bay hosts more than 400 species of hard coral and an estimated 900 species of fish.

Many of the local communities are highly dependent on the marine resources for both sustenance and livelihoods. The proposed 1.33 million-hectare Marine Protected Area is supported by the UNDP Sustainable Financing project, financed by the Global Environment Facility.

Roadshows roll out across Papua New Guinea on the future of Protected Areas

Roadshow rolls into Madang. Photo: Theresa Dearden/ UNDP Papua New Guinea
Knowledge and data sharing at national and provincial levels was identified as a critical bottleneck facing effective management of PNG’s Protected Area system. UNDP joined roadshow partners to roll out the news.

The Conservation and Environment Protection Authority, in partnership with UNDP, is rolling out regional roadshows to share information on updates relevant to the future of protected areas in Papua New Guinea.

The first roadshows, held during March, connected key conservation stakeholders in West New Britain, Madang, and in the country's Highlands region.

Roadshow in Kimbe provided updates on Marine Protected Area.

The roadshows aim to provide updates on the status of Protected Areas legislation, management tools, detailed analyses on biodiversity financing solutions, and outreach towards the 2022 Protected Area Forum - to be held in Port Moresby, in June. Upcoming roadshow events are also scheduled in the Highlands region and Port Moresby during April 2022.

UNDP’s Chief Technical Advisor, Dr. Andrew Rylance explains that CEPA, through their consultations, have developed a substantial resource base of information available for existing and prospective Protected Areas.

“In partnership with previous and current UNDP conservation investments, there are guidelines and tools to cover establishing, managing, financing and monitoring a Protected Area,” says Dr Rylance, adding that a new website portal ensures this information is available to interested stakeholders. See: pngbiodiversity.org

2022 Protected Area Forum - to be held in Port Moresby, in May and June.
Each roadshow has also highlighted how technology and data sharing can improve access to information for environmental decision-making, as well as reduce the costs of management.

A new Natural Resource Hub is being established for Papua New Guinea, allowing stakeholders improved access to global environmental data and information. This will be linked to a new mobile application to support data collection and reporting, strengthening communication and information sharing across Protected Areas.

Third Practice Parliament for Women trains aspiring leaders for National Elections

2022 Practice Parliament for Women. Photo: Clive Hawigen/ UNDP Papua New Guinea
Thirty aspiring leaders from across Papua New Guinea ascended the steps of Parliament Haus, for the Third Practice Parliament for Women – to prepare for the upcoming 2022 National General Election.

The 2022 Practice Parliament for Women saw a cohort of 58 aspiring women leaders gather in Port Moresby in March, for a week of intensive training as aspiring political candidates with an eye to running in the 2022 national general election.

After this successful training event, thirty of the women leaders gathered inside Parliament Haus for a ‘’mock parliamentary session” – organized by the National Parliament, Independent Political Parties and Candidates Commission (IPPCC), Department for Community Development and Religion (DFCDR) in partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme.

Aspiring leader: Hilton Hotel, Port Moresby. Photo: Clive Hawigen/ UNDP Papua New Guinea.
At the opening of the event, Dr Alphonse Gelu, the Registrar of Political Parties said, “My office recognises the inherent value of including women’s voices in PNG’s national legislature and other elected local assemblies.

Because we wanted to help ensure that we never again have a situation where no women are elected, the IPPCC and UNDP have been running a series of trainings to support women candidates in the lead up to this Practice Parliament. We have also been supporting efforts to introduce reserved seats for women and political party quotas to nominate a minimum number of women to serve in Parliament.”

The 58 women participants received three days of skills-based training, including a half-day session by Dr Gelu on how to prepare for election campaigning. That training drew on resources from the new IPPCC and UNDP Training Manual on Women’s Political Participation and Representation.

The women also participated in a mentoring session with four former PNG women Members of Parliament –Ms Delilah Gore and Ms Julie Soso – and two former Bougainville MP – Ms Francesca Semoso and Ms Isabel Peta. The session provided them with an opportunity to learn about campaigning from the experiences of the women who have come before them.

The Deputy Clerk of National Parliament, Mr Richard Whitchurch noted that he has worked with four women MP’s during his 28 years of service in Parliament. He observed how they often brought different and important perspectives to debates in the House based on their life experiences.

“I am aware of how challenging it sometimes was for them to negotiate their way as MPs – and some of them in Ministerial portfolios – in such a male-dominated space.

Parliament is supposed to be the place where elected representatives of PNG come together to discuss and debate their vision for our nation and pass laws for the good of our country. It is therefore very important that our elected representatives can effectively discuss the real needs of ordinary Papua New Guineans and have the confidence and strength to push to ensure that their needs are properly met through Government support.

“My team are very pleased to support this effort to encourage more women to put their hands up to run for national office, and to try to develop their skills as persuasive public speakers who can drive change,” Mr Whitchurch said.

UN Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNFPA Resident Representative, Ms Marielle Sander.

On 17 March, thirty of the women participated in a mock parliamentary session where they discussed a range of policy issues critical to PNG's development and then debated a mock bill on freedom of information which gave them an opportunity to discuss the importance of public accountability and transparency for inclusive development in PNG. The mock session was livestreamed on Facebook: Question Time + Debate - and broadcast on the national radio.

“It takes bravery to put your hand up, to participate in public life. I commend you all for your courage. I am pleased to offer the support of every UN person in this room, to help you develop your leadership potential through this training to make PNG a better, safer, more equal, and more prosperous place,” said UN Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNFPA Resident Representative, Ms Marielle Sander.

The Practice Parliament for Women is part of the Women Make the Change Project, delivered jointly by UNDP and UN Women and funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Rebuilding lives in Idauwi

Idauwi communities plagued by conflict committed to peace. Photo: Clive Hawigen/ UNDP Papua New Guinea
“The majority of the Hela people want peace and harmony in their community. They don’t want to take refuge on someone else's land” - Fr Isaiah, of the Catholic Diocese of Mendi, speaks with UNDP on peace efforts underway in the Highlands.

In his well-worn pick-up truck, Father Isaiah Timba travels along the bumpy road from Tari Town to Idauwi in Tari-Pori District, Hela Province. Along the way, he stops to offer a lift to two ladies carrying bilums full of sweet potato vines. They are taking the vines to plant at their new garden site. Once safely onboard, Fr Isaiah continues the journey.

As he shifts gears to climb the undulating terrain, he points out a freshly planted food garden next to a newly built kunai-thatched traditional house, and he says: “These communities have just moved back after years of conflict.” By his estimates, Fr Isaiah believes there are about 32 major ongoing conflicts which have resulted in over 400 deaths and more than 100,000 people being displaced.

The beautiful valleys and rolling hills mask the scars of conflict where the area had been plagued by violent conflict from many years. Today, communities impacted by conflict are working towards building new lives.

He stops suddenly at another steep section of the highway, pulls the truck over and walks towards an overgrown plot that resembled nothing like the busy marketplace that previously stood there. A few steps on, he points to another site where the conflict started and displaced close to 20,000 people over the last few years. Further along the road, destroyed remnants of gas exploration camp provided a stark backdrop to scenes of returning adults and children carrying planks to rebuild their homes and gardens buoyed by the newfound peace.

The United Nations (UN), through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has been partnering with Fr Isaiah and the Catholic Diocese of Mendi in local conflict mediation efforts in Hela Province since 2019. Idauwi is one of the locations where the Diocese has facilitated these efforts.

By adapting to local conflict resolution processes, the signing of a peace agreement in 2019 enabled a truce to be reached in Idauwi and created opportunities for the continuous process of conflict resolution. Fr Isaiah said, “One of the reasons the Pai peace agreement was a success was because of the sustained engagement with communities. We constantly followed up and if there were issues on the ground or any risk to the peace process, our leaders quickly followed up to address them.”

There is now peace in the Pai area of Idauwi. Since the peace agreement signing in 2019, Mr Yegopia Saiapa of the Paitumbu Clan and Mr Talilia Tajanda of the Paitomo Clan have made peace and are concentrating on rebuilding their lives. Peaceful conditions are now evident with displaced households returning to rebuild their homes and food gardens with adults and children moving around freely without fear for their safety.

In a recent visit to Idauwi, a UN delegation led by UN Resident Coordinator a.i. Mr Dirk Wagener, interacted with two communities that were once in direct conflict. Accompanying the delegation were the British High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, H.E. Mr Keith Scott, representatives from the New Zealand High Commission, the US Embassy, USAID, and the Department of National Planning and Monitoring.

Mr Tajanda, on welcoming the delegation to his community said, “We want to come back and we want to start life again. When we see a lot of people coming here to our village, we are proud, we are happy.”

Gathered under a newly built kunai-thatched shelter, Mr Wagener said, “When we look around it is peaceful here, it feels peaceful. I hope that you are able to maintain peace, it is really important for us to come here and witness firsthand what is happening.”

“When we look around it is peaceful here, it feels peaceful" - Dirk Wagener.

A few kilometers down the road Mr Saiapa is also adjusting back to life in his community. Reflecting on how the conflict had previously disrupted their lives, he said where his community members were once constantly moving and always looking behind their shoulders, they were now at peace. Both Mr Tajanda and Mr Saiapa are grateful for Fr Isaiah’s work, and UNDP's partnership, towards mediating peace.

Speaking to both communities, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr Edward Vrkic reiterated, “Without stability there is no opportunity for development. The UN’s development work hinges on having peaceful conditions and this is precisely what UNDP is supporting communities to achieve. It’s foundational for us. It’s very important, economically and socially.”

With signs of life sprouting all over the rolling hills, Fr Isaiah reflected, “If there is peace throughout Hela Province, the province will prosper and that is what the majority of the people in the province want. Peace and prosperity.”

The United Nations Development Programme has supported the Catholic Diocese of Mendi in conflict mediation efforts since 2019 as part of the United Nations Highlands Joint Programme with funding contributions from the Hela Provincial Government, UNDP, the UN Peacebuilding Fund, and the Republic of Korea.

UNDP builds skills on Biodiversity, Forests and Ecosystem Conservation in Enga Province

Prone to climate extremes that affect food security, and further pressure on forests, UNDP is training agencies in conservation skills for sustainability in Enga Province.

More people live above 2,000 meters in Enga province than anywhere else in Papua New Guinea. Located in the Highlands region, the 295,000 inhabitants are prone to frost and disruptions of subsistence food supplies in one of the most densely populated areas in the country.

As part of the European Union-funded ‘Strengthening Integrated Sustainable Landscape Management’ (SISLaM) Project in Enga Province – led by UNDP, a recent capacity building training event on biodiversity and forestry management hosted over 20 technical staff from the Enga Provincial Administration including representatives from the civil society organisations, private sector, and other related agencies to improve skills on the sustainability of landscapes in Enga.

The upper valleys of Lagaip and Fly Rivers support very high populations, intensive agriculture, and continuous cultivation in some areas. However, Enga is a province with incomes that range between very low and moderate, earned from the sale of coffee, food and firewood.

Cultivated areas are very prone to drought, and other climate extremes, which can seriously affect food security with further pressure on forest ecosystems.

Enga Provincial Administrator, Dr Samson Amean said the training program will help increase skills and knowledge. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the EU for funding, and making this project a reality, and UNDP for the implementation of the project, and especially to further working closely with, and supporting us.”

The United Nations Development Programme, is partnering with the Climate Change and Development Authority, Enga's Provincial Administration, and the European Union to deliver this important work.

This first set of training focused on biodiversity and forestry management, forest restoration, tree thinning, and tree seeds. Participants developed a common understanding on how to integrate a sustainable landscape approach in Enga Province based on national and international best practices to identify root causes of problems impacting food security and conservation, and the developing approaches to mitigate them.

Project advisor Anders Pedersen, with training participants in Enga.

UNDP's Chief Technical Adviser, Mr. Ahmad Jamshed Khoshbeen, said the training is one of many activities providing direct services to beneficiaries. “We hope the project will help not only local governments but many other stakeholders, including local communities, academia, researchers and others. The training included a practical field session on forestry management techniques that are crucial in Enga Province for reforestation and the prevention of deforestation.”

Participants gained knowledge and skills to support and enhance biodiversity and forest conservation efforts. They are now contributing to, and creating partnerships at the core of community outreach.

Two further training events are scheduled on sustainable agricultural practices and food security, and climate change adaptation and mitigation, in the second quarter of 2022. The training events will also include transferring knowledge on international best practices on forestry (REDD+ related issues), and community conservation areas.

The Spotlight Initiative in Papua New Guinea Impact Report 2020-2021

Spotlight Initiative is one of the world’s largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
"We must all play our part if we are to change the attitudes that suggest violence and harm are acceptable. It is not possible to build a nation on only half our resources” - United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed.

The Spotlight Initiative is a global, multi-year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030. This is one of the world’s largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

In Papua New Guinea, the Spotlight Initiative is implemented by UN Women as lead technical agency, together with UNDP, UNFPA, and UNICEF. Hand-in-hand with grassroots organisations, government, civil society, the private sector, development partners, men and boys, and women and girls, Spotlight works across 13 provinces.

The Spotlight Initiative addresses 6 pillars: Prevention; Laws and policies; Strengthening institutions; Quality essential services; Improved data and; Women’s movements and civil society.

Spearheading a movement to ensure women and girls can live a life free of violence, in all its forms the Spotlight Initiative Papua New Guinea Impact Report 2020-2021 outlines the work carried out across the country, since the launch. Read Report.

Communicating peace for Bougainville

Key messages are designed to communicate facts to people of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea.
Developing mutual key messages on the Bougainville Peace Agreement is a complex affair. UNDP supports both governments in providing jointly agreed information to the people of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea.

Leading up to the 2019 Bougainville Referendum, the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville agreed to key messages on the Bougainville Peace Agreement, to keep the public well informed.

The key messages were designed to respond to frequently asked questions from communities on the independence referendum and Bougainville Peace Agreement awareness activities – in both the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and in other provinces of Papua New Guinea. Supported by the United Nations Development Programme, this would form the basis for face-to-face awareness raising and the production of multi-format knowledge materials.

Key messages were simple and kept people well-informed.
After the Bougainville Referendum, the focus of the awareness campaign shifted to informing the people of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea on Post-referendum processes and the progress of political consultation dialogues.

Consequently, UNDP recently has supported efforts of the Joint Post-Referendum Communication Working Group. Co-facilitated by media units of the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the National Coordination Office for Bougainville Affairs, these efforts have focused on revitalising information and ensuring communication efforts remain update to date and relevant.

“Moving forward, the expectation for the joint post-referendum communications committee is to swiftly engage with the public.”

The working group recently reviewed and discussed its joint communications strategy and the dissemination of a range of multimedia communication products which will be presented to the Co-Chairs of the Ministerial Committee on Post-Referendum for joint approval.

“Recent efforts have enabled a fruitful discussion to address current information gaps,” explains UNDP Project Manager, Ms. Aigul Murat.

Women in the village of Aero, Central Bougainville, came together for a unification ceremony in April 2018. Photo: UNDP Papua New Guinea
“As political consultation dialogue is continuously ongoing, there’s a need for regular, up-to-date, and accurate information. The Joint Communication working group has agreed on a number of communication products that will be developed to support the post- referendum awareness raising campaign.”

Ms. Aigul Murat is supporting UNDP's Peacebuilding efforts in Bougainville. As the project manager on UNDP's Bougainville programme, Aigul recently travelled to Port Moresby to facilitate and support the Joint Post Referendum Communications Working Group's efforts.

UNDP provides technical and logistical support to the Autonomous Bougainville Government and Government of Papua New Guinea to ensure an inclusive post-referendum process, as part of UNDP's Bougainville Programme which is supported the Governments of United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the UN Peace Building Fund.

"Anything is achievable, if you believe you can"

Elissa says she feels fortunate when requested to travel on mission and to visit duty stations in the provinces.
“I am most proud of being a part of an organization that positively impacts and changes lives of the people of Papua New Guinea.” – Elissa Cavanagh

On a regular day, Ms. Elissa Cavanagh, the UN's Common Services Manager in Papua New Guinea oversees support services for UNDP and other UN agencies. She oversees the common premises budget, coordinating payments, property and communication needs of all duty stations across the country.

Elissa says she feels fortunate when requested to travel on mission and visit duty stations in the provinces. Being out in the field really puts things into perspective, she says.

Away from her work, Elissa Cavanagh dedicates weekends to her main passion of arts and craft.
“It gives me a sense of appreciation and pride, to be working with an organization like the United Nations, who is impacting, changing, and improving peoples lives."

Elissa comes from a mix of cultural heritage: Gavuone (maternal) and Kapari (paternal) from the Central Province of Papua New Guinea. She is the last of five children born to parents, the late Mr Onea Thavala and Mrs. Eileen Thavala.

“My husband and I have four beautiful blessings - my sons, and daughters. Together we are Team Solo!”

Elissa studied at Pacific Adventist University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Business – Office Administration in 2007. She was elected President for Southern Region Students Association and was also an advisor to the Student Council.

“15 years later, I am a student once again, already four weeks into my Executive Master of Business Administration programme at the University of Papua New Guinea."

With such a hectic schedule, Elissa always remains focused. She says that her drive comes down to two things: her children, and always striving for success.

“I believe my children reflect my influence as a parent, to guide them through life. I constantly aim to be a positive example through my actions,” she said.

“Success is another motivating factor for me, at an early age my late dad instilled in me that anything is achievable if you believe you can, he taught me to always strive for success”.

At the United Nations, Elissa is most motivated by the global goals to eradicate poverty and to reduce inequalities and exclusion, particularly in Papua New Guinea.
Elissa says her drive comes down to two things: her children, and always striving for success.

Away from the Office, Elissa dedicates weekends to her main passion, arts and craft.

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Contact Us: info.png@undp.org