Project summary

Securing Conditions for Sustained Peace in the Highlands is a 30-month Peacebuilding Fund project implemented within the framework of the United Nations Highlands Joint Programme (Phase 2). It targets conflict- and climate-affected hotspots in Papua New Guinea's Hela, Southern Highlands, Enga and Western Highlands Provinces by building enabling conditions for sustained peace in the region through improved provincial coordination, evidence-based planning and early warning; strengthened community mediation and dialogue; expanded mental health and psychosocial support services; and increased climate and disaster resilience. 

The project is convened by UNDP and implemented with IOM and UNFPA in partnership with provincial governments, civil society and faith-based organizations. The project interventions particularly focus on supporting women, youth and other marginalized groups, with over 50% of the project's budget allocated to interventions related gender equality and women’s empowerment. The project connects peacebuilding, development and humanitarian action while anchoring successful community approaches within provincial and local systems.

Project outputs

The project will establish and strengthen provincial coordination and monitoring mechanisms, district early-warning and recovery platforms, and data-driven planning tools, including conflict, mobility and fragility analysis. At community level, it will support mediation teams, peace-dialogue networks, locally led conflict-prevention mechanisms, mental health and psychosocial services, and peaceful narratives through faith, civic, social-media, education and sports platforms. The project will also strengthen integrated climate-security and disaster-risk planning, inclusive community-based disaster preparedness, and women-, youth- and disability-inclusive adaptation initiatives. Capacity building, logistical support and partnerships with government, civil society and faith-based actors will help institutionalize these outputs and sustain them beyond the project period.

Expected outcomes

The project is expected to increase the effectiveness and responsiveness of provincial governments to local peace and development needs through stronger coordination, data use and early action. Community cohesion and resilience will improve as mediation, dialogue, psychosocial support and conflict-prevention capabilities become more accessible and locally owned. Climate-induced risks and related conflict triggers will be reduced through stronger provincial planning and community risk-management capacities. Women and young people will have greater roles in decision-making, mediation, peace dialogue and climate resilience. By embedding coordination platforms, early-warning systems and proven community approaches in local institutions, the project will create more sustainable conditions for peace across the four Highlands Provinces.

Location: Hela, Southern Highlands, Enga and Western Highlands Provinces of Papua New Guinea.

Focus area: Conflict prevention and management; provincial coordination; crisis and fragility data; early warning and early recovery; community mediation and peace dialogue; mental health and psychosocial support; gender-responsive peacebuilding; climate security and disaster risk management.

Partners: IOM and UNFPA; Provincial Governments of Hela, Southern Highlands, Enga and Western Highlands; district and local authorities; civil society and faith-based organizations. Indicative partners listed in the project document include World Vision PNG, Southstar Sports Development Association, Rural Women's Development Fund, the Catholic Dioceses of Mendi and Wabag, and United Church PNG.

Donor: United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund

Budget: USD 3 million

Project duration: June 2026 – November 2028 

Contacts

Zoe Pelter
Assistant Resident Representative (Peace and Governance)
Zoe.pelter@undp.org 

Cristino Pedraza Lopez
UN Highlands Joint Programme Coordinator 
cristino.pedraza@undp.org