UNDP & Japan Support Peace in Bougainville through Solar Farms
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Papua New Guinea together with the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government, have launched US$ 4.4m Bougainville micro solar farms Project in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The project supports the provision of renewable and reliable energy for a more sustainable and climate resilient future for the people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
This project is part of the wider US$ 36 million “Enhancing Green Transformation in the Pacific towards Net-Zero Emissions and Climate-Resilient Development for Peace" project that the Government of Japan is funding to support four Pacific Island nations. The ‘Green Transformation’ initiatives will reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, drive sustainable economic growth and help them cope with the impacts of climate change. The four Pacific countries benefiting from this project are Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Timor Leste, and Vanuatu. The project will leverage the expertise of UNDP’s Climate Promise portfolio to support each country to transition toward net zero and climate resilient pathways, in line with their commitments enshrined in the Paris Agreement, and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Funded by the Government of Japan, the Bougainville Micro Solar Farms Project is designed to support the development of renewable energy options in Bougainville and reduction on reliance on diesel as main form of energy in the region.
The project will support the construction and commissioning of three micro solar farms in the north, central, and south regions of Bougainville with a total capacity of 1 Megawatt (MW). It will also provide independent and neutral support to the two governments in the implementation of the post referendum process.
The Ambassador of Japan to Papua New Guinea, H.E. Mr. Nobuyuki Watanabe said it was opportune time to help support the green transformation in the Pacific and in particular Papua New Guinea that relies heavily on fossil fuels to power much of its electricity generation.
“The project funding provided by the Government of Japan under the wider Pacific green transformation program will contribute not only to the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement but also the economic development of the Autonomous Region, the most needed element for the people’s endeavor as has been stressed by Prime Minister Marape and President Toroama. I am convinced that the Japanese people's desire to help the development of Bougainville will reach the people of Bougainville through this project.”
H.E. Ambassador Watanabe said that Japan has also funded the development of three Bougainville Innovation Hubs that are currently being built in north, central and south Bougainville. The innovation hubs are expected to be completed by September 2023. H.E. Ambassador Watanabe said Japan also supported the referendum which was successfully conducted in 2019 by providing necessary materials including printing presses that were also used to the fullest during the 2020 regional elections.
UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Dirk Wagener said that the assistance from the Government of Japan will stimulate opportunities for growth of the renewable energy sector in Bougainville through implementation and roll out of renewable energy skills and training, community engagement and help reduce reliance on expensive diesel imports in a period of increased energy prices.
“The Project will support the roll out of renewable energy sector skills among the youth and women, develop legislative and procedural regulations supportive of renewable energy and the development of three micro solar farms that will be connected to the larger Bougainville innovation hubs network. The project is expected to catalyse and leverage further investments in renewable energy sector in the region,” said Mr. Wagener.
UNDP supports the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, and its Post-Referendum process, through a comprehensive programme of support that is based on both peace sustainment and economic development. With the formal launch of this project, the programme is now supported by the Government of Japan as its largest donor.
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Building a Blue Economy for West New Britain province
Kimbe Bay is rich in marine biodiversity, estimated to host over half of global coral species. The thriving marine ecosystems have the potential to generate income for coastal communities.
UNDP and UNCDF are working to catalyze the blue economy in Papua New Guinea, starting with a pilot in Kimbe Bay focused on the incubation of women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The programme was highlighted at the official inception of the ‘Investing in Coral Reefs and Blue Economy’ project held at Kimbe on 28 February 2023.
UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Dirk Wagener stated that the project is building on UNDP's successful collaboration in West New Britain Province over the last 15 years.
“The blue economy project aims to leverage economic development in the context of conservation of the natural marine environment. Papua New Guinea is an international custodian of remarkable biodiversity assets - which it must protect effectively to safeguard the world from biodiversity loss and climate change.”
Attended by key government partners such as the Conservation and Environment Protection Agency, Tourism Promotion Authority, Investment Promotion Authority, SME Corporation, Community Based Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, the business community and development partners, participants were introduced to the concept of the Blue Economy and the Blue Economy Enterprise Incubation Facility. The so-called Blue Incubation Facility will seek to provide MSMEs with targeted technical assistance and financial incubation, including early-stage grant finance and blue loan products, to help scale and build transformative sustainable livelihoods.
Acting West New Britain Provincial Administrator, Mr Leo Mapmani, thanked the United Nations Development Programme for choosing West New Britain.
“The project is also an economic opportunity for MSMEs who want to focus on the sustainable blue and green space. Thank you to UNDP for choosing West New Britain, which is an economic-oriented province. This project looks at blue economic development, and that is where the key players present here now will make it happen for our people.”
Conservation and Environment Protection Authority’s Marine Protected Area Manager, Mr Vagi Rei, thanked all government partners for participating in this inception workshop.
“For the project to be here in Kimbe is very timely. All partners that are here from financial institutions, NGOs, CBOs and development partners. We all come here with one focus in mind. CEPA is in full support of the UNDP project.”
UNDP and UNCDF will work to identify five women-led or women-oriented “blue” MSMEs in Kimbe Bay in 2023 as the first cohort of the Blue Incubation Facility. Simultaneously, the partners will seek to identify and build out a women’s business network.
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Women and youth leading the voices for peace and conflict prevention in Southern Highlands Province
Unusual heavy rainfall, long drought periods and frost can worsen conflicts in places already experiencing violence. These ‘climate-induced’ conflicts can hinder people’s livelihoods and marginalise vulnerable groups such as women, youth and children.
In the Southern Highlands Province, the ‘Preventing Climate Induced Conflicts through Women Leadership Empowerment’ Project, funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme through the UN Highlands Joint Programme, aims to empower women and youth leaders as conflict-sensitive activists through capacity building interventions in conflict prevention and resolution to reduce the risk of exposure of vulnerable communities to climate-induced conflicts.
The region is highly volatile due to tribal conflicts. Take for instance, in the last four years, the communities of Pira 1 and 2, Mapata 1 and 2 in the Aiya Local Level Government of Kagua-Erave District in Southern Highlands Province have struggled with inter-communal conflict related to land, which have resulted in casualties and the displacement of around 6,700 people. Within this context, the adverse impacts of climate change have further marginalised vulnerable groups.
These communities desire peace. Today, these four communities are working together towards a peace agreement to end the fight, reconcile, and return to their land. As a community leader relates: “We fought, we lost our shelters, and we are now displaced. We don’t want to fight again. We learned from our mistakes. We want peace.”
From 16-18 January 2023, four community planning sessions and three focus group discussions involving traditional leaders, women and youth were conducted in these communities.
The activities aimed to promote community-led participation in the planning process of the project implementation and to explore on the role of specific groups such as women and youth in preventing climate-induced conflicts in high-risk communities of Papua New Guinea.
A female participant said: “Before the conflict, we had land, we could produce a lot of food, but now we are displaced and with the changes with our climate, we don’t have gardens.
“With the displacement, life became difficult for young women and girls. When they went to fetch water or food, they were attacked and assaulted. Some girls were exchanged and married for land,” explained a female youth.
Women and youth’s accounts revealed the impacts of the conflict and climate change at different levels, but also provided insights on the community needs and interests, particularly in building local capacities to preventing and resolving conflict but also reducing risks of vulnerable communities.
As a youth male relates: “Before, we used to go to school and play rugby, but with the conflict, we lost interest in everything, we were focused on the conflict. It was only after a community training that we started to think about peace and about going back to the normal life.”
A women representative explains: “In the past, women’s voices were confined by men, we could only speak in the church but not in public spaces. It was after participating in a community training that men realized that women need to participate in decision-making.”
In the last two months, women and youth have been working to prevent the escalation of conflict and to advocate for peace in their communities.
As a youth representative describes: “During the conflict, we [the youth] took the initiative to talk with those leading the conflict who were relatives of the ones who died in the conflict. We asked them to stop the fight and surrender the guns. They did and that is how we got the cease fire.”
‘Preventing Climate Induced Conflicts through Women Leadership Empowerment’ Project aims to empower women and youth leaders as conflict-sensitive activists through capacity building interventions in conflict prevention and resolution to reduce the risk exposure of vulnerable communities to climate-induced conflicts.
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UNDP continues its support to address family, sexual and gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea
The United Nations Development Programme continues to partner with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to bring policing closer to survivors of Gender-Based Violence.
In early February saw a significant milestone with the official opening of two new office units for the Family Sexual Violence Unit at the Gordons and Badili Police Stations respectively. UNDP provided the infrastructure to allow highly trained and specialized police personnel to provide protection services and access to justice for survivors experiencing violence, especially for women and children.
This investment builds on UNDP’s support in the development of Family Sexual Violence Unit’s Information and Management System (IMS) to register Family Sexual Violence cases, monitor and track Interim Protection Orders (IPOs) in March 2021.
UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Dirk Wagener, said UNDP has a long-standing partnership with the Family Sexual Violence Unit (FSVU) and through this support, more women and families will be able to receive much needed and critical support services.
“Globally one in five women experience violence in their lifetime. In Papua New Guinea, two in three women experience domestic and sexual violence in their lifetime. This is an appalling ratio and we need to step up our support to address this complex issue. Through our support, more women and families will be able to receive assistance,” said Mr. Wagener
The FSVU is an important unit within the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. They respond to incidents of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) in Papua New Guinea.
The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary’s Metropolitan Superintendent Silva Sika thanked UNDP and partners for the ongoing collaboration and assistance.
The Australian Government, Australian Federal Police, Westpac Bank, Rotary Port Moresby and Gordons Market Mama’s Association were instrumental in the setup and launch of this assistance at Gordons and Badili.
UNDP supported the first ever Gender-Based Violence summit in November 2020. The summit led to the establishment of a Special Parliamentary Committee on GBV that led the 1st and 2nd national inquiry into GBV. UNDP continues to provide support to the current Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment and Gender Based Violence with other key partners.
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Integrated coral reef restoration and rural small-holder farming system in Tubusereia Village, Central Province
Most of Papua New Guinea’s population reside in traditional rural and remote communities. These communities secure their livelihoods from agriculture, fishery, and the forest sectors. In rural coastal communities, the sea contributes greatly to the food and livelihood security of these communities, however, these have shown rapid decline in recent years.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), hosted by UNDP, recently awarded a grant to Hiri Coral PNG - an NGO that focuses on conservation and sustainable management of marine ecosystems, food security in communities and providing a platform for scientific research.
"The GEF Small Grants Programme represents the very essence of sustainable development by thinking globally and acting locally. This grant will provide both financial and technical support to Hiri Coral PNG, to boost their conservation efforts in restoring their natural environment and improve the well-being and livelihoods of the rural community," said Dirk Wagener, UNDP Resident Representative.
The grant worth US$48,000 will support the organisation’s project: Food security and income for villages through integrated coral reef restoration and rural-small-holder farming system.
The project will be implemented in Tubusereia, a motuan coastal village in Hiri East District, Central Province. Tubusereia - is within the Bootless Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which boasts some of the most diverse marine resources comprising of seagrass, mangroves, and coral reefs.
40 families, including men women and children, are expected to benefit from community–based sustainable livelihood initiatives, through integrated coral reef restoration programme and rural small holder farmers training.
Igo Gari, the Founder of Hiri Coral PNG, said, "the main impact and the benefit I have seen through this project since it started, is the different species of fish coming back to the reefs after a decline due to coral destruction and other activities destroying the coral reefs."
"We hope to empower the local community by strengthening their level of engagement through hands-on learning and develop essential programs that deliver a lasting and local solution, using local knowledge and integrating good practices."
In 2018, a small coral reef restoration project was initiated as part of a PhD research project by Igo Gari, this conservation initiative led to the establishment of a community-based organisation - Hiri Coral PNG. The group is currently collaborating with the locals, Central Provincial Government and Loloata Island Resort to promote coral reef conservation.
The GEF - SGP, implemented by UNDP, supports projects that aim to generate local environmental benefits through community-based innovation, capacity development, and empowerment through sustainable development projects of local civil society organizations with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, and youth.
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Striving to make a positive impact
"Addressing corruption is crucial in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals" – Ripana James
Ripana is a vital member of the Country Office, he serves as the Project Administrative and Finance Associate, under UNDP’s component of the joint ‘PNG Anti-Corruption Project.’ The project is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented with UNODC.
His daily duties involve administrative, operational, budgetary, and financial management functions of the PNG Anti-Corruption Project.
"I work closely with the Programme Support Unit and UNDP Operations team in resolving administrative and finance-related issues for the project amongst other key tasks."
Ripana’s main drive is to always make a positive impact in his community, at his workplace, and throughout his life in general.
"I am also motivated by the opportunity to learn new things, to constantly grow as an employee and contribute more to my team and organisation."
Ripana strives to be like his father, his greatest role model. A man of principle, who was honest, respectful, and god-fearing.
"He always provided for the family and encouraged and supported me in everything I did. My success and character are reflections of his influence, which I am truly grateful for."
Ripana has worked in the UN system for over two years now, and believes UNDP plays a significant role in helping countries like Papua New Guinea in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
"UNDP collaborates effectively with government and other development partners to achieve the SDGs, efforts on building the country's capacity; to promote inclusive growth, effective governance, and sustainable and resilient development."
He highlights the importance of the anti-corruption project and how it aims to meet the SDGs.
"The project’s overall goal is to reduce corruption by strengthening the government’s commitment and capacities, to address corruption in line with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the National Anti-Corruption Plan of Action. Corruption is a key obstacle to achieving the SDGs; effective anti-corruption mechanisms and controls are crucial to protect public funds and access to basic services."
Ripana is from Wanigela in Abau District, Central Province, and has a Master’s Degree in Strategic Procurement, from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (RMIT).
During his free time, Ripana enjoys playing several sports, mainly; touch rugby, volleyball, and soccer.
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Jack Baylis Robinson
A caring husband, father, brother, and friend.
It is with great sadness and grief that we mourn the passing of our colleague and friend, Mr. Jack Baylis Robinson.
Jack passed away on Monday 13 February at age 46. He was a valued member of the UNDP Papua New Guinea Country Office team since he joined in 2020; we will all miss him more than words can express.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Hellen, children, and family in this time of grief.
UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Dirk Wagener, said; “Jack’s presence was all encompassing. He was a devoted father, a family man and a fervent lover of all things Rugby League. He was a highly professional, diligent, and loyal colleague always there to support the Country Office. Never with a bad word to say, and always ready to enjoy a laugh.”
May our dear Jack Rest in Peace.
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Contact Us: info.png@undp.org
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