Incentive Fund program focuses on women empowerment

The Incentive Fund program under the Australia Government will now focus more on empowering women and girls in Papua New Guinea.

The program recently introduced a new requirement that eighty per cent of all funded projects have a focus on empowering women and girls.

Over the past 15 years, the program, now in its fourth phase, has supported more than 60 projects, and women and girls across PNG have been significant beneficiaries.

Health projects such as those in Alotau, Kudjip and Mingende hospitals, received improved maternal care facilities, whilst other health projects provided indirect benefits to women and girls.

Educating girls, particularly in rural PNG, is still a challenge, but the Incentive Fund program continues to make small impacts, and improving quality education for girls’ remains a focus.

Leading advocate for women and girls in PNG, Susil Nelson believes this target will help create more leadership opportunities for women.

Nelson’s role as a member of the Incentive Fund’s governing board has enabled her to influence positive changes.

Author: 
Quintina Naime