United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Bouagainvilleans must be prepared to vote on the referendum that will decide their political future. The business of raising awareness and communicating important information needs different avenues to reach everyone and one of those solutions is digital messaging.  

With the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Peace Building Project, the ABG recently installed solar-powered billboards at each of the newly-constructed Community Information Centres (CICs) in Buka, Arawa and Buin.

This is to help the nation secure increased international funding and support to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Supported by the Government of PNG’s Climate Change Development Authority and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the retreats will flesh out Finance and Investment Plans to put into operation PNG’s National REDD+ Strategy (NRS) 2017-2027, which was endorsed by the PNG Government in May 2017.

Women from South, Central and North Bougainville have come together for a five-day conference from 28 August to 1 September 2017, to highlight the significant role, both historically and currently, that women play in peacebuilding and security in the region.

The workshops are part of the ‘Strengthening Disaster Risk Management in Papua New Guinea’ program, funded by the Australian Government, which is providing strategic support to the Government of Papua New Guinea in reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience to disasters.

According to the UNDP and NDC, Papua New Guinea is prone to regular natural disasters and faces threats from a wide range of hazards including floods, cyclones, landslides, drought and earthquakes, among others.

The 32-page report “Fulfilling the land of opportunity: How to grow employment in Papua New Guinea” is based on a joint survey of over 230 businesses in Port Moresby, Madang, Mt Hagen and Lae in late 2016.

Covering five employment sectors from management and hospitality to clerical and administrative occupations, the Report identified key factors preventing firms from hiring more staff, what skills businesses determine are most in need, practical impacts of the skills shortages and how Papua New Guinea can help grow employment.

UNDP was proud to hand over a new Resource Centre, with a computer room with 10 new terminals, Wi-Fi access for parliament, an office and conference room facilities.

In Buka for Bougainville Day, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Roy Trivedy, joined the President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) Chief Dr John Momis, Vice President Raymond Masono, Speaker of BHOR, Simon Pentanu and other community and government representatives to cut a ribbon and officially open the Centre.

Deputy Speaker, John Simon welcomed all 45 women intending to run as candidates in the upcoming 2017 National Elections took to the State Function room to participate in a mock session.

The women spent the last week under taking training and skills development on both policy and parliamentary issues ending the training by standing up in a parliamentary setting, debating public policies and legislation for the first time in the history of the National Parliament.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator, Roy Trivedy said during the past week, government officials gave the participants policy briefings on issues such as the Governments Vision 2050, Medium Long Term Development Plan and District Services Improvement Program, as well as on climate change, decentralization and family planning.

“Parliamentary staff also trained the women on key procedures in readiness for the Practice session,” says Trivedy.

In  a highly competitive process,  participants from 22 provinces were selected from over 200 applicants and will be trained on critical national policy issues, parliamentary processes and campaign strategies from 6 to 13 March 2017 in Port Moresby.

With only three female MPs out of 111 in Papua New Guinea’s current parliament, women continue to be under-represented as political leaders and elected officials.

This move has seen the upgrade of the NBC Bougainville facilities where the ABG committed K5 million to improve the coverage and broadcasting of the radio station.

In opening the facility ABG President, Dr John Momis said this included the procurement of new studio broadcast equipment, renovation to the Hutjena studio, procurement of a brand new fully digital 10 kilowatt shortwave transmitter.