United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

These funds will reduce threats to biodiversity, strengthen traditional landowners’ rights, and promote women’s economic empowerment.

Eco Custodian Advocate Inc. (ECA) a NGO based in Milne Bay Province is among the few recipients of these small grants.

The signing of the grant agreement between ECA and USAIDGP took place in late April, 2023.

It is a 14 month project starting from April 20, 2023 to June 19, 2024.

The funding will be utilized for development activities in Papua New Guinea to strengthen U.S.-Pacific partnerships for sustainable, prosperous, inclusive, secure, and democratically empowered societies.

At the signing event, USAID Acting Senior Developing Advisor Clay Epperson expressed gratitude for the partnership with the Papua New Guinea government and discussed ongoing projects in the country through USAID funding.

The funding will specifically support HIV/AIDS services for key populations and electrification through USAID’s PNG Electrification Partnership.

The signing took place last Friday July 1, 2022.

USAID Philippines, Pacific Islands, and Mongolia Mission Director Ryan Washburn joined Coca-Cola PNG General Manager Philippe Mondada to sign the MoU to promote women’s empowerment, safe water, and sustainable economic growth in his first official trip to PNG.

“Business is good for development, and development is good for business,” said Mission Director Washburn.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Wildlife Conservation Society, and other organizations partnered with Miruma community-based organization Wamiufa U5 to help the Miruma community protect their forest, reforest degraded lands, understand wildlife dynamics, and develop conservation livelihood projects. 

With funding from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Development Fund and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), IOM is providing technical inputs in the execution of field assessments with the Department for Provincial and Local Government Affairs (DLPGA) and provincial authorities.

They are also providing input in the drafting of a policy document for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The training was delivered to 20 participants from various women’s groups, conservation groups and staff of Jiwaka provincial administration.

The training was conducted under the USAID LGP ‘Women’s Empowerment Program’ and aims to produce a pool of financial literacy trainers to specifically to support rural and remote communities in six provinces in Papua New Guinea.

USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. In order to support these goals, President John. F. Kennedy created the United States Agency for International Development in 1961.

Ambassador to PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Erin McKee, in celebration of the anniversary, took a moment to reflect on how the United States have worked together with these three countries to empower individuals and in building self-reliant communities.

In collaboration with ExxonMobil PNG, Motu Koita Assembly and National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCD PHA) launched a second mobile vaccination clinic in Port Moresby, today.

This second mobile vaccination clinic joins the recognizable “big yellow bus” operated by the Motu Koita Assembly to take COVID-19 vaccines directly to NCD residents, targeting small villages and hard-to-reach settlements that may not otherwise have access to vaccines.

The bus will maintain a steady supply of COVID-19 vaccines donated through the COVAX Facility.

This is to improve natural resource management; increase access to reliable and affordable energy in the country; as well as to empower women entrepreneurs in PNG.

“The United States is a proud partner with Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and Japan in the goal to bring electricity to 70 percent of PNG homes by 2030, empower women owned businesses, and to protect the lands, forests and waterways of PNG for generations to come,” said its embassy.

The 85 million brings the U.S. government contribution to more than PGK110 million ($32.5 million) since 2016.

USAID awarded K475,594 (US$140,000) in grants to the Papua New Guinea Centre for Locally Managed Areas (PNGCLMA) and Mahonia Na Dari Research and Conservation Centre (MND).

USAID awarded PNGCLMA the grant Sustainability of Community Mangrove Management through Strengthening Government Partnership. PNGCLMA will work with the Kairuku District communities and stakeholders to finalise and implement plans to strengthen the biodiversity conservation of the particularly biodiverse mangroves of Hall Sound Bay in Central Province.