Papua New Guinea (PNG), renowned for its vast rainforests and unparalleled biodiversity, faces a critical challenge: balancing economic growth with environmental preservation. As climate change and unsustainable development threaten its natural treasures, the country is taking bold steps to align its future with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
A new initiative, led by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s ability to fund, monitor, and achieve the objectives set out in the country’s Medium-Term Development Framework IV and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Funded by the Joint SDG Fund, the joint programme focuses on three key areas: improving data coordination to track progress, advancing an integrated approach to financing for development, and fostering partnerships to accelerate SDG implementation.
At the programme's launch event in March 2025, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for National Planning, Hon. Sir Ano Pala, highlighted the transformative potential of the initiative.
“One of our ongoing challenges has been producing data-driven reports, let alone integrating data into budgeting and policy decisions,” he said. “This project is a game-changer. It ensures our reporting is not only comprehensive but also grounded in robust, verifiable data.”
The joint programme's data-tracking efforts will directly support Papua New Guinea’s Voluntary National Review (VNR), a process that assesses the country’s progress toward the SDGs with input from various stakeholders. Minister Pala emphasized the importance of collaboration:
“Strengthening data and national statistical systems requires not just a whole-of-government approach but, more importantly, a whole-of-society approach.”
The initiative also aims to create sustainable mechanisms for monitoring SDG progress beyond the VNR. UN Resident Coordinator in PNG, Mr. Richard Howard Jr., underscored the critical role of data in driving development:
“Data and statistics are the backbone of informed decision-making. Accurate data will allow us to track progress toward the SDGs, as well as Papua New Guinea’s Medium-Term Development Plan IV and Vision 2050.”
As Papua New Guinea works to harmonize economic growth with environmental sustainability, this programme marks a significant step forward. By leveraging high-quality data, innovative financing, and inclusive partnerships, the country is paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
