Outcome PNG_D_1.2

Outcome 2: By 2028, people in Papua New Guinea, especially the most marginalized and vulnerable, participate in and benefit from more accountable, fair and transparent governance that promotes peace, security, equality and social cohesion.

Marginalized and vulnerable groups particularly women and youth in Papua New Guinea, including Bougainville—actively engaged in peacebuilding and governance processes, helping shape policies and frameworks that promote inclusive, accountable, and gender-responsive governance for sustainable peace and security. UN Women in collaboration with Department for Community Development and Religion (DfCDR) conducted an Inclusive Peace and Security Dialogue, including the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Summit in Bougainville, which brought together 200 participants comprising women leaders, youth, civil society organizations, and government officials. The summit generated strategic recommendations across six thematic areas: Coordination, Empowerment, Communication, Sustainability, Conflict–Governance Relations, and Inclusivity. These recommendations aim to institutionalize women’s leadership in peacebuilding and in autonomy-related governance dialogues. Governance mechanisms were strengthened to improve advocacy efforts. It was recommended that the Bougainville Action Plan be developed in alignment with national GEWE and WPS policies. Participants also proposed establishing a Peacebuilding Secretariat and a GEWE Technical Working Group to reinforce accountability and ensure the long-term sustainability of WPS initiatives. UN Women in partnership with UNFPA, UNDP, OHCHR and DfCDR enhanced the capacity of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) to better promote inclusive governance and address gender-based violence at the community level. Training sessions held in Arawa and Buin reached 44 participants (26 women and 18 men), equipping them with tools for grassroots advocacy, mental health resilience, and protection strategies in conflict-affected environments. The training was facilitated by UN Women, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Population Fund, and United Nations Development Programme. These results demonstrate meaningful participation of marginalized groups particularly women and youth in shaping peace and security governance. The summit recommendations provide clear roadmap for institutionalizing women's leadership. Human Rights Defenders training expanded the pool of grassroots advocates capable of promoting inclusive governance and addressing violence at community levels. The integration of WPS into national policy frameworks signals government commitment to gender-responsive governance, though implementation will require sustained resources and political will.

Outcome 2: By 2028, people in Papua New Guinea, especially the most marginalized and vulnerable, participate in and benefit from more accountable, fair and transparent governance that promotes peace, security, equality and social cohesion.

During the reporting periopd, Papua New Guinea country office recorded the following achievements Knowledge on application of Conflict Analysis Tool: Bougainville women and men now have the knowledge and understanding on how to utilize the Conflict Analysis tool for conflict management and resolution during the post-referendum period. As a result, 22 people (12 women and 10 men) enhanced their knowledge and skills in conflict sensitivity, enabling women to comprehend their context, plan effectively for sustaining peace, and foster greater resilience in their communities. UN Women further provided conflict resolution training for women leaders, community government chairladies, youths, and former combatants in the three conflict areas of Tonu, Bana, and Konnou. This training improved the skills and knowledge of 22 participants (6 women and 16 men) in financial literacy, social mapping, and conflict resolution tools, effectively addressing community and constituency issues. Women and Youth participate in post referendum decision processes : A Women and Youth dialogue was organized in Bougainville's three conflict areas: Tonu, Bana, and Konnou. The event engaged 81 participants (57 women and 24 men), focusing on peace and security as foundations for sustainable development. It raised awareness of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, emphasized understanding of the Bougainville Integrated Strategic Development Plan and related policies, and fostered collaboration among women, youth, government, and CSOs. Sustainable Peacebuilding Intervention : A community-specific sustainable peacebuilding intervention was developed, focusing on livelihood options. This intervention was based on the Local Economic Development (LED) Assessment survey conducted in the three conflict areas of Tonu, Bana, and Konnou in South Bougainville from February 28, 2024, to March 11, 2024. Papua New Guinea Government commitment to Women Peace and Securuty Council. UN Women (UNW) collaborated closely with the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) through the Department of Community Development and Religion (DFCDR), enhancing the capacity of DFCDR staff on UNSCR 1325 agendas and pathways to develop a National Action Plan on WPS. UN Women developed the first Roadmap to the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAP WPS) for Papua New Guinea, gaining support from the national government and CSO partners. Two provincial-level CSO and Women’s Agendas on WPS were created by Hela and Southern Highlands CSOs, focusing on participation, prevention, protection, and relief and recovery. These agendas aim to increase women’s leadership in peace and security mechanisms, marking the first step towards an inclusive NAP for PNG, with provincial-wide dialogues.