Papua New Guinea

2020 Voluntary National Review

Papua New Guinea reported that the 2019 update of the United Nations Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) estimates that access to safe drinking water was at 41%, and improved sanitation was at 13% nationwide. They further reported improvement in water access within 1293 rural communities across the country.

Papua New Guinea noted significant capacity challenges in planning, finance and service delivery at subnational level. Local level governments, who are responsible for WaSH service delivery, are reported to be constrained by remoteness, under-resourcing and low technical capacity. 

The country highlighted the development of a number of initiatives to combat these issues, including the National WaSH Policy 2015 – 2030, which recognizes WaSH access as a basic human right, and provides ambition for equitable access to safe, convenient and sustainable water supply and sanitation, as well as promotes improved hygiene practices. 

Additionally, Papua New Guinea reported within several pilot districts, to be working with UNICEF and subnational government stakeholders to define and test WaSH service delivery arrangements. The country reports that these approaches are being used by implementation and support partners to build capacity and coordination between key government stakeholders at district, local and provincial level. The WaSH sector in Papua New Guinea, as well as government, development partners, utilities, NGOs and the private sector, are reportedly contributing to SDG 6 targets achievement through supporting a rollout of the WaSH policy at district level. 

Read the full report here: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/26452VNR_2020_Papua_New_Guinea_Report.pdf 

*The information reflected on this page has been taken directly from the official VNR received from this Member State. The information does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations.