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The challenges of the Papua New Guinea Highlands

Community empowerment, climate resilience and peacebuilding

June 24^th, 2024

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When one thinks of the world's most pressing crises, the Papua New Guinea Highlands rarely come to mind. Yet this remote and unique region is grappling with a complex set of challenges that demand immediate attention.

The recent unprecedented landslide in Enga Province, which affected close to 8,000 people, has not only highlighted the region's vulnerability to hazards but also exposed underlying issues such as conflict, poverty, inequality and the climate crisis

Complex contrasts and compounding vulnerability

The Highlands are a land of extreme beauty and stark contrasts. Geographically isolated, the region boasts rich cultural heritage, biodiversity, and natural resources. It is custodian of third largest continuous rainforest in the world, after the Amazon and the Central African Basin.

Communities live largely in high-altitude areas, often exceeding 1,000 metres above sea level, in a rugged geography.

Traditionally reliant on agriculture, the region has recently seen a rise in mining due to its mineral wealth, though the benefits have not been evenly distributed. Despite ample natural water sources, irregular distribution and poor quality make access to water problematic.

The region is continuously strained by geological instability. Frequent earthquakes and landslides, make disasters an unfortunate norm. The recent landslide in Enga Province vividly illustrates this reality. Hundreds of lives were lost, homes buried, and entire communities were left paralyzed by contaminated water, destroyed food gardens and sustained trauma.

Travel and transport are notoriously difficult. Most villages lack roads, making access to essential services like hospitals, clinics, and courts arduous. This inaccessibility also complicates efforts to deliver machinery and vital supplies to disaster-affected areas.

The challenges of the Papua New Guinea Highlands

The human impact

The Highlands are also riddled with human conflicts, some of which span decades. As of late 2017, Hela Province alone reported over 40 ongoing internecine conflicts, resulting in more than 300 deaths and which displaced approximately 100,000 people. Schools have closed, health services have been disrupted, and local economies paralyzed.

Central to these conflicts are issues of land rights, exacerbated by deep-rooted tribal affiliations and the proliferation of small arms. Weak formal governance is often unrecognized by many communities, creating a governance vacuum which fuels further instability. Lucrative extractive projects intensify these tensions as communities fight for control over valuable resources. Sorcery-based accusations add another layer of complexity, leading to violence that the UNDP is working to combat.

The absence of government services undermines justice and security, fostering impunity and the spread of both homemade and factory-made firearms. Poor infrastructure, including roads, clean water, and clinics, magnifies these issues. Militias and hired gunmen, coupled with steeply rising peace compensation demands, a traditional method of conflict resolution, further destabilize the region. Meanwhile modernization has weakened traditional leadership and conflict resolution processes, with no effective modern systems stepping in to fill the void.

Youth and women hit hard

Women and children are frequently the targets of violence of militias and rivals.

Approximately 63 percent of the Highlands' population is under 18, trapped in a cycle of limited opportunities. Many young people see no viable future, a situation made worse by rampant gender-based violence. Women and girls bear the brunt of the ongoing conflicts and disasters, and are often responsible for securing food, water, and energy in increasingly dangerous conditions.

Papua New Guinea ranks near the bottom of the global Human Development Index's Gender Inequality Index. At least 60 percent of the country’s women have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner.

Climate crises

A recent UNDP climate risk assessment that UNDP conducted in Hela and southern Highlands provinces anticipated that climate change will likely increase rainfall, average temperatures and the risk of hazards such as landslides, floods, drought and frosts.

These are expected to weaken the region's agricultural productivity by decreasing soil fertility and increasing the spread of pest and diseases. As most people depends on agriculture for their daily survival, these threats to traditional livelihoods could further strain the region's fragile stability by increasing competition for resources.

What can be done?

Addressing these interconnected challenges can take years. UNDP and its partners are undertaking a new programme focused on three interconnected pillars: community empowerment, climate resilience, and peacebuilding.

Inclusive development. At the heart of our approach is empowering local communities, by providing livelihoods and expanding financial inclusion, providing funds for businesses, helping in home improvements and education. Vocational training for women and young people enhances employability, creating new income streams and a stronger economy. Providing opportunities for internally displaced persons is crucial. Community marketplaces and cooperatives bolster local entrepreneurship, while community-led infrastructure projects like water supply systems and renewable energy initiative improve living conditions. Inclusive decision-making ensure that everyone, including marginalized groups, have a voice in governance.

Climate resilience and improving how disaster risks are managed. We conduct awareness campaigns on adaptation strategies and disaster preparedness. Sustainable agriculture enhances resilience to climate shocks. Early warning systems for disasters save lives by providing timely alerts and training. Reforestation and watershed management initiatives help mitigate climate impacts, while community-based disaster risk reduction plans prepare locals to act effectively during emergencies.

Reducing violence. Social cohesion is vital for community prosperity. We facilitate conflict resolution workshops and train leaders in mediation and negotiation. Community peace committees address local conflicts, and cultural and sports events foster inter-group reconciliation. Psychosocial support aids individuals affected by violence or trauma. Controlling small arms and substance abuse is central too. Advocacy campaigns promote gender equality, youth empowerment, and human rights awareness, aiming for a just and equitable society and help to craft new narratives for peace.

These will be backed by interventions to strengthen strategic provincial coordination and data collection and analysis.

Time to act

The situation in the Highlands may seem a world away to many, but its importance cannot be overstated. The region serves as a poignant case study of how intertwined human development, conflict, and climate challenges can be. How the international community, led by organizations such as UNDP, navigates this high-stakes scenario could provide critical insights and hope for other vulnerable regions around the globe.

Addressing this crisis demands a coordinated, well-resourced approach that prioritizes the voices and needs of the local population. With integrated, conflict sensitive interventions, there lies a possibility of breaking the cycle of violence, poverty, and displacement, and charting a path towards a more stable and prosperous future.

The Highlands may be far and remote, but they can also provide a good landscape for navigating what multilateralism can deliver for those at risk of being left behind. The stakes are just too high.