Launch of PNG’s first WASH Joint Sector Review: A roadmap for sustainable gains

Access to clean drinking water from a tap stand in a rural area of Papua New Guinea (World Vision PNG / Richard Masi)

A first of its kind joint sector review (JSR) report on Papua New Guinea’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector, launched on 22 November by the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM) WASH Program Management Unit and Water for Women PNG WASH Consortium, provides critical insights to bolster safe drinking water and sanitation access across the country.

Despite good progress in the eight years since the launch of the National WaSH Policy 2015-2030, Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) reports have shown a declining trend in community access to WASH, particularly in rural areas where only around 33% of the population has a safe water source and 13% just basic sanitation.

The WASH JSR report follows the release of PNG’s Medium Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV) in July and its findings are pivotal in assessing progress towards the targets set out in the national policy, as well as revealing roadblocks and successful approaches to increase and sustain WASH development gains.

Addressing the launch, Anna Gilchrist, First Secretary – Health, Australian High Commission, acknowledged the collective efforts of the JSR technical working group, lead departments and sector stakeholders in undertaking the review, and reiterated the importance of continued multisectoral efforts to deliver positive WASH outcomes for communities.

“No matter where you are in the world, safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene are absolutely critical to human health and well-being… Safe WASH is not just a prerequisite for health, but contributes to livelihoods, school attendance and the dignity of humans, and helps to create resilient communities who can live in healthy environments,” Ms Gilchrist said.

Speaking on behalf of the Government of Papua New Guinea, Mr Avea Avaroa, Acting Assistant Secretary – WaSH and Schools Self Reliance Coordination, National Department of Education, touched on some priority actions the WASH JSR is now informing.

“The government, through the MTDP IV, is focusing on delivering WASH infrastructure and services to schools, health centres, communities, and rural towns through which the government aims to improve accessibility to safe drinking water from 39% to 60% and sanitation facilities 15% to 40% by 2027 in rural areas,” Mr Avaroa said. “It's imperative for everyone to collectively confront issues, leveraging the insights gained from the Joint Sector Review Report to achieve MTDP IV and WASH Policy targets.”

The JSR identified gaps at the National level, including interrelated issues with coordination, financing, capacity, and monitoring, pointing to the requirement for a multi-faceted approach.

Mr Avaroa said the WASH JSR report will contribute to the upcoming review of the National WaSH Policy, the development of the WaSH Sector Development Plan and other national WaSH documents, while also providing learnings that will improve upcoming JSRs to capture both national and subnational WaSH progress.

“The key takeaway from this JSR process is the importance of sustained unity and coordination among us the stakeholders, highlighting that the strength of collaboration is pivotal in effectively coordinating WASH to the subnational and community levels.”

Avea Avaroa, Acting Assistant Secretary – WaSH and Schools Self Reliance Coordination, National Department of Education

Undertaken for the first time in PNG during 2022, the WASH Joint Sector Review is an important process to assess the status of the WASH sector against the targets set out in the National WaSH Policy 2015-2030 and facilitate greater coordination and concerted effort towards these targets. The insights captured though the WASH JSR report are now informing policy and strategy priorities at the sub-national and national levels to increase and sustain access to safe water and sanitation across PNG by 2030.

"SDG 6 is such a big component of not just development in PNG and the Pacific, but all around the world… When you get out to the provinces, get out to the villages, you recognise the challenges that sit there… The people of PNG deserve better… and we’re all working together for this… At the moment we’re also being challenged by El Nino… what’s the first need we have in El Nino? … It’s water and sanitation… this is something for the forefront of development…”

- Chris Jensen, National Director, World Vision

Water for Women’s PNG WaSH Consortium, WASH Em i Bikpela Samting, is led by World Vision and also comprises partners WaterAid, Live & Learn Environmental Education, and Plan International. Since 2018, Water for Women has been supporting improvements to WASH access in communities throughout PNG. Through the collective efforts of Water for Women partners in PNG, more than 184,100 people have been directly benefitted so far. Currently, four community WASH projects and one research project are building on these achievements, with an additional focus on strengthening climate resilience.

Photos:

Above right: Officials at the launch event (left to right) Mr John Nokue, WaSH Planning and Management Unit – Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Ms Anna Gilchrist, First Secretary – Health, Australian High Commission, Mr Avea Avaroa, Acting Assistant Secretary – WaSH and Schools Self Reliance Coordination, National Department of Education, and Mr Chris Jensen, National Director of World Vision (World Vision PNG)

Above: Partners and officals gather for a group photo at the launch of the WASH JSR Report at the Hilton Hotel in Port Morseby, PNG (World Vision PNG) 

*Project targets are based on partner Civil Society Organisations (CSO) project baseline studies. Project targets are updated periodically in response to changes in context as appropriate.