Papua New Guinea (PNG) is set to benefit significantly from the newly launched Australia-PNG Development Partnership Plan (DPP) 2024-2029, which will provide much-needed support for the country’s security, governance, and economic development. The plan, announced by Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby, emphasizes Australia's commitment to helping PNG achieve stability and prosperity. PNG is Australia’s largest development partner, with an estimated $637.4 million in Official Development Assistance funding in 2024-25 and over $2.5 billion in budget support loans since 2019. The Development Partnership Plan puts into action the new direction of Australia’s International Development Policy, which focuses on locally led development. At the core of the plan is a $200 million Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) designed to address critical internal security challenges - PNG’s police force will receive a boost in capabilities, with enhanced training, infrastructure, and leadership programs aimed at tackling law and order issues, including gender-based violence and emerging threats such as cybercrime. By 2026-27, Australia’s law, justice, and policing support for PNG will increase from $60 million to $110 million annually, a clear indicator of Australia’s commitment to PNG’s security needs. Minister Conroy emphasized the importance of addressing PNG’s own priorities, stating, “Our approach is to be guided by your priorities, your needs, your ambitions.” This approach highlights Australia’s recognition of PNG’s specific challenges and the importance of aligning the partnership with PNG's Medium-Term Development (MTD) Plan to foster real change. "We've heard your calls for a focus on core areas like infrastructure, education, employment and skills, and other critical areas like health." "This has shaped the DPP we are launching tonight, and listening to your priorities, I cannot overstate it, it is the key part of the DPP, listening and acting on your priorities and driving investment along that path," Minister Conroy said at the launching, accompanied by Minister for Planning, and Rigo MP, Sir Ano Pala. "The new DPP outlines the framework, the rationale and roadmap for how we are working together with international partners right now, and as we have for all of the 49 years so far since independence, Australia is backing PNG's economic development and ambition for its people," he said. According to the 40-page DPP, education will also see major improvements, with $100 million set aside to enhance the education sector, with PNG students to gain more access to quality schooling, better preparing them for the workforce and addressing high dropout rates, particularly among girls. Australia’s support for high-performing secondary schools and stronger links between PNG and Australia’s education systems are expected to have long-term positive effects on PNG’s economic and social development. As a nation with a youthful population, improved education will play a vital role in unlocking PNG’s potential, and by creating more skilled workers, PNG can strengthen its workforce, attract investment, and build a sustainable economy. The Australia–PNG Law and Justice Partnership is another key area where PNG will benefit, as the plan will bolster PNG’s law enforcement capabilities, providing safe houses for women escaping violence and improving community-level justice systems. Australia will work closely with civil society to strengthen public demand for transparency and accountability, with this partnership aiming to ensure that PNG can address internal corruption and promote fairness and justice for all citizens. Climate change resilience is also high on the agenda, with Australia's Climate FIRST Initiative providing essential support to help PNG develop climate adaptation strategies and access international climate finance, and with the impacts of climate change threatening both livelihoods and infrastructure, this initiative will help PNG prepare for and mitigate future environmental disasters. Australia’s investments will not only focus on security and education but also on supporting gender equality and disability-inclusive development, both critical areas for PNG's growth. The PNG Women Lead program will empower women, creating opportunities for leadership and economic advancement. Minister Conroy summed up the partnership’s purpose: “We’ve heard how important continued economic growth, security, and investment in Papua New Guineans is to Papua New Guinea, how this is central to your Medium-Term Development Plan, and we have a plan to deliver.” "We thank all those involved for their sage advice and contribution to the DPP, including of course the PNG government, as well as civil society organisations and our believing partners." Find out more about the DPP: https://lnkd.in/gmkb8bqV