Oxfam in Papua New Guinea

Everyone has the right to live free from poverty in a secure and just world. By joining forces with partners and allies we can help people achieve this goal. These propositions sit at the heart of Oxfams work in Papua New Guinea.

About Oxfam Oxfam works to fight poverty and injustice around the world by linking the work of partners in grassroots programmes to local, regional, national and global advocacy and policy-making. Oxfams programme in Papua New Guinea is anchored to the four goals we pursue globally: economic justice, essential services, rights in crisis and gender justice. We work with community-based organisations and government agencies to reduce peoples vulnerability to poverty and inequality. We place particular emphasis on developing ongoing partnerships with local organisations because we recognise that they have the legitimacy and knowledge of their societies that is needed to foster lasting changes in the lives of marginalised people. In our partner relationships we seek to stimulate mutual learning, organisational development and the strengthening of abilities. We recognise our duty to address the power imbalances that may exist in partnerships, as well as the importance of mutual accountability in these relationships. Where Oxfam works Oxfam concentrates its work with local partners in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea (Simbu, Southern Highlands, and Eastern Highlands), East Sepik, the National Capital District and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. We currently have operational bases in Port Moresby, Goroka, Wewak and Arawa, with satellite offices in Kundiawa and Tari. What we do Our grassroots work currently has a different emphasis at each site. At present, we are working with partners on: Peace building, conflict reduction, human security and livelihoods work in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Water and sanitation provision in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Combating violence against women, supporting gender equity, mitigating the effects of largescale natural resource industry projects, and improving water and sanitation in East Sepik. Youth engagement, disaster risk management and combating violence against women in the National Capital District and Central Province.

Women participating in community-based research to identify local solutions to insecurity in Gumine, Simbu province.

Future developments Oxfam is in the process of developing an overarching strategy for our work in Papua New Guinea. The aim is to increase the impact of this work by improving the integration and coherence of the programme. This will allow us to focus on: Developing sustainable livelihood opportunities in the context of conflict, large-scale natural resource industries, natural disasters, climate and environmental change, and trade policies and impacts. Improving access to essential services, particularly in relation to water, sanitation and hygiene education. Supporting womens empowerment and gender equity, especially by combating violence against women and girls, raising awareness of HIV and AIDS, and promoting womens participation in decision making Mitigating disasters and strengthening the ability of civil society to resolve conflicts and promote local initiatives for peace and security. Linking civil society groups with government agencies and essential service providers to promote greater responsiveness and enhanced service delivery. A short history of Oxfam in Papua New Guinea Two affiliates of Oxfams international confederation work in Papua New Guinea: Oxfam New Zealand and Oxfam Australia. Both began supporting projects in Papua New Guinea in the early 1990s. Oxfam New Zealand has expertise working in rural communities with grassroots organisations, particularly in relation to peace building and conflict resolution; rural livelihoods; and water, sanitation and hygiene. Oxfam Australia specialises in working with partners on issues relating to young people; gender-based violence; and community-driven, sustainable natural resource management. As the two affiliates work to achieve a single, integrated programme, we seek to recognise these complementary areas of expertise and our shared history in the country. Milestones 1991 Oxfam supported emergency relief projects in Bougainville during major internal conflict over mining, land and political issues. 1998 Oxfam started programme work in Bougainville immediately after the New Zealandbrokered peace negotiations. As part of a five year programme, Oxfam supported community-level income generation and peace-building initiatives. 2004 Oxfams programme in Bougainville became Osi Tanata, an indigenous, independent non-government organisation that continues to offer capacity-building and development services to community organisations. Between 2004 and 2006, Oxfam developed a programme in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, where years of tribal warfare had hampered development. We formed relationships with partners committed to reducing conflict, improving rural livelihoods and increasing womens participation in governance and peace building. An operating base was established in Goroka, Eastern Highlands. 2006 Oxfam opened a country office in Port Moresby supported jointly by the two affiliates. We started promoting advocacy at the national level on issues including womens leadership, gun control and small arms proliferation.
2

Between 2006 and 2007, Oxfam expanded its water programme to Bougainville, with initial community-based water, sanitation and hygiene work in seven rural communities. We also expanded this work to new communities in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, alongside a three-year peace-building programme. 2007 Fifteen Youth Action Partners from Papua New Guinea were recruited for a global Oxfam International Youth Partnership, including attendance at a global Kaleidoscope workshop in Sydney. Oxfam supported Papua New Guinea in responding to cyclone Guba in Oro Province. 2008 Oxfam worked with local government and civil society in responding to the king tide emergency in East Sepik. 2009 Oxfam opened a field office in Wewak, East Sepik, to support partners based in the province, focusing on gender-based violence; advocacy for sustainable natural resource management; and water, sanitation and hygiene work. Oxfam recruited a programme manager to further develop the provincial programme in the National Capital District and to support partners based in the district. Oxfam Australia and Oxfam New Zealand agreed to work together as a consortium. Oxfam supported cholera and influenza emergency responses in three provinces: Eastern Highlands, East Sepik, and Central Province.

Partners in Papua New Guinea Oxfam is currently working with the following non-government organisation partners and associates in Papua New Guinea: HELP Resources in Wewak and Ambunti: working on men and boys behaviour change to eliminate violence against women; awareness, crisis counselling and paralegal services in Ambunti for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Nana Kundi Counselling Centre in Maprik: providing crisis counselling, paralegal and court advocate support, and accommodation for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. East Sepik Council of Women: providing crisis counselling and paralegal and court advocate support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Wewak; strengthening the coordination of provincial womens representative structures. Sepik Community Development Alliance: working with communities to implement sustainable access to water and sanitation as part of disaster recovery and preparedness for coastal communities affected by the 2008-2009 king tides. Turubu Eco-Forestry Development Programme: working in Sepik to ensure communities are aware of and taking a more active role in decision making around natural resource extractionrelated initiatives; developing sustainable solutions to mitigate the impacts of these initiatives. Samaritan Aviation (PNG Tribal Foundation): supporting Papua New Guineas only float plane operation to assist communities in the Sepik River Basin and Islands and to be prepared to respond in times of emergency.
3

AT Projects in Goroka, Eastern Highlands: providing cost-effective and practical solutions for safe drinking water and sanitation, and HIV and AIDS kits. Osi Tanata in Bougainville: an indigenous, independent non-government organisation providing training, research and advocacy to protect cultural identity, promote livelihoods opportunities and equip people with skills to manage their lives sustainably. Peace Foundation Melanesia: training people in mediation and conflict resolution skills in a range of provinces. Kup Women for Peace: promoting conflict resolution, peace building and elimination of violence against women in Simbu, Papua New Guinea Highlands. Hela Community Care in Tari, Southern Highlands: has taken over the work of Community Based Health Care, providing community development programmes in health and livelihoods. Coalition to Stop Gun Violence PNG: a civil society advocacy network. Community Development Agency: providing livelihoods and community development skills training for communities in Gumine, Simbu. Bougainville Healthy Communities Programme: undertaking primary healthcare and community development training at the village level. Tulele Peisa: working with Carteret Islanders to relocate villagers affected by rising seas and sinking coastlines in Bougainville. National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI): providing research and design advice on rural livelihoods and land issues. Eastern Highlands Family Voice: running a crisis centre providing counselling and legal aid to victims of violence in Goroka. Youth Alliance against HIV&AIDS (YAHA): a Port Moresby-based non-government organisation established by former Oxfam Youth Action Partners to advocate for youth involvement in development of HIV and AIDS policies and strategies. In addition, Oxfam engages with a broad range of allies and stakeholders, including trade unions, non-government organisations, inter-organisational coalitions and academics on issues such as trade policy and negotiations, the arms trade and climate change. Current and planned activities in Papua New Guinea Economic justice (agriculture, environmental issues, sustainable natural resource management, livelihoods development and climate change adaptation). Ongoing activities: Increase community awareness and capacity for engagement and advocacy in relation to decisions about community rights and sustainable natural resource management in Sepik. Tok Pisin translation of an Oxfam-developed Free and Informed Prior Consent community manual in order to improve natural resource and extractive industry community engagement processes. Assistance to diversify food crops, develop small animal husbandry and fish farming, and generate smallholder agro-forestry opportunities in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.
4

Coffee marketing support in Simbu and Tari. Regional trade advocacy work and research. Advocacy around climate change, including its impact on livelihoods. Support for community training and development education in Simbu and Tari. Research into the livelihoods work of community-based partners in Gumine and Tari to determine the impact and shape of future programme work.

Planned activities: Linking sustainable natural resource management work in Sepik to international corporate accountability advocacy initiatives. Scoping of a new livelihoods programme in Sepik for enterprise development in areas such as crafts, community tourism and agricultural livelihoods. Documentation of the socio-economic impacts, especially on local livelihoods and human security, of the large Liquefied Natural Gas project in Tari. Climate change adaptation project in Manus, involving capacity building of sub-national and local-level government planning staff, strengthening community planning systems, and livelihoods support to build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Research into and scoping of potential urban livelihoods and income management projects in Port Moresby, with a focus on young people and women. Development of livelihoods programme in Bougainville, including fish smoking small enterprise for atolls, and cocoa and copra driers for smallholders in central Bougainville.
Rights in crisis (conflict reduction, peace building, disaster preparedness and emergency

response). Ongoing activities: Promoting community-based approaches to resolving clan and tribal fights, including mediation and reconciliation, in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Undertaking a cost/benefit analysis of the Kup tribal fight in Simbu to identify who benefits from the fighting. This will help support local-level advocacy. Pilot initiative on community laws and policing, including setting up Community Justice Committees, in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Local advocacy for justice in order to deal with the climate of impunity, bring perpetrators to justice, and support reconciliation processes in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Human rights training with a gender focus in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. National advocacy relating to reactivation of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Regional advocacy as part of the Pacific Small Arms Advocacy Group, working on an effective international Arms Trade Treaty and getting a Pacific perspective into the treaty. International advocacy relating to armed violence and development, focused on human security, in order to feed into United Nations processes (including the Geneva Declaration, the UN Programme of Action and the Millennium Development Goals). Pre-positioning of Oxfam emergency relief stocks in Lae and Wewak to ensure effective future emergency response. Representation at national-level emergency response working groups, including for coordination and information sharing. Supporting float plane operations in Sepik to access isolated communities in times of emergency and crisis. Planned activities: Research to help partners in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea understand government service delivery mechanisms and funding flows in order to better advocate for service delivery.
5

 Working to ensure Oxfam plays an active role in future responses to natural disasters and public health emergencies in collaboration with government agencies and key stakeholders in Papua New Guinea. Publication of Tari Hospital research into causes of violence and profile of victims.

Essential services (HIV and AIDS awareness; water, sanitation, and hygiene education; and

strengthening local-level and district governance). Ongoing activities: Water, sanitation and hygiene programme in the central and northern districts of Bougainville, with Bougainville Healthy Communities Programme and Tulele Peisa. Focus on building gravity-fed systems in the Central district and rain-water harvesting in Tinputz as part of disaster risk reduction for displaced Carteret Islanders. Water, sanitation and hygiene programme, including gravity-fed systems in Kup, tanks for schools and the Kup Women for Peace centre, and provision of community tanks in Tari district. Some low-cost household rainwater harvesting catchments are being implemented in Tari. School water, sanitation, and health education work in Eastern Highlands province. Provision of HIV and AIDS drop-in centres in Kup and Tari and training HIV and AIDS volunteers. Water, sanitation and hygiene programme in the Boiken/Dagua area of East Sepik as part of disaster recovery and preparedness for coastal communities affected by the king tides of 2008-2009. This includes implementing gravity-fed systems and rainwater harvesting activities, promoting womens leadership and supporting improved local-level water governance. Development of a youth programme, based in Port Moresby, to promote active citizenship and the participation of young people in community affairs. This is linked to the Oxfam International Youth Programme network and its events. Ongoing organisational and advocacy support to the Youth Alliance on HIV and AIDS (YAHA) in Port Moresby. Capacity-building support to the Gumine District Management Team for local-level planning and service delivery. Planned activities: Needs assessment and scoping of the development of water, sanitation and hygiene programming in Port Moresby settlements and Central province, building on information from cholera response work. Identification of 2-3 Port Moresby settlement youth groups for potential partnership and capacity building to support local community development projects and enhance youth voice in relation to government accountability. Alternative technology research into wells with AT projects for the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Develop an understanding of local-level governance structures and developments in the National Capital District to explore the potential for increasing accountability in areas relevant to Oxfams programme in Port Moresby (including water, sanitation and hygiene, genderbased violence and work with young people). An expansion of the Highlands and Bougainville water, sanitation and hygiene programme. Establishment of an education fund for Carteret Island and other atoll children to enable them to access secondary education.

Gender justice (eliminating violence against women and girls; HIV and AIDS awareness linked to

sexual violence; promoting womens participation in leadership and decision making). Ongoing activities: Men and boys behaviour change community training programs through HELP Resources in Sepik to change gender attitudes and behaviours. Supporting Nana Kundi to provide ongoing support services relating to violence against women, including counselling, paralegal and court advocate services, and crisis accommodation support for families affected by violence in Maprik in Sepik. Working with the East Sepik Council of Women to support organisational development and the strengthening of counselling and paralegal crisis services for women and families affected by violence against women in Wewak in Sepik. Working with HELP Resources to establish awareness, counselling and paralegal crisis services relating to violence against women in Ambunti in Sepik. Supporting Kup Women for Peace in setting up a counselling and crisis centre for victims of violence in Kerowagi, based on the Fiji Womens Crisis Centres multi-agency approach. Supporting Eastern Highlands Family Voice to undertake a small research project to improve data collection and case analysis of previous and current years information. Kup Women for Peace is learning from Family Voice with the aim of replicating their monitoring system once the Kerowagi Crisis centre is established. Participatory action research with a range of government, civil society, church and private sector stakeholders, into the quality and capacity of service provision for both male perpetrators and female survivors of gender-based violence in Port Moresby. Planned activities: Documentation of the impact of Oxfams partners behaviour change and violence against women crisis services in Sepik. Support improved coordination and learning among Sepik partners working on violence against women, including work on joint monitoring systems and identifying opportunities to link partners work to advocacy and campaigning initiatives. Run a Papua New Guinea-specific Fiji Womens Crisis Centre course in Goroka for nongovernment and community-based organisations, including all of Oxfams partners working on gender-based violence. This will help to support a national network for ongoing genderbased violence work and advocacy at the national level. Explore potential support for gender-based violence partners in Port Moresby based on the findings of ongoing research into the needs of the sector.

Kup Women for Peace: bringing enemy tribes together after decades of warfare in Papua New Guinea. Photo: Jerry Galea.