Australia continues to support the development aspirations of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, intending to provide a total of AU$47.8 million in development aid during 2020-2021, into the region which this year concluded a referendum in favour of independence.
Australia’s support to Bougainville (ABG) is an extension of the country’s bilateral partnership with Papua New Guinea and is consistent with the government’s priorities under the autonomy arrangements.
“As a signatory witness to the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement, Australia has supported the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government to strengthen governance and service delivery, increase economic growth and increase peacebuilding activities,” a spokesperson from the Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea said.
According to the official, in 2020-2021, Australia will invest around PGK119m (AU$47.8m) in development assistance to Bougainville. This includes:
- Specific initiatives to support strengthened governance, improved economic development and peacebuilding; and
- National sector programs to support improved services in health, education, infrastructure, law and justice, and gender.
Australia’s assistance is improving primary industry production, trade links, and the investment and business environment.
“In 2020, Australia has provided approximately PGK10.4 million (AU$4.2 million) in grants through the Commodity Support Facility to assist cocoa farmers and the industry to boost the quality and volume of Bougainville’s cocoa production,” the spokesperson added.
Other assistance will include:
- Technical assistance – ABG and PNG institutions to support core government functions and post-referendum processes;
- Small grant programs – Commodity Support Facility to grow Bougainville’s agriculture sector, Community Grants Program, and the Peace Building Program to support social cohesion; and
- Grants to national and international NGOs to support referendum and post-referendum preparedness, including 2020 ABG election support to the Bougainville Electoral Commission (BEC) through the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and the National Research Institute.
Australia is also delivering a number of new activities to support the ABG’s COVID-19 response and long-term recovery, including:
- Direct funding (PGK950,000) to the ABG Department of Health
- Upgrading critical health infrastructure, including the Suhin Isolation Facility on Buka Island and the Buin Health Clinic
- The production and distribution of COVID-19 materials across Bougainville
- COVID-19 Project Management Advisory support to the ABG Department of Health to assist in the implementation of its COVID-19 response; and
- A new large-scale water security project to be delivered across Bougainville through small-scale markets and schools to support basic service delivery and income generation.
Australia is investing PGK14 million (AU$5.5 million) to support quality elementary education, leadership skills for secondary students, establish a new TVET investment with the Bougainville Technical College and provide scholarships for tertiary study. Assistance is delivered in close partnership with the Papua New Guinea Department of Education and the Bougainville Department of Education.
Another approximately PGK26.2 million (AU$10.5 million) will be provided to improve health service delivery in Bougainville with the support working with the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to rebuild its health system, workforce, and health infrastructure including:
- PGK34 million (AU$14 million) to fund the upgrade and provide ongoing maintenance for the Arawa Hospital
- PGK20 million (AU$8 million), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, to support the construction of the Kunua Health Centre in North Bougainville
Under the auspices of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, and at the invitation of the PNG and Autonomous Bougainville Governments, Australia supported the conduct of the referendum on Bougainville’s future political status through:
- PGK9.1 million (AU$4 million) to the United Nations Bougainville Referendum Support Project, a multi-donor fund that facilitated the work of the independent Bougainville Referendum Commission to conduct the referendum.
- PGK6.6 million (AU$2.9 million) support to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems which provided international and local election expertise to the BRC on enrolments, operational logistics, legal advice, training, and planning.
- Three Australian and international specialists through the Australia Assists program to support the BRC, together with advisors assisting the BRC with public communications and corporate operations and services.
- Support to the independent National Research Institute to develop, publish, and foster discussion and debate relating to the referendum and post-referendum issues. Seven studies were commissioned and numerous briefings, forums, and roadshows were held to strengthen public awareness.
“Australia is engaging closely with the PNG and Autonomous Bougainville governments on how Australia can best support the post-referendum consultation period. This currently includes a range of technical expertise available to both governments to inform the technical, legal and communication-related aspects to the consultations,” the spokesperson said.
