Overview
Papua New Guinea, the Pacific's largest nation with a population of over 10 million, is home to the world's third-largest primary rainforest and boasts significant natural resources. Despite its wealth in resources, the country's economy remains fragile and exposed to external shocks. The nation's vast ethnic diversity, limited connectivity, and unequal distribution of resources contribute to conflict risks. Approximately 40% of its population lives below the poverty line, and gender-based violence is a pervasive issue.
Our partnership
The European Union and Papua New Guinea (PNG) share a foundation of strong values, and their partnership is aimed at advancing mutual objectives while addressing environmental, human development and governance challenges. In an increasingly interconnected and evolving global landscape, deepening the political and economic ties between Europe and PNG represents a collaborative effort.
France stands as the sole EU Member State with a presence in the country, playing a crucial role in the development of our flagship programme around forests, climate change and biodiversity nexus.
The EU has allocated €177 million to PNG for the period 2021-2027. It is poised to become a pivotal partner in the forestry, climate change and biodiversity nexus. The EU is also supporting the WaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and governance sectors. Our goal is to generate a transformative impact through substantial and strategically focused investments in line with the Global Gateway Strategy.
EU-PNG partnership documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our key initiatives
- Green transition
The EU works at the regional and national level with Papua New Guinea on green-related issues. That means helping the country adapt to climate change, manage forestry, invest in green infrastructure, and improve the efficiency of the energy sector. Specific projects include:
- Implementing forest protection, with a focus on green and gender-sensitive development.
- Rehabilitating the Rabaul port, developing an investment plan for a greener port infrastructure.
- Including the country in the region’s electrification programme.
- Helping Papua New Guinea find nature-based solutions for climate resilience, including reforestation in the Simbu province.
- Retrofitting, upgrading, and ensuring continuous maintenance of public infrastructure while increasing its safety and resilience.
- Water, sanitation, and hygiene
The EU works closely on a bilateral level with Papua New Guinea on making its water management more sustainable. It is also working to increase its access to clean water and sanitation. Specific actions include:
- Improving the availability, management, and governance of the water supply and sanitation services, especially in rural areas.
- Increasing the capacity for water supply delivery in urban areas.
- Increasing the water supply infrastructure in four district towns and Port Moresby.
- Ensuring safe and sustainable water management at the policy level, addressing and reducing the ‘non-revenue’ water provision.
- Oceans
The EU and Papua New Guinea are cooperating to strengthen ocean governance and management. Specific actions include:
- Ensuring the sustainability of marine resources and ecosystems while developing coastal ‘blue’ economy.
- Supporting a review of Papua New Guinea’s National Ocean Policy.
- Trade
The EU is helping to strengthen regional trade and economic integration between Pacific Island countries and territories. That includes developing banking systems and tapping the full potential of the (interim) EU-Pacific Economic Partnership (EPA). Specific activities include:
- Supporting individual actions aimed at strengthening cocoa, vanilla and fisheries value chains in PNG.
- Maintaining 188 km of rural roads and the rehabilitation of five airstrips.
- Promoting stronger economic and business ties with the organisation of the first-ever EU-Pacific Business Forum in Nadi, Fiji on 4-5 September 2025.
- Good governance and human development
The EU is helping Papua New Guinea improve its management of public resources. It is also helping strengthen its civil society organisations, alleviate poverty, and prevent/respond to gender-based violence. Specific actions include:
- Promoting good governance and respect for the rule of law.
- Improving the justice system and increasing the fight against corruption.
- Increasing the transparency and accountability of the public sector.
- Strengthening public finance management at the wider regional level with a focus on gender-sensitivity and sustainability.
- Helping Papua New Guinea implement its poverty reduction policies.
- Increasing protection from all forms of gender-based violence in both the public and private sectors.
