The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Papua New Guinea Department of National Planning and Monitoring signed a new Development Objective Grant Agreement (DOAG) of $12 million. The Agreement underscores the American people’s continued commitment to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific through our strengthened U.S.-Pacific partnerships for sustainable, prosperous, inclusive, secure, and democratically empowered societies.
The Department of National Planning and Monitoring Secretary Koney Samuel signed the DOAG on behalf of the Government of Papua New Guinea. On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, USAID’s Acting Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Craig Hart signed the agreement.
Deputy Assistant Administrator Hart said, “Signing this $12 million multi-sector agreement represents the growing comprehensive strategic partnership between the U.S. and PNGour two countries, and reiterates to the public people of Papua New Guinea how hard their Government has been working to secure resources and partnerships for PNG’s development.”
USAID’s DOAG is consistent with the priorities of PNG’s Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030 and the current Medium-Term Development Plan III (2018-2022). The proposed activities under the DOAG will directly contribute to supporting the development endeavors of the Government of Papua New Guinea going forward. Under the USAID Strategic Framework for the Pacific Islands 2022-2027, the overall goal is to achieve 1) Community Resilience Strengthened; 2) Resilient Economic Growth Advanced; and 3) Democratic Governance Strengthened.
Secretary Samuel, USAID’s Acting Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Craig Hart, and USAID’s Senior Development Advisor David Hatch also discussed the ongoing projects in Papua New Guinea through USAID funding and reflected on the increased partnership between Papua New Guinea and USAID in recent years.
Secretary Samuel highlighted that “the agreement with USAID is the way forward. This is a milestone to support and complement our development goals for a free, prosperous, and healthy Papua New Guinea.”
Secretary Samuel also expressed appreciation to the Government of the United States and USAID for the development assistance programs under the USAID’s portfolio in Papua New Guinea, especially on combating COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS, other public health concerns, climate change, biodiversity, good governance, economic growth, energy, infrastructure, disaster risk reduction, and digital connectivity.
USAID