Supporting Resilience and Innovation in Papua New Guinea’s Coastal Communities

In Papua New Guinea, where climate change poses growing challenges to livelihoods, the Joint SDG Fund is playing a vital role in fostering resilience and promoting innovation. Under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, Richard Howard, the Fund has enabled a wide range of support for small businesses in coastal areas—those most vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea levels, extreme weather, and shifting ecosystems.

“The Joint SDG Fund allowed us to provide a range of support to small businesses as they face climate impacts in coastal areas,” Mr. Howard explained. “It also enabled us to introduce new technologies for climate-friendly production in fishing and agriculture and to work with agencies like UNCDF to provide innovative financing to small businesses, particularly women and young people just starting their ventures in this challenging environment.”

The initiative focuses on equipping small businesses with the tools and resources needed to adapt and thrive despite climate pressures. Climate-resilient fishing and farming techniques are enhancing local production, while partnerships with agencies such as the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) are helping to deliver innovative financing models tailored to the needs of startups and entrepreneurs.

Notably, the programme emphasizes support for women and young entrepreneurs, ensuring that those often left behind in traditional economic systems have opportunities to contribute to—and benefit from—sustainable growth.

By bringing together diverse expertise from multiple UN agencies, the Joint SDG Fund exemplifies the power of collaboration in addressing complex global challenges. This approach not only builds resilience among Papua New Guinea’s coastal communities but also aligns with the country’s broader sustainable development goals, offering a pathway toward economic stability and environmental stewardship.

Note:

All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.