
Papua New Guinea


- Adapting to climate change with the Kiwa Initiative
- Protecting forests and marine biodiversity
- Developing resilient financial systems
- Promoting the energy transition and developing regional integration
- Rehabilitating the Port of Rabaul with a “green port strategy”
Adapting to climate change with the Kiwa Initiative
Protecting forests and marine biodiversity
Developing resilient financial systems
Promoting the energy transition and developing regional integration
Rehabilitating the Port of Rabaul with a “green port strategy”
Papua New Guinea is located north of Australia. It is the largest and most populous country in the Pacific, with more than 11 million inhabitants in a territory of 462,840 km2. Made up of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Bougainville Island and many small islands, Papua New Guinea enjoys great geographical and cultural diversity.
Nearly 850 indigenous languages are spoken in the country, and there is an even greater number of clans, many of whom live in remote areas (85% of the population lives in rural areas).
Forests, which make up 78% of the landmass, provide a vital source of food security for many people and are an essential part of the cultural, linguistic, and spiritual fabric of the country.
Economically, Papua New Guinea is classified as a lower middle-income country, with a GDP of about $24.7 billion in 2020. But it also has the highest level of income inequality in the Asia-Pacific region and was ranked 155th in the world in the 2019 UN Human Development Index.
The country is highly exposed to natural and climate risks: in 2021, it ranked 9th out of 181 countries in the World Risk Index.
Through its mandate to operate in Papua New Guinea (since 2018), AFD Group supports the country in its sustainable development goals and in fighting climate change. This commitment was renewed during the visit of President Emmanuel Macron in July 2023.
AFD Group’s action in Papua New Guinea is linked to the country’s major development challenges and the 2050 strategy of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) for the blue Pacific. It is based on the following four pillars:
- Management and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems
- Forest protection
- Development and greening of financial systems
- Green port infrastructure
- Energy transition
Up to now, AFD action has mainly come in the form of grants, through regional projects and specific grant tools (FEXTE). But its lending activities are expected to grow in the coming years.
AFD’s activities in Papua New Guinea are monitored by its Pacific Ocean Regional Office.