Access to fit for purpose, quality and timely data is critical to the performance and accountability of the water sector. Strong and timely data drives evidence-based decision making, planning and financial investment, underpinning systematic improvements to service provision and water resource management.
In 2018, the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Department of National Planning and Monitoring established the country’s first Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Management Information System. This forms the foundation of PNG’s National WASH planning system, providing quality and timely data for national level decision makers, directing resources and contributing to the tracking of policy targets. At district level, the WASH Management Information System provides the basis for structured approaches to accelerate service delivery through the formation of climate resilient 5-year WASH investment plans.
WaterAid PNG has been supporting the PNG Government to roll out the sub-national WASH planning process in Rabaul and Pomio Districts, facilitating a government-led approach to WASH development. The support includes enumerator trainings, WASH baseline data collection and technical advice and support on the WASH Plan development.
To improve sector coordination and strengthen WASH systems, WaterAid and PNG government officials have developed structured processes for districts to follow and develop 5-year District WASH plans. This consists of establishing a District WASH Committee, improving monitoring by undertaking a baseline survey across the district, and using the comprehensive data to inform prioritisation in the form of 5-year costed and climate resilient District WASH Plan. The WASH Plans provide a long-term framework for leveraging public finance and accelerating equitable and sustainable WASH service delivery in the communities and institutions.
With the support of WaterAid, the national government has now replicated the process initially developed in Wewak district to provide government-led support to Rabaul and Pomio Districts. Both districts have systematically followed the process to develop their 5 year WASH Plans, while the East New Britain Provincial Administration has made a commitment to support the cause and coordinate the WASH investments in these two districts through its Provincial WASH Committee.
The WASH planning process also incorporated considerations related to gender equity, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate resilience, financing, and a SWOT analysis to identify factors influencing the enabling environment for the implementation of the plan
“There is a need to cascade this WASH Program right down to the community level,” said East New Britain Provincial Administrator Mr Levi Mano. “The Ward members and community leaders must ensure that we have the spirit to oversee this program at the community level.”
Comprehensive data to inform planning at the sub-national level via the DNPM WASH MIS encourages bottom up, inclusive and participatory planning process for the WASH sector that can be replicated across other sectors, while fostering sustainable development.
Featured image: Workshop participants at the Pomio District WASH Planning Workshop in January 2025. (Credit: Estella Bunbun, PNG Department of National Planning and Monitoring).