Port Moresby, 6 March 2025 — Papua New Guinea (PNG) is intensifying efforts to strengthen its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reporting through a critical national workshop held at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby. The workshop, hosted by the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM), focuses on SDG data tracking, validation, and analysis in preparation for PNG’s Second Voluntary National Review (VNR) slated for presentation at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York this July.
The VNR process offers countries the opportunity to present progress on the 17 SDGs, sharing successes, challenges, and lessons learned while shaping future development priorities aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Building on Foundational Efforts
This workshop builds on PNG’s inaugural VNR in 2020 and is part of a wider national commitment to enhance transparency and data-driven policymaking. A key focus is improving the accuracy and reliability of national SDG indicators, which remain a challenge given PNG’s diverse geography and resource constraints.
Collaborative Approach
The workshop brought together representatives from multiple government agencies, including DNPM’s Policy and Public Investment Wings, the National Statistical Office, sectoral ministries, as well as international partners such as the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The event also included key stakeholders from civil society, academia, and the private sector.
Data Validation and ‘Leave No One Behind’
Central to the workshop was the verification of national data sets used to track SDG progress and the application of the ‘Leave No One Behind’ framework. This framework ensures data disaggregation by gender, age, geography, and vulnerable populations to provide a more inclusive and equitable view of development outcomes across PNG’s provinces and communities.
Technical sessions introduced participants to new tools and methodologies for SDG data collection and management, enabling improved monitoring of PNG’s commitments in areas such as poverty reduction, health, education, environment, and governance.
Government Commitment
DNPM Secretary, Mr. Koney Samuel, emphasized the importance of accurate data as the backbone of effective development planning and reporting. “Our progress toward the SDGs cannot be measured without reliable data. This workshop strengthens our capacity to provide credible evidence of our achievements and the challenges we face,” he said.
Minister for National Planning, Hon. Sir Ano Pala, reiterated the government’s resolve to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, highlighting that the VNR is a collective national responsibility. “Preparing a robust VNR report requires coordinated efforts from all sectors. It is a chance to demonstrate our commitment to sustainable development on the global stage,” Minister Pala noted.
Path Forward
Following this workshop, DNPM will lead ongoing data collection, analysis, and stakeholder consultations to finalize the VNR report. The document will be submitted to the United Nations in advance of the HLPF, where Prime Minister Hon. James Marape will present PNG’s progress alongside other nations.
PNG’s VNR will not only spotlight national achievements but also identify critical gaps and reforms needed to accelerate progress toward the Vision 2050 goals and beyond.
International Support
The United Nations and development partners have pledged continued technical assistance to PNG throughout the VNR preparation process, supporting capacity building, data systems enhancement, and inclusive stakeholder engagement.