[{"bbox": [97, 155, 1134, 231], "category": "List-item", "text": "* SO1: To increase the use and maintenance of equitable, safe, adequate and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene supply and practices in places of human agglomeration in rural areas of South Bougainville District of AROB."}, {"bbox": [97, 234, 1134, 289], "category": "List-item", "text": "* SO2: To improve governance and institutional capacities of mandated authorities for WaSH service delivery in Bougainville. Covid-19 awareness will be included at both levels."}, {"bbox": [97, 299, 1134, 540], "category": "Text", "text": "To achieve these objectives, this action comprises a component on rural WASH service delivery in the South Bougainville District, Bougainville's most under-served area, and a component on institutional strengthening and capacity building for Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) entities mandated to implement WASH services in Bougainville, notably the ABG Department of Health as well as local authorities. The action will support the implementation of the PNG National WaSH policy 2015 - 2030 and the ABG's policies and commitment to ensure access to critical WaSH services, as a means to strengthen human development, health, education and livelihood for marginalised rural communities, and groups that are living in the most vulnerable situations, such as persons with disabilities among other discriminated groups, with a special focus on women and girls."}, {"bbox": [97, 550, 1134, 685], "category": "Text", "text": "The action will significantly strengthen resilience to climate change for rural communities. It also supports GoPNG's commitment to improve social services in Bougainville. While mainly focussing on SDG 6 (WaSH), this action also contributes to SDGs 3 (health), 1 (end poverty), 5 (gender equality) and 13 (climate action). It contributes directly to the EU Gender Action Plan III and particularly its thematic area Promoting economic and social rights and empowering girls and women."}, {"bbox": [85, 725, 323, 757], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 792, 234, 818], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [97, 837, 411, 862], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 1. Political and Financial Outlook"}, {"bbox": [97, 876, 1134, 1195], "category": "Text", "text": "With 80% of the Pacific countries' landmass, population and economy, large reserves in critical mineral resources, and as a focus of intensifying competing geo-political interests, the importance of PNG for the EU is growing. Though affected by various layers of fragility, PNG adheres to EU fundamental values, human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and has recently (January 2022) abolished the death penalty. The most recent Parliamentary elections took place in mid-2022. Despite some shortcomings, the overall democratic and civilian-led political process is considered not to be under threat. Covid-19 hit PNG as the government started implementing wide-ranging macroeconomic reforms under an IMF Staff Monitored Programme. To mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the economy, PNG opted for expansionary macroeconomic policies, mainly through an ambitious fiscal stimulus package and an increase of capital expenditure. Despite the crisis, the overall financial situation remains under control. According to the IMF, public debt is sustainable, conditional on implementing prudent fiscal policies. PNG's Medium Term Fiscal Strategy 2020-2024 aims at accelerated fiscal consolidation. The EU disbursed the first ever budget support tranche to PNG in December 2021."}, {"bbox": [97, 1208, 339, 1234], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 2. Specific/ sector context"}, {"bbox": [97, 1245, 1134, 1405], "category": "Text", "text": "Reliable access to water and sanitation is among the most elementary human needs and rights, as well as an enabler for human development, public health, resilience and improved livelihoods. The critical role of WaSH is acknowledged in the New European Consensus for Development, the 2030 Agenda and PNG's overall and sectoral development plans, including the PNG National WaSH Policy 2015 - 2030. Improved access to safe water and sanitation facilities is also a thematic objective of the EU's Gender Action Plan III. The need for improved access to WaSH is further highlighted as a means to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and possible future pandemics."}, {"bbox": [97, 1417, 1134, 1630], "category": "Text", "text": "Despite its lower middle income status, PNG ranks at the bottom of all Pacific countries for all WASH related health statistics. In rural areas with above 80% of the population, only 33% have access to safe water; and only 13% have access to improved sanitation. The low WaSH coverage affects people's health, education and nutrition, causing significant damage to PNG's long-term development perspectives and the livelihoods, especially of the people in most vulnerable situations in rural and peri-urban settings. Total WaSH related deaths in PNG are estimated at 6,164 per year (MTDP 2 - 2016-2017). PNG has the fourth highest child-stunting rate in the World. Frontier Economics estimates that child undernutrition could cost PNG economy up to 8.45% of GDP per annum (USD 1.5billion). A study on the cost of \"poor WASH\" in PNG is presently been conducted. The lack of WaSH"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1680, 1144, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 19"}]