Partnerships To Improve Markets Project Kundiawa, Simbu Province Papua New Guinea

Town Manager Alex Albert hands over keys of the kiosk which will house the police unit in the market to Provincial Police Station Commander Senior Inspector Michael Wellsh. Photo: UN Women

UN Women PIM Project Officer John Kuri (centre) meeting with Deputy Mayor John Dama (left) and Lord Mayor and Deputy Governor Tine Songan (right). Photo: UN Women

Fransisca Moiwo (Catholic Women’s Association) speaking to market vendors while John Kuri (PIM Project Officer) looks on in Kundiawa Market. Photo: UN Women

Baseline Survey. Photo: UN Women

Key results

• Increased security in the market due to police kiosk and with police personnel and security guards employed during night and day
• Gender sensitive Markets policies and by – laws drafted
• Women market vendors increase knowledge on cross – cutting issues
• Women market vendors are able to manage their finances after receiving financial literacy training
• Increased funding for women’s activities in three LLGs
• Simbu Provincial Government to fund the Markets Technical Steering Committee with a commitment of PGK40,000.00
• Simbu Provincial Government funds the Kundiawa Market Business plan with a commitment of PGK30,000.00

Challenges

• Slow participation by Kundiawa Urban Authority
• Lack of Capacity of Key Stakeholders

PIM Technical Steering Committee

The Technical Steering Committee (TSC) comprises member of government, private sector, civil society, churches and NGOs. The TSC has been the main mouthpiece for initiatives to improve the management of the market. This strategy was crucial to promote local ownership. Through the resourcefulness of the TSC, the provincial police department has agreed to place personnel in the market. This is the first of its kind and if reports of violence and abuse are anything to go by, this move should be replicated across all urban markets in the country.