The beautiful country of Papua New Guinea is currently facing a significant public health challenge.
Our closest neighbours have one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the Pacific region. UNAIDS estimates that in 2023, there were 6,700 people in PNG who acquired HIV, increasing the number of people living with HIV to 77,000.
Work is needed at a community level to turn these numbers around.
Under the Australian Government’s Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative, Health Equity Matters is working with the Key Populations Advocacy Consortium (KPAC) to support the community-led response.
KPAC is a coalition of organisations that advocate for the rights and health needs of key populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals and people who inject drugs. Working in one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, where over 800 distinct languages are spoken across its 22 provinces, each home to ethnic groups with their own unique traditions, customs and lifestyles, KPAC’s role is as crucial as it is complex.
Ms Cathy Ketepa, KPAC’s Chairperson and Executive Director of Friends Frangipani – an organisation advocating for sex worker rights and one of KPAC’s founding members – said:
‘The partnership between Health Equity Matters and KPAC is strengthening advocacy to improve access to healthcare and ensure that marginalised groups receive the support they need. I have confidence that good things are happening through this collaboration!’
KPAC aims to reduce stigma and discrimination, improve access to healthcare services and ensure that key populations have a voice in shaping policies and programs related to HIV, sexual health and human rights. The consortium works closely with local and national governments, as well as international partners, to promote more inclusive and supportive environments for the communities and marginalised groups they represent.
Health Equity Matters’ role in this partnership is to build the organisational capacity of KPAC and its membership. Having strong organisational systems in place is crucial to lay the foundations for local leadership, which will enable KPAC to support its key population community-led organisations (KP-CLOs). This will allow the voice of key populations to be not just heard, but a driving force in the way PNG tackles HIV.
Members of the KPAC National Board of Delegates with Health Equity Matters’ International Program Specialist Jess Hill during a Board Capacity Building Session held in Port Moresby in late March
2025 has seen some exciting progress already in our work in Papua New Guinea.
In March, our team visited PNG for the second time this year, where we worked with the KPAC team, as well as with KPAC’s National Board of Delegates, to solidify planning for the year and move forward on activities that are key to strengthening the organisational capacity of KPAC. This included a particular focus on governance, leadership, HR and financial management.
During this visit, our International Program Specialist Jess Hill was able to deliver capacity building sessions with the KPAC Board. These sessions focused on safeguarding, gender equity, disability and social inclusion, as well as working with National Delegates to identify short and longer-term strategies for stronger integration of GEDSI approaches into the work of KPAC.
The visit also included productive meetings with other key stakeholders in PNG, who are involved in support and the delivery of this work, exemplifying the collaboration between government, multilateral, non-government and technical organisations.
Through this partnership, Health Equity Matters has also made some fantastic progress on strengthening financial management systems within KPAC. We have also led a process with the Board and management to review and update the KPAC Constitution, as well as several other governance and due-diligence areas required to ensure a robust, sustainable organisation.
We’re encouraged to see this progress, and excited to continue building momentum with our partner organisations to deliver great outcomes for communities.
Health Equity Matters has been working with partners in Papua New Guinea since 2009. This recent work is being delivered by Health Equity Matters as part of a strategic partnership with UNAIDS, funded by the Australian Government’s Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative.
