World Bank Pacific

22/11/2025

This week for , we were focused on real progress for children in Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬.

Across the country, families are facing serious challenges with nearly half of young children experiencing malnutrition, and many still struggle to access the services they need. But targeted support is making a difference.

PNG’s first national cash transfer program is already delivering results:
✔️ More mothers able to buy food, clothing and medicine
✔️ Improved nutrition and wellbeing for young children
✔️ Thousands of women opening bank accounts for the first time
✔️ Stronger financial independence for families

What started as a small pilot is now expanding to reach 180,000 Papua New Guineans, strengthening PNG’s ability to protect its most vulnerable.

With support from , Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Save the Children Australia and other partners, PNG is building a stronger social protection system so every child has the chance to grow, learn, and thrive.

LEARN MORE: wrld.bg/HQiq50Xu3Ug
Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea

20/11/2025

Today on , we celebrate the potential of every child in Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬.

Across PNG, too many children still face the daily realities of chronic malnutrition and limited access to essential services. But families are working hard for better futures.

We are proud to support PNG’s first national cash transfer program that is already helping mothers meet their children’s needs, improve nutrition, and build financial independence.

What began as a small pilot is now scaling up to reach 180,000 Papua New Guineans.

With support from , Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Save the Children Australia, and partners, PNG is strengthening its social protection system so more children can grow, learn, and thrive.

LEARN MORE: wrld.bg/HQiq50Xu3Ug

Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea

14/11/2025

Across Papua New Guinea, IFC East Asia Pacific’s Meri Save Trades program is helping companies open doors for women in skilled, traditionally male-dominated trades: recruiting, training, and retaining female talent in ways that build productivity, and improve workplace culture.

This sits alongside the World Bank’s work to support the Government of Papua New Guinea to create more and better jobs for the people on PNG.

Our work in the Pacific is supported by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands Umbrella Facility (PPIUF).

Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea New Zealand High Commission, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

07/11/2025

On Santo Island, Vanuatu, work is underway to strengthen the roads and bridges that keep communities connected. 🇻🇺
Through the Vanuatu Climate Resilient Transport Project, the Government of Vanuatu and the World Bank are upgrading 65 km of roads and building 11 new bridges designed to stand up against heavy rain and flooding.
These works will help ensure that access to schools, markets, and clinics remains open, even during the storm season. 🌴
Learn more: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2025/07/04/the-road-ahead-vanuatu-s-climate-resilient-transport-project-boosts-community-access-and-safety

05/11/2025

“The machine was so big,” says Jacobeth Misiel. “I wasn’t confident and fretted a lot. But my manager encouraged me to play with the machine and learn the ropes, which was very assuring.”

That FrameCAD machine, used to cut steel framing, marked the start of Jacobeth’s journey from workshop assistant to factory manager at Rhodes Projects . Today, she oversees roll-forming and joinery operations and leads a team of mostly men.

Her story is part of a broader shift in Papua New Guinea, where coordinated efforts across the World Bank Group are expanding women’s economic opportunities.

Through IFC’s Meri Save Trades program, private sector firms are recruiting and retaining women in non-traditional roles. This complements WBG technical assistance to government and industry to address gender-based violence in workplaces, transport, and public spaces.

And across the Pacific, the Women in Power program is transforming the energy sector—boosting women’s roles in engineering and leadership, and showing that gender equality drives innovation, safety, and growth.

Jacobeth’s progression isn’t just personal, it’s part of a regional movement.

👉 Read how Meri Save Trades is transforming workplaces across PNG: https://www.ifc.org/en/stories/2025/women-forging-new-future-in-papua-new-guinea:

Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Women comprise only 31 percent of the total employed population in Papua New Guinea. Addressing the challenges they face can foster economic growth and stronger communities.

05/11/2025

Next week at , we are hosting a special session on how Pacific countries are improving teaching quality through the ASPIRE program, supported by Australia 🇦🇺.

From Kiribati to Tonga, Tuvalu to Fiji, teachers are using new tools to strengthen classroom practice, build social and emotional learning, and help every child reach their potential.

Together, we’re reinforcing what works and helping every Pacific child thrive through quality education.

The World Bank's work in the Pacific is supported through our partnership with the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the PNG and Pacific Islands Umbrella Facility (PPIUF).

👉 Be part of the conversation: https://acer.ac/4pHK31s

03/11/2025

The Pacific and East Asia are navigating a changing global economy — with exports under pressure and jobs transforming fast. 🌏
For Pacific Island countries, building resilient, inclusive economies means investing in skills, digital opportunities, and climate-smart growth that creates productive jobs for the future. 💪
Read the latest East Asia and Pacific Economic Update to learn more:

Explore the current growth dynamics of the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region. Learn how reforms can expand opportunities, improve human capital, and help individuals and firms to anticipate future developments and coordinate their actions.

30/10/2025

30/10/2025

During the 2025 World Bank Annual Meetings, our new Regional Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Felipe Jaramillo, met with Pacific leaders including Kiribati’s Vice President Dr. Teuea Toatu, Solomon Islands’ Minister Rexon Ramofafia, and Palau’s Director of Finance Kaleb Udui Jr., among others.
Echoing World Bank Group President Ajay Banga’s call to put jobs, trust, and tangible results at the center of development, conversations focused on how the region can strengthen resilience, boost inclusive growth, and create climate-smart jobs that last.
Together with governments, communities, and partners, the World Bank is committed to supporting the Pacific’s vision for prosperity and resilience.

24/10/2025

“A job is more than a paycheck...It’s purpose, it’s dignity.”

In his 2025 Annual Meetings remarks, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga has called for a global shift to put jobs at the center of development, rebuild trust in institutions, and focus on real results that improve lives. He urged the world to pursue growth that is resilient, fiscally sound, rooted in trust, and built to last, especially as countries face droughts, storms, and fragile fiscal conditions that threaten progress.

This message resonates here in the Pacific, where countries must build resilience while continuing to create jobs and opportunities. That's why in 🇵🇬Papua New Guinea we are supporting the Urban Youth Employment Project which has helped more than 18,000 young people gain life skills, internships, and work experience. In 🇫🇯Fiji and across the Pacific, our Correspondent Banking Relationships project, led by the Pacific Islands Forum, is safeguarding vital financial links for remittances and trade. And in 🇻🇺Vanuatu, our support for the government's Climate Resilient Transport Project is employing local workers to rebuild roads that connect communities and markets.

Across the region, the World Bank Group’s work is focused on five key areas: 🏥health, 🧑‍🏫education, ⚡energy, 📶digital connectivity, and 💪 workforce training to deliver jobs and resilience that last.

We’re also moving closer to our clients, with new Director positions in Fiji and Papua New Guinea to deepen engagement and accelerate results.

Together, these efforts reflect a Pacific partnership built on jobs, trust, and tangible impacts.

Read President Banga’s full remarks:

Annual Meetings Chairman, Olavo Avelino Garcia Correia, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Cabo Verde , World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, an...

17/10/2025

Today marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Ending poverty is about dignity, justice, and belonging, not just income.

That's why the World Bank continues to work with Papua New Guinea to create more and better jobs — Jobs are the surest pathway out of poverty.

In Papua New Guinea, young people are showing how jobs can change lives. Through the World Bank supported Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification Project (PACD) over 100 young agriculture graduates are training as cadets in the Eastern Highlands, gaining hands-on experience with local businesses. This approach is helping young people find meaningful work while strengthening PNG’s agriculture sector for the future.

We are proud to stand with countries like PNG to build stronger economies, create opportunities, and help end poverty on a livable planet.