National Population Policy 2015- 2024 Policy Review

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 By: Audrey JAKAM


Introduction

Papua New Guinea’s National Population Policy (NPP) 2015- 2024 is the third official policy that was formulated based on previous population policies. The first NPP of 1991 had a very strong family planning basis and the second NPP of period 2000- 2010 emphasizes on the integral links between population and development. However, the current NPP incorporates the significance of obtaining more knowledge as a basis of slowing down mortality rate and considers the achievement of greater equality to attain responsible sustainable development. Hence, this review will be analyzing the NPP by presenting the summary, critique on its weaknesses and its alignment to the National Security Policy (NSP) 2013 and recommendation. 

 

 Summary

The PNG’s NPP 2015-2024 is structured into two different volumes. The first volume indicates 16 broad policy goals with its objectives and strategies whereas volume two will present detailed implementation schedule. However, volume two is still pending due to the 2011 population census. It will give indicators on fertility, mortality and migration so that it will be included in this volume. So, this NPP has 4 parts which contains the introduction, desired outcomes and general principles, policy goals, objectives and strategies and framework for implementation. Therefore, NPP part A in relation to population growth concerns and part D that states its framework for implementation will be critiqued.

 

 Critique

Population growth poses a significant challenge to the NPP goal 6, desired outcomes and general principles like the right of mothers and children to be entitled to special care and assistance. Bourke and Allen (2021) support that the current national population of PNG is unknown and there no official estimate of the country’s population in 2020. Even though the national website of statistical office provided a figure 7, 275, 324 as a result of the 2011 national census, this data is nearly 10 years old. So, without updated population data the NPP will not be effective because there are no proper mechanisms that monitors and keeps track of the country’s birth and death rate, migration, economic activities and education levels. McMurray (1995) emphasizes that the need for school places is estimated to increase predominantly even if fertility targets of the NNP are achieved. Therefore, this indicates that before formulating the NPP there must be an estimate figure of the national population of PNG. This is vital to address socio-economic issues.

 

Additionally, the NPP has three focus areas of its implementation strategy. These includes changing the mindset of implementers of the NPP at the national level, concerns of NPP will be integrated into the provincial development plans, and the NPP approach will be used to close existing gaps in the country, with regards to geographical subdivisions. In contrast, Sembajwe (2013) states that the implementation of PNG’s population policies continues to face challenges due to lack of leadership, management and technical capacity at all levels of the government. Similarly, the publication of NPP volume 2 that is pending, shows another factor that is slowing down the implementation process of this policy. Ahlers and Schubert (2015) supports that policy implementation is a major indicator of adaptive governance in contemporary China and can be visible through its current system’s stability. Hence, NPP strategies will not be effective without an implementation plan.

 

Furthermore, population growth aligns with chapter 2.3 of the NSP, that stresses on socio-economic development and PNG’s low rate in United Nation’s Human Capital Development Index and poor governance as its weak areas. With regards to implementation plan, the NSP goals 2 & 3 talks about ensuring and protecting PNG’s economic and social prosperities. This provides additional guidelines for the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM) to improve its performance when implementing the NPP.

 

 Recommendation

In order to address population growth and its impacts, there must be collaboration between all levels of government, stakeholders and non- governmental organizations to carry out awareness in schools, communities and churches about the significant of the NPP and how population growth and its dynamics can cause possible challenges to this policy’s effectivity. Adding on, the DNPM and other leading departments that are in charge of implementing the NPP should focus on caring out another census and complete it before the next general election in 2026. This is to ensure that there is concreate population data available to come up with better implementation schedule for NPP volume 2.   

 

In conclusion, the national population policy 2015- 2024 is structured into 4 parts which includes the introduction to the implementation framework of this policy. The main weaknesses that were critiqued is population growth and implementation strategies. These pose challenges for the NPP to achieve its aims, objectives and its 16 goals. Therefore, these barriers align with the National Security Policy 2013 hence, proper consultation and comparison of both the NPP and NSP can lead to a more effective NPP 2015-2024 volume 2.

 






Reference

 

Ahlers, A. L., & Schubert, G. (2015). Effective Policy Implementation in China's Local State. Modern China, 41(4), 372- 405.

 

Bourke, R. M., & Allen, B. (2021). Estimating the population of Papua New Guinea in 2020 (Research Discussion Paper 90). DEVPOLICY BLOG.

https://devpolicy.org/publications/dp90-estimating-the-population-of-papua-new-guinea-in-2020/

 

McMurry, C. (1995). The challenge of population growth. Pacific Economic Bulletin, 10(1), 67-72.

https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/e89a9648-28cd-4897-b3ef-b7b5ed836fd3/content

 

Sembajwe, I. (2013). POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA (Research Discussion Paper 130). National Research Institute. 

 

https://pngnri.org/images/Publications/DP130_-_201309_-_Sembajwe_-_Demographic_Trends_in_PNG_2.pdf

 


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