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p. 5 of 6 BACK | NEXT Introduction Is Poverty Really a Problem in PNG? What is Poverty? Who is Poor? What Causes Poverty? What Can Be Done?

Priorities of the Poor in Papua New Guinea

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What Causes Poverty?

Women shoulder the burden of raising the children

Poverty is a complex problem with many interrelated causes. But when asked what causes poverty in PNG, the people consulted identified the most important factors as follows:

• lack of jobs and other opportunities to earn cash,
• too little or no land to cultivate food crops,
• no access to education,
• lack of access to services and poor living conditions, and
• breakdown of family life.

The causes of poverty are different for different groups in society. The three groups that are most affected by poverty are children, youth, and women, although poverty affects people from all walks of life, including men.

Children

Lack of money and food causes malnutrition in children, and inadequate health facilities often cause children to suffer from treatable diseases like scabies, skin fungus, and tuberculosis. Most children must walk long distances to school due to the absence of transportation. Others cannot attend school because they live too far away, or their parents cannot provide them with school fees, clothes, or enough food.

Youth

Inadequate education and skills are two major causes of joblessness and poverty among the youth. When young men cannot find jobs, many turn to crime. Crimes mostly include car thefts, pickpocketing, and break-ins. Drug and alcohol addiction are growing family and community concerns. Most drug users smoke and sell marijuana. Young women in many areas are turning to prostitution. According to young women interviewed, “prostitution does not require specific skills or educational level to engage in.”

Women

According to the women interviewed, poverty is caused by lack of cash, no or low education and skills, lack of services and transport, social pressures, breakdown of relationships, inequality, crime, and the demands of the extended family. Low educational attainment prevents women from being elected to committee and ward level decision-making positions. Most women cited the lack of self-help programs that would help them improve their livelihoods.

Women shoulder the burden of raising the children, particularly when abandoned by husbands who give no financial support. Moreover, most women said that domestic violence is part of married life.

Need for Help

Almost all the people interviewed felt that the current issues and concerns were beyond their capacity to address; therefore, they require help. But most said they receive no help from the local or national government; they depend mainly on relatives and close friends. Most people said they were not aware of any government or other poverty reduction programs. Only a few people mentioned programs run by a logging company (JANT), World Wildlife Fund, World Vision, and Peace Foundation.

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