Medium Term Development Plan, 2011-2015 - UNDP in Papua New ...

5.2 Youth
Goal:
A vibrant and productive youth population that has career opportu nities, skills, good
education, moral values and respect
Introduction
The PNG population has a youthful structure with 40 per cent aged 0-14, 20 per cent aged 15-24, and 16 per
cent aged 25-34. In total, 76 per cent of the population is 34 years or younger. The recently revised National
Youth Policy recognises that there are young people who are over 25 but still identified as “young people” and
they maintain an active involvement in community youth activities. It must be recognised that the needs and
issues of youth can vary considerably between the ages of 12 and 25 and between different life circumstances
and locality. Young people are mobile; hence there is a trend of rural to urban migration of youths for reasons
including: education and employment opportunities; an attraction to a different way of life; to remove
themselves from the restrictions of their villages and from family obligations; abuse and violence; to access
services; sports and recreation; and for pleasure. There are also young people who have been born in urban
areas and raised in the city. They do not necessarily go to their family’s home villages or speak their parent’s
native languages but speak PNG Tok Pisin and English. Youths also migrate from urban and rural areas to
places where economic development is occurring, for example, around logging camps, mines, oil fields, and
plantations.
Urban settlements have increased in size, and overcrowding and lack of services create vulnerability to
communicable diseases. In settlement areas, large numbers of unemployed youths, without land or jobs,
become gang members that engage in unlawful activities to earn a living, such as breaking and entering, hold
ups, and shop lifting. There is a lack of educational and employment opportunities to meet the needs of young
people and, as a result, poverty and unemployment are critical issues for the youth population in PNG.
Moreover, young people find it difficult to access micro-finance schemes or small grants to assist them to get
involved in sustainable income generation activities. Youth issues are a real threat and a challenge for the
government vision of a happy, fair, wealthy and smart country by 2050. The youth are the future of PNG and
the PNGDSP 2010-2030 focuses on nurturing young people so that they become agents of change in the
society. The nurturing will start with families where parents take a serious role in caring for and responsibly
bringing up their own offspring. Strategies for education, employment generation, crime control, and
HIV/AIDS are all critical for improving the lives of young people today and in the future. In addition, sport
and recreation activities need to be developed as discussed in section 5.15. Counselling programs through
partnership with churches and NGOs are the way forward in creating social and spiritual opportunities for
young people to identify their potential and their usefulness for positive living and advancement in life.
MTDP 2011-2015
To improve outcomes for youth, investment in education, particularly in the promotion of polytechnic
programs, is paramount. Polytechnic programs will equip young people with the technical and entrepreneurial
skills they require to effectively participate in the developing and vibrant PNG economy. The Government will
also focus on recapitalising youth centres to provide an avenue for youth activities to be coordinated.
Investment in sports and recreation, employment generation, culture and community programs through
strong partnership with churches, NGOs and community based organisations are crucial mechanisms to
transform the mindset of our youth population and to develop them to become vibrant and productive
participants of society.
Building on MTDP 2011-2015
Future MTDPs will build upon progress in MTDP 2011-2015 and continue to invest in youth initiatives,
including polytechnic training. Work will continue on development of youth skills training and personal
development programs. Capacity building through the creation of training centres and facilities will act as a
launch pad for increased youth participation in the future, contributing to the 2030 target. Effective
investment in youths will bring about changes in their behaviour and attitudes whilst also contributing to
significant economic gains in the form of employment, increased entrepreneurship, law and order,
productivity and reliability of an educated healthy population.
Challenges in implementation
In order to realise positive change in youth development, effective prioritisation and sequencing of expenditure
must take place. Setting the right foundation in MTDP 2011-2015 through sound investment in the key
enablers is one way in which this can be done. Moreover, only by enhancing employment opportunities will
our youth be able to be a truly productive and vibrant part of society.
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