Business opportunities for water supply projects in the western highlands of Papua New Guinea

This paper has identified the opportunity for a water supply project in a rural village in the heart of the Western Highlands in Papua New Guinea. It begins with a brief review of the issue of access to safe, clean and portable water for citizens and the inability of Third World governments to meet water requirements and the changing emphasis of donor agencies, more specifically the World Bank to fund water supply and related services through a demand response approach [DRA]. It then examines the national social and economic development status of the country and focuses on the issue of lack of access to safe portable water as a key problem for rural inhabitants who comprise the majority of the population. Against this background the opportunity for this project is presented with a critical analysis of the community’s capacity to undertake and maintain the water supply facility using previous experience in two similar projects. It also outlines progress of work on this water project to date in relation to the formation of the water supply committee, completion of a feasibility study, design information, required materials and cost estimates, community financial contributions and the preparedness of the community to be responsible for the entire process. Potential risks to the project have also been identified and risk mitigation strategies are in place to address emerging issues. The value of undertaking this project is rooted in meeting the requirement for access to safe portable water as a basic need and for the long-term improvement in health and well-being of the people which indirectly contributes to economic benefits