Call for continued leadership as Enga peace project ends

CARE International PNG has called for sustained leadership and coordination across Enga to safeguard peacebuilding and livelihood recovery efforts as its Wanbel Wantaim [Peace Together] project officially ends today.

The call was made during a stakeholder roundtable discussion in Mount Hagen earlier this month, where community leaders and provincial authorities gathered to review the outcomes of the peace initiative.

Funded by Australia's Minderoo Foundation, the project was implemented across eight communities along the Wabag and Lagaip district corridors, which are areas heavily impacted by tribal conflict, displacement, substance abuse, gender-based violence, and sorcery accusation-related violence.

CARE reported that the project reached more than 4,700 people through the establishment of eight Community Peace Committees, the enforcement of community by-laws, climate-smart agriculture training, and 25 small-grant livelihood projects.

Key infrastructure achievements included the rebuilding of Kaipale Community Primary School and the renovation of three local health facilities.

According to an independent evaluation released by the organization, participating communities showed a noticeable shift toward dialogue and non-violent resolution.

The evaluation highlighted that several individuals voluntarily surrendered firearms, reduced the public carrying of weapons, and stepped away from marijuana, homebrew, and illegal gambling.

It also noted a significant increase in female participation in community leadership and decision-making roles.

Stakeholders from the Enga Provincial Government and project recipients commended CARE’s bottom-up approach, emphasizing that empowering local leadership had driven genuine behavioral change on the ground.

CARE peacebuilding program manager Manu Peter raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of these gains following the project's conclusion.

Peter assured that CARE would continue advocating for broader provincial support to ensure peacebuilding mechanisms remain active across the targeted communities.

Kun Women’s Association representative Merlyn Billy said community unity remains vital.

“Lasting peace requires communities to stand together, respect their by-laws, and support fair justice,” Billy said.