Independent Evaluation Mission Concludes Major Review of EU-STREIT PNG Programme in Sepik, Papua New Guinea

Wewak, Papua New Guinea – The Independent Evaluation Team commissioned by the European Union Delegation has concluded its field mission across East and West Sepik Provinces, marking a significant milestone in the assessment of the EU-STREIT PNG Programme. As the European Union’s largest grant-funded initiative in Papua New Guinea under the Global Gateway Strategy, the Programme is currently undergoing a comprehensive review of its performance, results, and impact on sustainable, inclusive rural development in the Sepik region. 

Over recent weeks, the Independent Evaluation Team visited approximately 55 implementation sites across the districts of Wewak, Yangoru-Saussia, Angoram, Wosera-Gawi, Maprik, Ambunti-Dreikikir, Nuku, Aitape-Lumi, and Vanimo-Green.

The team engaged directly with beneficiary communities, farmer groups, agripreneurs, private exporters, partners, stakeholders, and counterpart government officials, observing interventions firsthand to gather evidence on how the Programme is driving rural transformation. 

The mission reviewed progress within the cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries value chains, alongside key enabling interventions such as rehabilitated rural roads and waterways, digital resource centres, financial access points, and renewable energy solutions. These findings will form the primary evidence base for determining how effectively the Programme is strengthening local agri-food value chains and the empower wider rural economy. 

As a United Nations joint effort led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in partnership with the ILO, ITU, UNCDF, and UNDP, the EU-STREIT PNG Programme aims to boost sustainable, inclusive rural development by enhancing returns and opportunities in the cocoa, vanilla and fisheries value chains, and by strengthening key enablers, including digital inclusion, digital financial services, sustainable, climate-resilient transport infrastructure and renewable-energy solutions. It directly benefits rural communities in East and West Sepik Provinces, helping farmers, women and youth build more resilient livelihoods. 

To date, the Programme has reached nearly 510,000 people and over 85,000 rural households. Key results include an estimated PGK 168 million in additional income for cocoa and vanilla farmers, training for more than 34,000 stakeholders, and the connection of over 58,000 women to digital financial services, laying a resilient foundation for the region’s economic future.