Papua New Guinea Economic Update, March 2023 : Unlocking the Economic Benefits of Gender Equality

High commodity prices and the removal of COVID-19 restrictions spurred economic recovery in 2022. The government continued with fiscal consolidation to safeguard macroeconomic stability. Higher commodity prices contributed to higher inflation and stronger external balances. Economic growth is projected to slow down in 2023 due to lower global demand, supply constraints due to planned maintenance in extractive facilities and the delayed reopening of the Porgera gold mine. Further fiscal consolidation can become more challenging. As a step toward unleashing these economic benefits, the government can modernize the Employment Act and address gender-based violence (GBV) through increased enforcement of commitments and scaling-up interventions. Successful private sector initiatives that address GBV at the workplace, providing anti-harassment training and support services to those affected by GBV can be scaled-up. Similarly, interventions supporting women's employment through targeted outreach, skilling or access to networks can be sustained and expanded